The whole world looks to New York City to usher in the new year each year at Times Square. But if you ask any native New Yorker, Times Square is not where we'll be on New Year's Eve, at least not out in the freezing cold. Between the never-ending crowds and being packed into metal pens for hours at a time, it's probably not the first place you'll want to take the kids.
The annual Civic Center Plaza Tree Lighting event returns December 3, 4-7pm! Add this fun, free, family-friendly event to your holiday calendar; featuring festive performances, with the night's lineup including music, performances, and appearances from The Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, Christmas VIPs and the man-of-the-hour: Santa! This event features holiday entertainment, "snow" flurries, free holiday crafts with SF Etsy in the Makers Village, festive bites and drinks, and a toy giveaway for 500+ children!
St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowerks, 131 E 10th St., East Village Nov. 1- 2, Saturday and Sunday, noon - 5 pm All ages Free RSVP in advance Join this vibrant, heartfelt celebration of Día de Muertos featuring an 18′ long interactive community altar (bring copies of photos, notes, or letters dedicated to your dearly departed!), live musical performances, hands-on workshops for all ages, Mexican folk art market, and delicious Mexican food on sale.
Off the Grid has a brand new home at Cityside Park, San Francisco's newest waterfront park. The 6-acre park is the first section of what will eventually become a 24-acre shoreline oasis, offering sweeping views of the Bay, skyline, and bridges. The new series kicks off on Saturday, September 13, 2025, as part of Cityside Park's grand opening celebration. After that, the weekly food truck party continues every Saturday through November 1.
While it's been quite a hot summer and I'm really looking forward to those first crisp fall breezes, it has gone fast! I almost can't believe that Labor Day is here. The end of summer and the beginning of the school year are always a bittersweet blend, so we've compiled some fun ways to spend this last unofficial weekend of summer. It's the perfect time for one last family event to take photos and capture the moment, enjoy the warm weather, and spend it together.
