Following the official inauguration events at Civic Center earlier in the day, Daniel Lurie invites you to a historic Chinatown Night Market & Community Festival in honor of Daniel Lurie’s inauguration as the 46th Mayor of San Francisco! Join us on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, as we celebrate together with an evening of food, culture, and community.
5:30pm-9pm on Grant Avenue btwn Jackson and Sacramento with food, drinks and live performances – headlined by the internationally acclaimed artist and SF native, ZHU with DJ Ruckus kicking things off!
The Annual Moleskine Project – a collective exhibition of artists’ sketchbooks from around the world co-curated by gallery owner Ken Harman and Sydney-based artist Rod Luff. Featuring artists from around the world, this format driven exhibition spans various artistic styles and mediums, delving into the artists sketchbook. The exhibition made it’s initial debut at Spoke San Francisco in 2011. Featuring both emerging and established artists, the exhibition is a continuation of the project, in which artists are provided with a Moleskine book in order to create an original piece within the pages of the book.
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Named one of the world’s top ten parades, the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia. It was started in the 1860s and takes place the weekend of the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair (Feb. 15-16, 2025).
Typically, nearly 100 groups will participate in the parade and many of the floats and specialty groups will be featuring the theme of this year’s Chinese zodiac sign – the year of the snake
$65 – Section A1 (Covered by a canopy, Closest to Chinatown)
$45 – Section B
$45 – Section C
$75 – Section E3 (incl. gift bag, Closest to Union Square)
Fireworks for 2025? In 2024 the festival ended with a short fireworks display. No details yet have been confirmed for 2025.
Rain or Shine
Parade is approximately 1.3 miles in length and lasts about 2 1/2 hours.
Nowhere in the country will you see a lunar new year parade with more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers, and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court.
A crowd favorite will be the new and spectacular 288-foot Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”). It takes a team of over 180 men and women from the martial arts group White Crane to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.
2025 Parade Route
The Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Dragon will be on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 5:15 pm, stepping off at Second and Market Streets. It is a free event for all to attend, but tickets must be purchased to sit in the bleacher sections.
The parade starts off at 2nd and Market Streets, goes around Union Square and ends at Kearny Street & Columbus Ave. The distance of the parade route is approximately 1.3 miles. The parade is a free event for all to attend and you may stand anywhere on the parade route, behind the barricades, to watch the parade.
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An awe-inspiring Christmas tree has welcomed millions of visitors at the Entrance Plaza of PIER 39 every holiday season since 1983 (except 2020), becoming a not-to-be-missed San Francisco holiday tradition.
Synchronized and choreographed to festive Holiday music, the tree “performs” every half hour from 5-10pm, becoming a kaleidoscope of swirling colors and songs, adorned with thousands of glittering specialty lights and ornaments. At the end of each performance, the tree magically returns to a static, elegant, traditional Christmas tree.
Catch the merriest show on the waterfront now through January 5th, 2025.
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 series of exquisite scenes inspired by the rare tropical flowers growing within this national landmark.
The light art installation changes twice a year, adapting it’s visuals and music to the spring-summer season and fall-winter season. The winter version of the light show will go live on November 8, 2024.
This public art installation takes place outside the Conservatory of Flowers and is free for visitors of all ages.
The Conservatory’s light show begins approximately 30 minutes after sunset every night, transforming the building into a canvas of colorful light art.
Starting on November 8, 2024, bundle up and spread out a blanket on the lawn in front of the iconic Conservatory of Flowers for an amazing evening of free music and psychedelic visuals in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park every night at sunset. The outside of the Conservatory of Flowers will be illuminated starting 30 minutes after sunset every night and will continue to run on a loop until midnight.
Our beloved flower-powered light show is FREE every night and open to all ages!
Where to Watch Venture up close to the Conservatory to enjoy the details of the projections or sit back and enjoy a view of the entire building awash with color. The best viewing areas are along JFK Promenade and on the lawns in front of the Conservatory of Flowers, also known as “Conservatory Valley”. Street parking is available along Nancy Pelosi Drive and Bowling Green Drive. For more transportation and parking information for the Conservatory of Flowers, see Getting Here.
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Glide into the holiday season at Winter Wonderland Ice Skating in Thrive City! Join us for a smooth synthetic ice skating experience in the heart of Mission Bay.
Ice skating sessions are between 20-30 minutes. Space is limited to first-come, first-served. Eventbrite registrations will receive priority admission until capacity is reached. A limited amount of walk-ups may be available. All ice skaters age 6 and under must be supervised at all times by their parents or guardian.
Don’t worry if you don’t have skates! Complimentary rentals (child size one through adult size 12) will be available for a $5 suggested donation to the Warriors Community Foundation in support of education and youth development to promote thriving students, schools and communities.
