Free Waterfront Walkabout: The Holiday Season Finale (SF)
Ferry Building | The Embarcadero and Ferry Plaza, San Francisco, CA
Free / RSVP
Waterfront Walkabout returns for a night of captivating artist vignettes, live music, holiday drinks, & seasonal memory-making.
San Francisco, this is our holiday love letter to you! After a joyous autumn of community and creativity, Waterfront Walkabout returns for its season finale on Thursday, November 19.
Bundle up and bring your family, friends, and four-legged companions to the waterfront’s Big Art Loop – Portside for a festive evening of art, interactive experiences, and unexpected delights. Explore at your own pace or sign up for a free guided tour featuring special appearances by the artists behind the sculptures. And don’t miss the free professional holiday portraits at the Got Framed sculpture!
Waterfront Walkabout
Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 5-8p
1 Ferry Building, SF
FREEGUIDED ART TOURS
Join a free docent-led tour to hear the stories behind the four featured sculptures! These 50-minute guided walks depart from Pier 14 (at Corpus) and end at Pier 7.
- 5:30 PM – Guided Art Tour
- 6:30 PM – Guided Art Tour
How to sign up for guided art tours: Space is limited—advance tour registration is required. To sign up, please select the tour ticket type option during Eventbrite checkout. No purchase is necessary.
WHATS ON DECK
- Corpus (Pier 14): Stop by the welcome booth and meet sculptor Michael Christian, the artist behind Corpus. Get creative with holiday postcards or letters to Santa using custom stamps designed by Hollis Callas, and pick up a free neon glow necklace while supplies last! ✨
- Echoes (Ferry Terminal Plaza): Grab a brush and a beverage at a festive Paint & Sip hosted by Playful SF. Warm up with complimentary hot apple cider or a craft beverage from Yerdrink, hand roll a sheet candle, or join a club with the Chamber of Connection.
- Ferry Building (Front Plaza): Enjoy free live music outside the Ferry Building plus fresh oysters and drink specials for purchase from Hog Island Oyster Co.
- Coralee (Pier 1/2): Catch a rare opportunity to meet artist Dana Albany beside her mermaid sculpture! Handcraft a custom wooden ornament to take home, sing along with the Bay Area Circlesingers, and enjoy water spirit vignettes by SFBATCO in partnership with En2Action. Plus, enjoy $1 off from Joyride Pizza!
- Got Framed (Pier 7): Strike a pose with your family, friends, or pup for a free professional holiday portrait by Mac House Photography at the larger-than-life Got Framed sculpture–perfect for holiday cards! Then cozy up in Coqueta and toast to the season with a $10 red wine special. 🕎🕯️🎄
- Exploratorium (Pier 15): Catch the spectacular opening night of the Exploratorium’s Glow exhibition! Stroll through incredible light and sound installations, with free public access to the outdoor plaza and the indoor museum lobby (tickets required for indoor immersive art Exploratorium After Dark experience, 6-10pm).
Waterfront Walkabout celebrates the Big Art Loop – Portside, a walkable, bikeable trail of monumental temporary sculptures transforming San Francisco’s waterfront—from Fisherman’s Wharf to India Basin Waterfront Park—into a vibrant open-air gallery. This series is presented by the Port of San Francisco, Big Art Loop, Building 180, Ferry Building, Downtown SF Partnership, and Street Plans.
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*
