Home » **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Art & Museums, In Person, Kids & Families, New Year's Day, Outdoors, San Francisco

Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year’s Day 2025

Every 2nd Tuesday
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - 7:30 am to 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 | 1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122

Free / Learn More

San Francisco Botanical Garden’s Free Day (2nd Tuesdays)

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 of plants from around the world.

One of the most beautiful spots is the Japanese-design inspired “Moon Viewing Garden,(pictured above) located in the Mild-Temperate Climate section in the Northwest portion of the gardens. [view map]

The garden is always free for San Francisco residents, but visitors can also enjoy this treasure for free on the second Tuesday of every month; plus it’s free on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day for everyone.

Early bird? Come by any day and get in for free from 7:30-9 am. 

San Francisco Botanical Garden Free Days

  • Second Tuesday of every month
  • Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day
  • Free daily from 7:30–9 am
  • Always free for San Francisco city and county residents (with proof of residency)
  • Always free for Garden members and school groups

Regular cost: $17 adults (weekends), $14 adults (weekdays); $7/youth and seniors; $3/children; free/4 years and younger

Hours

Open Daily at 7:30am-Last Entry
The Garden closes one hour after last entry. Last entry changes seasonally.

Spring & Summer Last Entry
2nd Sunday in March – September: 6pm

Fall & Winter Last Entry
February – 2nd Sunday in March: 5pm
October – Early November: 5pm
1st Sunday in November – January: 4pm

Free Times: Daily 7:30-9am; Second Tuesday of every month; Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day

Garden Bookstore and Plant Shop
Open Daily, 10am-4pm
Open on Federal Holidays​

The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture
Open Daily except Thursday, 10am-4pm
Closed on Federal Holidays

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


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
Categories: **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Art & Museums, In Person, Kids & Families, New Year's Day, Outdoors, San Francisco
Address: 1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

9:00 am   Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Free from 9-10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; otherwise non-resident admission is $12 - $16 depending on the season. San Francisco residents are always free with valid ID
10:00 am   SF’s Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year’s Day)  $20*
*Tickets are $20 with skate rental included in the cost of admission
10:30 am   New Year’s Day 2025 World Naked Bike Ride + Polar Plunge (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   SF’s GLBT History Museum: Free First Wednesday  FREE*
*Free tickets are not available for reservation online on free days; all visitors will be welcomed to the museum as long as there is capacity on a first-come, first-served basis.
11:00 am   2025 New Year’s Day “Hatsumode” Japanese Shrine Visit (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)  FREE
12:00 pm   New Year’s Day Ice Skating at San Jose’s “Downtown Ice”  $21*
*$21 includes skate rentals
12:00 pm   New Year’s (& Final) Day 2025 at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”  FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
2:00 pm   New Year’s Day Collaborative Huge Art at SF’s Ocean Beach (2024)  FREE*
*donations welcome, not required
2:30 pm   SF’s New Year’s Day 2025 Polar Bear Ice Skate (Union Square)  FREE*
*Free to watch; $25 to skate (Includes Skate Rental)
4:00 pm   Union Square’s 2024 Chanukah Festival: 25-Foot-Tall Menorah: Final Night  FREE
4:30 pm   New Year’s Day at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2024 Lights Festival  $26.50*
*Adult admission tickets start at $26.50; The Zoo is using dynamic pricing, so ticket prices will vary based on date and time and purchase date. Buy early. Tickets do sell out in advance.
5:00 pm   2024 Pier 39 New Year’s Day Christmas Tree Lighting Show  FREE
5:00 pm   SF’s “Photosynthesis” Light Show (Conservatory of Flowers)  FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.
6:00 pm   “Wiener Wednesday” Free Hot Dog Night at Rye (SF)  FREE*
*Every Wednesday, Free Hot Dogs with every Hornitos Cocktail purchase
7:00 pm   “Comedians with Criminal Records” Live in SF (7p + 8:45p)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 50 people. Donations appreciatied
7:00 pm   Black Hammer’s Free “Hopped Up” Trivia Night (Every Wednesday)  FREE
7:30 pm   “Wolfman Jeff Trivia” Night at SF’s Willkommen Beer Garden (Every Wednesday)  FREE
8:00 pm   $2 Taco Night + Happy Hour Comedy at Skylark (SF)  FREE*
*RSVP Required. 2 drink minimum. 21+
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