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Free Events

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!

Thursday, December 25

PIER 39’s Dazzling 60′ Tree Christmas Lighting Show
Thursday, December 25 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Pier 39
PIER 39's Dazzling 60' Tree Christmas Lighting Show

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
Thursday, December 25 – 7:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free with RSVP
| The Function
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

Free Admission Day for Christmas at San Francisco Botanical Garden (2025)
Thursday, December 25 – 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 for Christmas at San Francisco Botanical Garden (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 20th Anniv. of 12 ft. Tall “Sugar Castle” at The Westin St. Francis
Thursday, December 25 – All Day | Cost: FREE | The Westin St. Francis
SF's 20th Anniv. of 12 ft. Tall “Sugar Castle" at 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 ...

Christmas Day at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”
Thursday, December 25 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
| Plaza de Cesar Chavez
Christmas Day 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 ...

SF’s Xmas Day “Queersada” Free Queer Holiday Gathering (The Castro)
Thursday, December 25 – 2:00 pm - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free with RSVP
| Beaux
SF's Xmas Day "Queersada" Free Queer Holiday Gathering (The Castro)
A free queer posada with food, chosen family, and a place to kick it, all in the heart of the Castro. It’s all for love of community. Let’s kick it, family! Happening on December 25th from 2-5pm at Beaux in the Castro, a FREE Queer Posada — The ...
The Willows’ “Beer Xmas” Beer, Shots + Egg Nog (SF)
Thursday, December 25 – 4:00 pm - Ends at 12:00 am | Cost: FREE*
*Pay for what you drink
| The Willows
The Willows' "Beer Xmas" Beer, Shots + Egg Nog (SF)
The Willows will be opening for all of the Christmas orphans, the natives that need a drink after spending the day with family. All of the people that don’t celebrate or are far away from home. I’ll be opening at around 4. I’ll stay open as ...
SF’s Epic “Photosynthesis” Light Show | Conservatory of Flowers
Thursday, December 25 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.
| San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers
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 ...

SF’s 2025 Macy’s Union Square Great Christmas Tree Dazzles
Thursday, December 25 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Union Square Park
SF's 2025 Macy's Union Square Great Christmas Tree Dazzles

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 City Hall’s Brand New Animated Light Show on Christmas
Thursday, December 25 – 5:30 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE | San Francisco City Hall
SF City Hall's Brand New Animated Light Show on Christmas

San Francisco City Hall has debuted a brand new holiday installation: City Hall Winter Lights, a free projection mapping show that turns both the Polk Street and Van Ness Avenue sides of the building into a giant animated storybook. The month-long display runs nightly through ...

Every Thursday: “Inner Circle” Dance Party at White Rabbit (SF)
Thursday, December 25 – 9:00 pm - Ends at 1:00 am | Cost: FREE*
*Inner Circle is always Free with RSVP
| White Rabbit
Every Thursday: "Inner Circle" Dance Party at White Rabbit (SF)

Free Thursday Party featuring DJs spinning House, Disco, Remixes, Currents, Classics and more every Thursday at White Rabbit. Join us at White Rabbit on Thursdays for Inner Circle, a weekly get-together dedicated to the DJ and a love for dance music. No cover. No worries! ...Every Thursday

16th & Mission Open Mic (w/out a mic)
Thursday, December 25 – 9:00 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Absolutely free for all!
| 16th & Mission BART (southwest streetcorner)
16th & Mission Open Mic (w/out a mic)

Time: 9pm to 12am, Celebrating 20 years in May 2023 (currently 19 years strong). Instagram: @16thmission. For 18 years, this outdoor “open mic-without-a-mic” has welcomed poets, musicians, emcees, comedy, and everything in between. In the best of San Francisco tradition, everyone is welcome, ...Every Thursday

Friday, December 26

SF’s HellaSecret “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (7p + 9p)
SF’s HellaSecret “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (7p + 9p)

Inspired by the blockbuster movie, see some of the Bay Area’s top comedians at San Francisco’s Crazy Funny Asians comedy showcase, presented by Funcheap and HellaFunny. Let’s celebrate the Bay’s Asian-American culture and heritage with laughs at a secret location – a two-floor comedy club near ...Every Friday

Laugh GPT: SF’s First AI-Powered Stand-up Comedy Show (2025)
Friday, December 26 – 7:00 pm - Ends at 10:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Use secret code HUMAN for comp tickets, otherwise, $10 off with secret code FUNCHEAP
| Mayes Oyster House
Laugh GPT: SF's First AI-Powered Stand-up Comedy Show (2025)

The robot revolution is upon us, and they’ve infiltrated the world of comedy! Join us for “Laugh GPT,” the AI-powered comedy show that might just be humanity’s last stand-up hurrah. Laugh GPT was recently featured in the Washington Post! As artificial intelligence advances, who knows how ...Every Friday

San Francisco POC Comedy Night (Fridays & Saturdays)
Friday, December 26 – 7:00 pm - Ends at 10:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Use secret code FUNCHEAP for comp tickets, otherwise, $10 off with secret code FUNCHEAP
| Mayes Oyster House
San Francisco POC Comedy Night (Fridays & Saturdays)

Welcome to San Francisco’s newest comedy night, spotlighting the vibrant humor of People of Color! Prepare for an evening of laughter as HellaFunny showcases handpicked talent that normally performs at Cobb’s, SF Sketchfest, and the Punch Line. Our lineup celebrates the diversity of the Bay Area’s comedic ...Every Saturday

Free “Rush Hour Comedy Night” Friday Night (San Francisco)
Friday, December 26 – 7:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*RSVP Required
| The Function
Free "Rush Hour Comedy Night" Friday Night (San Francisco)

Welcome to ‘Rush Hour Comedy Night’ where laughter knows no bounds and cultural collisions are the name of the game. Join our dynamic duo of black and Asian comedians as they embark on a whirlwind adventure through the streets of humor, weaving together their diverse backgrounds and ...Every Friday

FREE: Oakland’s HellaSecret Comedy & Cocktail Night 2024 (7p + 9p Shows)
FREE: Oakland's HellaSecret Comedy & Cocktail Night 2024 (7p + 9p Shows)

Get ready for our “HellaSecret” speakeasy comedy show in Oakland. A series of pop-up live comedy shows at unique spots all across the bay. We’ll take over a venue and you’ll get an email with the secret location. This HellaSecret comedy show takes place in a ...

“The Stoner Comedy Jam” Friday Nights (SF)
Friday, December 26 – 8:00 pm - Ends at 9:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free with RSVP (21+ with Valid ID) - One item minimum purchase per person required
| Moe Greens
"The Stoner Comedy Jam" Friday Nights (SF)

You know what makes stand-up comedy funnier? Smoking while watching it live! Come to San Francisco’s premiere cannabis club Moe Greens every Friday night for a night of laughter and, well, getting stoned. HellaFunny is taking over the cannabis lounge at Moe Greens for the ...Every Friday

Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)
Japanese Tea Garden's Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)

The Japanese Tea Garden provides visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California ...Every Friday

“Pay-What-You-Can” Taco Day at SF’s Tato (Every Friday)
"Pay-What-You-Can" Taco Day at SF's Tato (Every Friday)

While many restaurants are struggling, San Francisco Mexican restaurant TATO wants to give back. They’re bringing back their “Taco Love” special which features a two taco plate with sides, and pay-what-you-can pricing. Pay-What-You-Can Taco Day Tato 4608 3rd St. (@ McKinnon) San Francisco (Bayview) Every ...Every Friday