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Goodbye Mayor Ed Lee
By - posted 12/12/2017
Healing

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee passed away early Tuesday morning of an apparent heart attack.  Supervisor London Breed has taken over as acting Mayor. According to the SFGate flags at City Hall are flying at half-staff. Our thoughts go out to his family and we wish the mayor bon voyage. We’ll look for more...

The Glorious Geminids Meteor Shower
By - posted 12/12/2017
Geeks

Stargazers can look directly up (away from city lights) to see a spectacular meteor light show originating from the Comet 3200 Phaethon in the constellation Gemini (looking south, almost overhead).  The peak nights of the 2017 Geminid meteor shower are expected mid-evening December 13 until dawn December 14. Try the nights more...

Illuminate SF’s Free Guided Light Art Tours
By - posted 12/11/2017
City Discoveries

Illuminate SF Festival of Light happens Thanksgiving 2017 through New Year’s Day 2018 and shines a light on San Francisco’s ever-expanding light art scene. Get your glow on during this two-month celebration during the longest nights of the year, featuring free light art tours, nighttime neighborhood walks, artist talks and participatory experiences.

SF’s 25-Foot Tall Menorah
By - posted 12/10/2017
Holidays

Celebrate Chanukah 2017 with the 43rd annual lighting of the 25-foot tall mahogany Bill Graham Menorah in Union Square. This San Francisco tradition, the brainchild of rock and roll concert promoter Bill Graham, begun in 1975. Lighting ceremonies take place from December 12-19, at approximately 5 pm on most days (Friday is at 3 pm more...

Napa’s Amazing Lighted Art Festival
By - posted 12/10/2017
Artsy Fartsy

Experience an illuminating art walk during the season of lights. This festival creates stunning artwork as light displays are projected onto a variety of buildings throughout Downtown Napa and the Oxbow District. Eight to ten original artworks will light up the night sky for 9 days in this unique display. Do more...

Emperor Norton’s Historic Christmas Party
By - posted 12/9/2017
Holidays

The Tannenbaum Toast is the annual holiday celebration of The Emperor’s Bridge Campaign, the San Francisco-based nonprofit that works to honor the life and advance the legacy of Joshua Abraham Norton (c.1818 – 1880), the eccentric and visionary best known as Emperor Norton. The toast pays tribute to the tradition that more...

California Academy of Sciences Free Day
By - posted 12/9/2017
Freebies

The California Academy of Sciences is a world-class scientific and cultural institution in Golden Gate Park, a 400,000 square foot structure that houses an aquarium, a planetarium a natural history museum and a four-story rainforest all under a living roof. The Academy typically hosts four free days a year. California Academy of more...

2017 Santa Underwear Run
By - posted 12/9/2017
Holidays

The Santa Skivvies Run is a festive romp through the Castro benefiting San Francisco AIDS Foundation when you can watch hundreds of bods drop trou, don Santa hats and reindeer antlers and help raise funds to support the free and local services of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Although it costs upwards of $45 more...

“Unsilent Night” Boombox Christmas Parade
By - posted 12/8/2017
Holidays

“Unsilent Night” is artist Phil Kline’s free outdoor participatory sound sculpture played through smartphones and boomboxes where the audience becomes the performer. “Carolers” play one of four tracks of music downloaded to their smart phone, or anything that amplifies music, together comprising “Unsilent Night.” The public ensemble will walk a carefully chosen route more...

San Francisco Parol Lantern Festival & Parade
By - posted 12/7/2017
Holidays

It’s the time of the year again, when the community starts making their parol lanterns and holiday decor to adorn their houses for the yuletide season. In San Francisco, on Saturday, December 9, 2017, the community will be holding the 15th Annual San Francisco Parol Lantern Festival. This year’s theme is “Let more...

Presidio’s Tree Lighting & Lantern-Lit Forest Walk
By - posted 12/7/2017
Halloween

The Presidio invites you to partake in the annual, magical tree-lighting ceremony, a decades-old tradition for the neighborhood. Plus there will be a lantern-lit evening forest walk. 2017 Holiday Lights Tree Lighting Friday, December 8, 2017 | 5 pm Presidio Main Post, San Francisco FREE, but reservations are appreciated Gather at the tree and sing more...

Golden Gate Park Winter Carnival
By - posted 12/6/2017
Celebrations

SF Rec & Park will kick-off the 2017 holiday season with the annual free winter family event, the 88th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting. The celebration is a fun mini Winter Carnival with many free activities including a snow play area, carnival rides, arts and crafts for kids, a cookie factory, a visit from more...

Winter Lights in Golden Gate Park
By - posted 12/6/2017
Holidays

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is hosting a free special event, “Winter Lights in Golden Gate Park” that will take place on Thursday, December 7, 2017. It’s a brand new winter light show at the Conservatory of Flowers. Winter Lights in Golden Gate Park Thursday, December 7, 2017 – 4 pm at more...

Drag Queens on Ice
By - posted 12/5/2017
Celebrations

The Bay Area’s most colorful drag personalities will be returning to the ice for an evening of laughs, lip syncing and lipstick during the 8th annual Bay Area favorite, Drag Queens On Ice. Drag Queens on Ice Thursday, December 7, 2017 | 8-9:30 pm Union Square Park, SF FREE to watch The event is rain or shine. If more...

San Francisco’s Civic Center Tree Lighting
By - posted 12/4/2017
Holidays

Bundle up, and bring your family and friends listen to music, and kick-off the holiday season with the San Francisco Civic Center Plaza Tree Lighting. San Francisco Civic Center Tree Lighting Tuesday, December 5, 2017 | 5-7pm Civic Center Plaza, across from City Hall, SF FREE Hosted by Honey Mahogany Live music from X-Factor finalist Jason more...