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New Year’s Day Events

Kick off 2013 with some fun. An Ocean Beach plunge, daytime dance party or Golden Gate Bridge walk | Tuesday
By - posted 1/1/2013 No Comment

We hope you’re rested and recovered and ready to start out 2013 active!

There’s a whole slate of fun things to do on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2013 to help get the new year off to a great start.

Whether it’s continuing your dancing and drinking, taking a serene moment to reflect the past year, taking freezing dip into the ocean, or getting in a midday walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, there’s plenty of fun ways to start the year.

 


Wednesday, November 27

Thanksgiving Eve “Glowfari” 2024 Lights Festival at Oakland Zoo
Thanksgiving Eve "Glowfari" 2024 Lights Festival at Oakland Zoo

Glowfari returns in November 2024! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...

Sunday, December 22

“Glowfari” 2024 Lights Festival at Oakland Zoo (Nov. 8-Jan. 26)
"Glowfari" 2024 Lights Festival at Oakland Zoo (Nov. 8-Jan. 26)

Glowfari returns in November 2024! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...

Wednesday, January 1

Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year’s Day 2025
Wednesday, January 1 – 7:30 am - Ends at 4:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and daily from 7:30-9 am
| San Francisco Botanical Garden
Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year's Day 2025

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse gardens in the world. A unique urban oasis, the garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, and showcasing over 9,000 different kinds ...Monthly

SF’s Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year’s Day)
Wednesday, January 1 – 10:00 am - Ends at 11:00 pm | Cost: $20*
*Tickets are $20 with skate rental included in the cost of admission
| Union Square Park
SF's Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year's Day)

One of San Francisco’s favorite holiday traditions returns for the 2024-25 holiday season. Since 2008, The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square has delighted children and adults with its holiday-themed ice park located in Union Square. First (100) guests skate for free during the ...

New Year’s Day Ice Skating at San Jose’s “Downtown Ice”
Wednesday, January 1 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 11:00 pm | Cost: $21*
*$21 includes skate rentals
| Downtown Ice (San Jose)
New Year's Day Ice Skating at San Jose's "Downtown Ice"

Located at 120 S. Market St., the downtown San Jose rink opens on Thursday, November 21 and operates daily through January 20, 2025. Skate in true California style. A local tradition since 1994, Downtown Ice in San Jose is the only rink in the world that ...

New Year’s (& Final) Day 2025 at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”
Wednesday, January 1 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
| Plaza de Cesar Chavez
New Year's (& Final) Day 2025 at San Jose's "Christmas in the Park"

Christmas in the Park is an annual holiday tradition that takes place in the heart of Downtown San José at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. For over 45 years, this whimsical walk-thru event has brought people from all over the Bay Area together during the ...

New Year’s Day Collaborative Huge Art at SF’s Ocean Beach (2024)
Wednesday, January 1 – 2:00 pm - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*donations welcome, not required
| Ocean Beach (Balboa)
New Year's Day Collaborative Huge Art at SF's Ocean Beach (2024)
Join me in creating a massive artwork on the beach. Let’s set the tone for the New Year by creative beauty together.  Check out the kind of artwork I make and what you can be a part of making as well.
SF’s New Year’s Day 2025 Polar Bear Ice Skate (Union Square)
Wednesday, January 1 – 2:30 pm - Ends at 3:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free to watch; $25 to skate (Includes Skate Rental)
| Union Square Park
SF's New Year's Day 2025 Polar Bear Ice Skate (Union Square)
POLAR BEAR SKATE Wednesday, January 1, 2025 | 2:30–3:30 p.m. $25pp The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Kaiser Permanente welcomes skaters of all ages to start the New Year off in your swimsuit…on the ice…in the middle of Union Square! As a nod ...
SF’s “Photosynthesis” Light Show (Conservatory of Flowers)
Wednesday, January 1 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.
| San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers
SF's "Photosynthesis" Light Show (Conservatory of Flowers)

Light up the season with Photosynthesis, This beautiful light art installation was developed in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and was designed by Lumigeek with music by Tim Digulla. The installation uses special projectors to transform the all-white glasshouse into a ...

2024 Pier 39 New Year’s Day Christmas Tree Lighting Show
Wednesday, January 1 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Pier 39
2024 Pier 39 New Year's Day Christmas Tree Lighting Show

An awe-inspiring Christmas tree has welcomed millions of visitors at the Entrance Plaza of PIER 39 every holiday season since 1983 (except 2020), becoming a not-to-be-missed San Francisco holiday tradition. Synchronized and choreographed to festive Holiday music, the tree “performs” every half hour from 5-10pm, ...