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After going dark in March 2023, the iconic Bay Bridge lights are making a highly anticipated comeback. Workers have begun installing 50,000 new custom-engineered LED lights on the western span of the bridge, according to Illuminate, the arts nonprofit spearheading the project.
The revamped light display, known as The Bay Lights, will soon brighten the San Francisco Bay Area skyline once more. Illuminate announced that testing for the new system is slated to start in early 2025, with the lights expected to return later this winter. While a specific launch date hasn’t been confirmed, the nonprofit encouraged the public to “stay tuned” for further updates.
Originally lit in 2013, the lights adorned the north side of the western span for a decade before being turned off in early 2023. The old LED system, overwhelmed by San Francisco’s harsh bay conditions, had begun failing faster than repairs could keep up.
“The return of The Bay Lights is something we’re all looking forward to,” the nonprofit shared on Instagram. “We hope you will join us on the waterfront to celebrate!”
The project’s revival was made possible through a successful crowdfunding campaign, demonstrating the community’s commitment to restoring one of San Francisco’s most beloved landmarks.
SF fire stations, including the new floating fire station #35 and their fire boats, compete in the annual holiday decorating contest for charity
San Francisco fire stations are lighting up once again for the holidays, bringing festive cheer with creative decorations and even snow machines! The city’s beloved Fire Station Community Holiday Decorations Competition is back for its fifth year, spreading joy and raising funds for local charities.
What to Expect in 2024
While official details from the San Francisco Fire Department are still pending, past years give us a good idea of what to anticipate. Typically, more than 20 fire stations participate, showcasing their creativity and community spirit. One of the most unique entries is Floating Fire Station #35 on the Embarcadero, which features two lighted fireboats adding extra sparkle to the bay.
According to a recent SF Chronicle article, last year’s contest featured dazzling displays such as:
Station 39 (Mount Davidson): A forest of lighted trees, snow machines, and a fireman mascot with an animated face, reminiscent of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion technology.
Station 12 (Haight-Ashbury): A towering 15-foot live Christmas tree adorned with lights and a Grateful Dead-themed logo projection.
How the Contest Works
The competition encourages fire stations to decorate creatively, with prizes sponsored by the SF Fire Credit Union in the past totaling $4,000. Winning stations donate their prizes to local charities of their choice.
Block Parties & Judging on December 23rd
Traditionally, block parties at participating stations happen on December 23, 2024, with winners announced on December 24. The decorations typically stay up through the end of December, offering plenty of time to visit.
Typically the fire departments will light up around sundown with block parties at a few of the fire stations typically around 7-10p. More details to come.
Stay Tuned for Official Announcements
While we haven’t received formal word from the San Francisco Fire Department yet, we expect details to be released closer to the event. The best way to get updates is typically to follow @SFFDPIO on X. If you’re looking for some festive fun, keep an eye out for announcements and plan your holiday station tour!
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Winter Walk returns to Union Square from December 13 – 22, located on Stockton Street to O’Farrell to Post! This 10-day event will turn two blocks into a pedestrian plaza with lush turf, diverse food truck offerings, enticing bars, and Instagram-worthy arctic-themed décor. Enjoy live performances and entertainment throughout this festive event! Plus discover the Ornament Trail on Powell Street.
Pick up an Ornament Trail Guide at Winter Walk and explore the larger-than-life ornaments created by talented local artists, displayed along Powell Street. In addition to the stunning holiday decor, you’ll find blue turf, festive ornaments on poles, and other seasonal touches. Stay tuned for details on weekly holiday performances at the Cable Car Turnaround, bringing extra cheer to your winter stroll. Find all 8 ornaments by completing the Ornament Trail Guide during Winter Walk (December 13-22)!
Santa Comes to Winter Walk! All the way from the North Pole to Union Square, Santa is making his way to Winter Walk, bringing joy and cheer to our festivities. Capture photos with family and friends and tell Santa your holiday wishes!
Santa visits Union Square on:
Saturday, December 14 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, December 15 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, December 21 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, December 22 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Food Trucks Winter Walk will offer a vibrant culinary experience, showcasing an enticing selection of food trucks with diverse flavors and cuisines featured on themed days. Alongside these delightful offerings, Winter Wak will also feature multiple bars serving a wide range of festive specialty cocktails and beverages.
If you are interested in participating as a food truck in one or more days of the Union Square Winter Walk, please fill out the Winter Walk 2024 Food Truck Application. Please note that there 4 food truck spots available per shift and are first come first served.
Local Merchants Union Square is the perfect destination for holiday shopping, and this season’s Winter Walk hopes to feature a holiday marketplace, offering a diverse array of local vendors where visitors can discover unique gifts and support small businesses. If you’re interested in being considered as a vendor, email info@unionsquarealliance.com.
