San Francisco… land of the free. Here’s just the free stuff in SF and the Bay Area. Keep your wallet in your pocket and enjoy!
Wednesday, December 31
20th Anniv. of SF’s 12 ft. Tall “Sugar Castle” (Nov. 26-Jan. 2)
Wednesday, December 31 – 10:00 am - Ends at 8:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | The Westin St. Francis
The Westin St. Francis’ iconic Sugar Castle celebrates 20 years of holiday magic in San Francisco. This nearly 12-foot-tall, 1,000-pound masterpiece features more than 20 towers, 15 illuminated rooms, and a running train, bringing a whimsical French château to life in the heart of the ...
Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
Wednesday, December 31 – 11:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Opened to the public in 1993, YBCA was founded as the cultural anchor of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood. Our work spans the realms of contemporary art, performance, film, civic engagement, and public life. Centering artists as essential to social and cultural movement, YBCA ...Every Wednesday
Downtown Pleasant Hill “Noon” Year’s Eve Festivities (2025)
Wednesday, December 31 – 11:30 am - Ends at 1:30 pm |
Cost: FREE | Downtown Pleasant Hill Shopping Center
Noon Year’s Eve takes place on Wednesday, December 31 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and is designed for those early birds who want to celebrate the new year in a family-friendly environment. The festivities will take place at the Plaza, in front of Jack’s ...
Noon Year’s Eve: Balloon Drop, Juice Toast & Crafts (East Bay)
Wednesday, December 31 – 11:30 am - Ends at 1:30 pm |
Cost: FREE | Next to Jack’s
Ring in the New Year early at Downtown Pleasant Hill’s Noon Year’s Eve Party!Bring the kids and celebrate with a balloon drop, face painting, balloon art, kids’ crafts, and a themed photo booth to capture the fun.
We’ll even raise a glass for a special noon ...
New Year’s Eve 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 ...
2025 Macy’s Holiday Windows & Adorable Puppies & Kittens: Final Day | Union Square
Wednesday, December 31 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 5:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | Macy's (Union Square)
Get ready for a heartwarming holiday tradition as adoptable rescue animals return to Macy’s 39th Holiday Windows, bringing joy and cheer to the festive displays. Macy’s, in partnership with the San Francisco SPCA, aims to inspire families to consider the joy of adopting a furry friend, reminding ...
SF’s “Irish New Year’s” Party w/ 4pm Balloon Drop & Toast (2025-26)
Wednesday, December 31 – 3:00 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm |
Cost: FREE | The Napper Tandy
Irish New Year Balloon Drop – 4PM
Free Champagne Toast
Live Music
Kid Friendly
U.S. New Year Balloon Drop – Midnight
Balloon Drop
Free Champagne Toast
Come early, stay late, and celebrate New Year’s Eve the Irish way — and the American way
Let’s send ...
Irish New Year Bash: Free Champagne Toast at 4p (SF)
Wednesday, December 31 – 4:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | The Irish Times
Ring in the Irish New Year with us. We are celebrating New Year’s Eve the Irish way – at 4pm when its midnight in Ireland. Join us for a free champagne toast at 4PM, Great times, and Irish cheer.
Why wait till midnight? Start the party ...
SF’s 2025 Macy’s Union Square Great Christmas Tree Dazzles
Wednesday, December 31 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | Union Square Park
This iconic landmark, Macy’s Great Tree in Union Square, returns decorated in an abundance of festive ornaments and glimmering lights to light up Union Square throughout the holidays. 2025 update – The official lighting quietly took place on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. San Francisco’s most ...
SF’s Epic “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 ...
“Wiener Wednesday” Free Hot Dog Night at Rye (SF)
With a name like “Rye,” this bar is obviously whiskey-centric… but on Wednesday nights the bar leans towards tequila is also awesomely hot dog centric! Come to Rye Bar every Wednesday for free hot dogs with every Hornitos cocktail purchase. Mo and Kat are you ...Every Wednesday
Black Hammer’s Free “Hopped Up” Trivia Night (Every Wednesday)
Wednesday, December 31 – 7:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | Black Hammer Brewing
No pens, no paper. Join us for three rounds of fast-paced gameshow-style pub trivia in our taproom every Wednesday at 7PM. Free admission, with bonus points for fastest answer and a live scoreboard. Hopped Up Trivia at 7pm Black Hammer Brewing, 544 Bryant ...Every Wednesday
Whack Donuts NYE w/ Retro Game Tournament (SF)
Wednesday, December 31 – 7:00 pm - Ends at 1:30 am |
Cost: FREE | Whackdonuts
Join us as we ring in the new year this new years eve. Donuts, hot drinks, and a retro game tournament !!! The shop will be open regular hours and then open again at night, Watch the fireworks from embarcadero plaza 11:59pm , this was ...
SF Chamber Orchestra’s Free New Year’s Eve Concert 2025-26 (Berkeley)
Wednesday, December 31 – 7:30 pm - Ends at 9:30 pm |
Cost: FREE | First Congregational Church (Berkeley)
Ring in the New Year with the SFCO and the exuberant music of three ground-breaking composers. Louise Farrenc was a concert pianist and composer who fought for women’s rights and would become the only female professor at the famed Paris Conservatoire during the 19th century. ...
Boogie NYE Bash w/ Free Midnight Toast (Phonobar)
Join us at Phonobar for a Boogie NYE party with DJs discoesq and On the Rocks playing disco, boogie, funk, house, and more all night.
Free champagne toast at midnight.
San Francisco New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Midnight (2025/2026)
Wednesday, December 31 – 11:59 pm |
Cost: FREE | Embarcadero
Ring in 2026 with San Francisco’s annual fireworks show over the Bay.
The big fireworks show will take place at midnight this year (December 31, 2025) on New Year’s Eve 2025/2026.
Say goodbye to 2025 and ring in the 2026 new year with 200,000 fellow bundled-up San ...
Thursday, January 1
Free First Thursdays at SF’s Museum of Craft and Design
There’s no better time to visit the Museum of Craft and Design than on their Free First Thursdays. Committed to making art, craft, and design accessible to everyone the Museum of Craft and Design is Free on the First Thursday of every month. . Museum of Craft and ...Monthly
SF’s DFT New Year’s Day: “Downtown First Thursdays” (2026)
DFT: NEW YEAR’S DAY EDITION. The DFT Street Party on 2nd St.
DFT is back for a full year of street parties in 2026! Kick off a brand new season and a brand new year of DFT on New Year’s Day. DJs – Live Performances – ...
PIER 39’s Dazzling 60′ Tree Lighting Show (New Year’s Day)
Thursday, January 1 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | Pier 39
The Holidays are HapPIER at PIER 39! Get into the spirit of the Season at PIER 39 while shopping, dining and strolling The PIER. An awe-inspiring Christmas tree has welcomed millions of visitors at the Entrance Plaza of PIER 39 every holiday season since 1983 ...
Hecklers Welcome: SF’s First Stand-Up Comedy Show That Invites Heckling
Welcome to Hecklers Welcome!, San Francisco’s only stand-up show where you get to talk back. This is not your average comedy night—this is a full-blown verbal brawl, where comics come ready to spar and the audience gets a license to heckle. Got jokes? Bring ’em. Got beef? Air ...Every Thursday
