SF ‘Plays’ Here Welcomes Kids, Families to Presidio
Presidio of San Francisco (May 12, 2016) — Just in time for summer, the Presidio welcomes kids of all ages to enjoy San Francisco’s very own “playground” for fun, learning and exploration. The 1,500-acre Presidio offers ample opportunities to stretch legs and imaginations, providing unique experiences, free programs and special events throughout the season. Summer is a particularly engaging time to experience all the Presidio has to offer. Enjoy picnics on the Main Parade Ground lawn or stroll along the Presidio’s 24 miles of scenic trails and overlooks. Fly a kite, watch the sunset, view the stars or explore the Nature Lab exhibit, which showcases the Presidio’s ever-changing landscape. With museums, food trucks, art and archaeological sites, there is something for everyone. Below is a sample of what’s new for summer. For more information, visit www.presidio.gov.
SEE WHAT’S NEW
Presidio Nature Lab: April 21 – Dec 31, 2016
Presidio Officers’ Club Heritage Gallery
The newest exhibition in the Officers’ Club Heritage Gallery, ∫, is an all-ages, hands-on exhibition where visitors can learn about the Presidio’s ever-changing landscape while testing out new tools designed to support your exploration of the park’s natural heritage. Delight your senses, engage your imagination, and spark your curiosity!
Presidio Nature Lab Walks: Every second Saturday from 10 AM to Noon
Presidio Officers’ Club
Explore the Presidio’s great outdoors with Trust natural resources staff. Walks are moderately strenuous.
- Focus on Plants Walk, Saturday, June 11, with Restoration Ecologist Lew Stringer
- Wildlife of the Presidio Walk, Saturday, July 9, with Wildlife Ecologist Jonathan Young
- Tennessee Hollow Creek Walk, Saturday, August 13, with Director of Conservation Stewardship and Research, Terri Thomas
National Trails Day: Saturday June 4, 9 AM to 1 PM
Fort Scott
Participate in a day of stewardship along Presidio’s trails and pathways. Maintain trails, tend trees, care for landscape beds along garden pathways, and restore native habitat. All ages are welcome; registration is required. Co-sponsored by the Presidio Trust, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the National Park Service.
Presidio Kite Festival: Saturday, June 18, Noon – 5 PM
Presidio’s Main Post
A beloved Bay Area tradition is coming back for a second year in Presidio. Join the outdoor fun for adults and kids, including kite-flying demonstrations and contests (for both amateurs and professionals), ground displays, stunt kite fliers, champion aerobatics and stunning kites – tiny to gigantic. Bring your own or make one on site at the Presidio (reservations required). Offered in partnership with Highline Kites.
HONOR AND CELEBRATE HISTORY
Memorial Day Ceremony: Monday, May 30 @ 10:30 AM
San Francisco National Cemetery
Join veterans, families and the community for the annual Memorial Day grand march and ceremony at the Presidio, as we honor the history and commitment of service men and women. The Grand March with veterans and the 191st Army Band begins at 10:30 AM from the Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Avenue with a formal program to follow at 11 AM at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio. A 21-Gun Salute by the U.S. Army’s Pacific Training Division will take place at noon.
Pasados Del Presidio: June 24 @ 12 PM
Celebrate San Francisco history during the entire month of June in the place where it all started as the Presidio Trust hosts a series pf special programs that commemorate the founding of the Presidio and celebrate the people of Early California.
- Friday, June 24, Noon to 3 PM – Afternoon Fun for Kids: See history come to life with hands-on activities, storytelling, a tortilla-making demo, and more. Afternoon music and dance by Ballet Folklórico Mexicano.
- Saturday, June 25, 11 AM to Noon – San Francisco’s Birthday: Meet at Pershing Square, across from the Presidio Officers’ Club. Descendants of the original founding families of the Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition (1775-1776) return to the Presidio to recognize the journey of their ancestors and the founding of El Presidio de San Francisco.
The 150th Anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers
The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, National Park Service, Young Audiences of Northern California, Friends of Allensworth, and the Presidio Trust offer these special activities which begin at the Presidio Officers’ Club.
- National Cemetery Walk – Saturday, June 4, 10 AM. Take a walk in San Francisco National Cemetery and place flowers on the gravesites of the Buffalo Soldiers. Shuttles to National Cemetery Overlook are provided.
- Presidio Walking Tour – Saturday, June 4, 11 am, Noon, and 1 PM. The Buffalo Soldier story at the Presidio is told through hourly tours presented by the National Park Service and the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club.
- African American Family Storytelling – Saturday, June 4, Noon AND 1 PM. Family storyteller Diane Ferlatte will perform stories of African American history.
