Celebrate the Holidays in the Presidio

San Francisco, CA (November 1, 2022) – Wintertime in the Presidio is the idyllic season for a relaxing holiday getaway with loved ones. The mild climate provides the perfect backdrop for exploring the park’s 25 miles of hiking and biking trails, stunning overlooks, and uncrowded beaches. Either the award-winning Lodge or Inn are a cozy home base for discovering cultural offerings, dining, and holiday shopping, or simply gathering around the firepit or fireplace with a cup of cocoa in a serene oasis.

Supporting businesses in the park keeps the Presidio free as a national park site for all to enjoy. Below is a roundup of activities taking place during the holiday season.

Spend the Night in a Magical Forest

Set amidst restorative nature with stunning San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge views, the Inn at the Presidio and Lodge at the Presidio provide a much-needed respite for those seeking a peaceful holiday getaway. Both hotels are beautifully decorated with handmade wreaths of North California fauna, stunning Christmas trees, and thousands of lights. The comfy outdoor fire pits, or the indoor fireplaces are tranquil spots for guests to unwind during the complimentary wine and cheese evening reception.

Gather for A Traditional Tree-Lighting

Celebrate the season with friends and family on December 2 at dusk, with the lighting of a towering 55 foot-tall, living Norfolk Island pine. This tree-lighting has been a park tradition since 1991, and one that originally began in 1957 with military families stationed in the park when the land was a US Army base. Enjoy a quiet moment with the holiday lights, which will shine each night throughout December.

Indulge in Creative Cuisine

The Presidio is home to several restaurants and a multitude of mobile food vendors at Presidio Pop Up, each offering a variety of delicious cuisine.

Go Gift Shopping

Head to the recently reopened Presidio Visitor Center to find just the right gift for that special someone while also supporting the national parks. Peruse from a selection of park-inspired goodies, including Presidio Tunnel Tops stainless steel thermoses, vintage-inspired locally made puzzles, and glittering hand-crafted fog globes of the Golden Gate Bridge, Redwoods, and Alcatraz. Members of the Parks Conservancy enjoy discounts.

The Presidio Sports Basement is always a one-stop shop for outdoor gear, bike and e-bike rentals for use in the park and elsewhere, snow and camping equipment rentals, and holiday gifts galore.

Enjoy Arts & Culture

Visitors can celebrate Walt Disney’s love of the holiday season with two special exhibits at the Walt Disney Family Museum. On display from November 17 through March 19, 2023, Spirit of the Season: A Community Art Exhibition features select paintings, drawings, photographs, 3D objects, and short films from artists whose work showcases the importance of the natural world in their own holiday traditions, inspired by the museum’s current special exhibition, Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book: Making a Masterpiece (on display through Jan 8, 2023). On December 17, families will enjoy Storytime for Kids: Holiday Storytime with Santa J. Claus.

From December 1-30, the Presidio Theatre will present Sleeping Beauty: Panto in the Presidio. This wacky musical inspired by the British theatre style of Panto re-imagines the classic fairytale “Sleeping Beauty” set in the magical kingdom of Pantoland, a mythical realm that bears a striking resemblance to contemporary San Francisco.

The California Society of Pioneers hosts For Generations to Come, a free exhibition open weekday from 10am to 2pm through November 19. And exhibition galleries at the Presidio Officers’ Club are open. Entrance is free.

Indoor and Outdoor Recreation

Holiday visitors to the Presidio will find a range of recreational activities at the Presidio Golf Course (also selling gift cards); House of Air trampoline park; climbing, yoga and other fitness centers; as well as the SenSpa spa for rest and recovery. The Presidio Community YMCA is offering special membership deals and holiday guest passes this season — check their website for details. It’s always free to enjoy multi-generational fun during the winter season at the myriad of picnic areas, beaches and trails including at the new Presidio Tunnel Tops.

About the Presidio and the Presidio Trust

The Presidio is one of America’s most visited national park sites, located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Spanning 1,500 acres next to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio is among the most biologically diverse parks in America. Historically a home to native peoples and a military post under three flags, its facilities have been reinvented as museums, restaurants, hotels, homes, and offices. The Presidio Trust is the federal agency that stewards the Presidio, in partnership with the National Park Service and with support from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. The Trust sustains the Presidio by leasing homes and workplaces and offering visitor amenities. Learn more at presidio.gov.

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