- The Buffalo Soldier California Story – Saturday, August 6, 1 PM. Presented by Teresa Baker, National Park Service Ranger Rik Penn, the Friends of Allensworth, and historian Susan Anderson.
Korean War Memorial Opening Ceremony: Monday, August 1, 10 AM to Noon
Honor the service of Korean War veterans at the opening ceremony of this new memorial in the Presidio. Memorial is located at the corner of Sheridan Ave. and Lincoln Blvd.
CREATE & EXCAVATE
Creative Family Fun: Saturdays & Sundays, 11 AM – 4 PM at the Presidio Officers’ Club
Drop in for imaginative craft-making based on the Presidio’s natural and cultural heritage. Featuring different crafts every weekend. See below for details on some of our favorites:
- Superb Spanish Ceramics: June 4 + 5
- A-Maize-ing Corn Husk Dolls: June 18 + 19
- Build your Bridge: July 16+17
- Luminous Lighthouses: July 30 + 31
- The Buffalo Soldiers Ride Again: August 6 + 7
- Aquatic Adventures: August 27 + 28
Live Archaeology Dig: Every Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM; June 24 through October 15
Witness archaeology in action! Presidio archaeologists are working on a long-term research project to excavate El Presidio de San Francisco, the Spanish-colonial archaeological site buried just below the ground in front of the Presidio Officers’ Club. Stop by to check out our most recent findings and ask questions at the Welcome Desk in the Presidio Officers’ Club. For volunteer opportunities, email volunteer@presidiotrust.gov.
- Guided Archaeology Lab Tours: Wednesdays 1 PM
- Open Lab Hours: Every Wednesday 2 to 4 PM
LOOK UP, FILL UP
Presidio Stargazing Parties: The San Francisco Amateur Astronomers bring their giant telescopes to the Main Parade Ground and help guests see the night sky’s most interesting astronomical beauties. Sunday June 12 and August 7; 7 – 9:30 PM. All ages, co-sponsored by the Presidio Trust. Bad weather cancels. Updates at www.sfaa-astronomy.org.
Presidio Picnic continues through October 9 on Sundays at the Main Parade Ground from 11 AM – 4 PM. Throw out a blanket and enjoy a culinary extravaganza featuring food trucks offering local and artisanal fare, wine and beer, games, retail and yoga during San Francisco’s favorite picnic. Be sure to drop by Presidio’s Adventure Zone to plan your day in the park. Co-sponsored by the Presidio Trust and Off the Grid.
Presidio Twilight occurs Thursday nights beginning May 12 from 5 – 9 PM. The evening includes lantern-lit cabanas, blanket-side cocktail service, live music and fire pits to keep warm. Come early to ensure parking and bring a blanket or chairs for comfort while enjoying the views of the setting sun over the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay. Co-sponsored by the Presidio Trust and Off the Grid.
GET OUTSIDE & GET AROUND
Y Bike Learn to Ride: June 5, July 3, Aug 7; 11 AM – 2 PM
Anza and Sheridan, Main Parade Ground
Get your kids riding on two wheels with free, safe, and friendly instruction from the Presidio Community Y. Bikes and equipment are provided. All ages welcome; no reservations required. Co-sponsored by the Presidio Trust.
Guided Shuttle Tours of the Presidio: Every First Wednesday of the Month; Noon to 1 PM
Explore the Presidio’s historic areas, wild open spaces, and hidden nooks, and learn about projects around the park. Space is limited. Registration is required.
Tunnel Tops Project Lab: Presidio Trust Gallery
103 Montgomery Street, on the Main Post
As sections of the highway to the Golden Gate Bridge moves underground, a new landscape will connect the Presidio’s Crissy Field and Main Post, featuring trails, vistas, gathering spaces, a visitor center plaza, events, and learning spaces. Learn about the project and share your ideas about what you’d like to do on the site. Visit www.newpresidioparklands.org for information.
About the Presidio Trust: The Presidio is a new kind of national park located at San Francisco’s Golden Gate. Once a legendary U.S. Army post, the park now offers world-class museums and restaurants, 24 miles of hiking trails and scenic overlooks with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco’s city skyline, the Pacific Ocean, and the San Francisco Bay. The Presidio offers free public programs and events, a public golf course, the world-class Inn at the Presidio and the Presidio Officers’ Club, San Francisco’s most historic building. A wide range of recreation, wellness, and dining options are also provided by the Presidio’s 200 tenants. The Presidio is managed by the Presidio Trust (Trust), a unique federal agency created in 1998 to save the Presidio and transform it into a national park. The Trust generates revenue for the park through rehabilitating and leasing historic buildings, and now operates the Presidio without taxpayer support. In 2015 The Presidio was recognized as a top destination by National Geographic Traveler’s magazine “Best of the World” list. To learn more please visit www.presidio.gov.