What's New at the Presidio – Fall 2022

​​​New events, destinations, and amenities in San Francisco’s national park site

San Francisco, CA (September 7, 2022) – With wonderful weather and spectacular new experiences to enjoy, fall is a fantastic time to visit the Presidio of San Francisco. Adding to the excitement, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, of which the Presidio is a part, marks its 50th anniversary on October 27. To celebrate, come explore two visitor destinations added to the Presidio over the past year, including the newest crown jewel – Presidio Tunnel Tops. The park is also hosting free public cultural events and new Presidio Pop Up mobile food offerings.

Opening Season at Presidio Tunnel Tops

Presidio Tunnel Tops, 14 acres of new park land reconnecting the waterfront to the park’s center, opened with fanfare in July and has already been appreciated by thousands for its stunning Golden Gate views, gardens, trails, and play areas. Free public events like the First Sunday Afternoon series (Oct. 2, Nov. 6), or the Chuseok Festival (Sept. 10) co-curated by the Presidio Activator Council and Community Experts, World Arts West, and Hip Hop for Change, offer family-friendly, community fun. Campfire talks by NPS park rangers have been extended through the fall! Enjoy stories about the Presidio’s history on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 4 pm to 4:30 pm. The new Field Station encourages kids of all ages to discover the nature and ecology of the Presidio through sensory activities – with a focus on fall. Staff can also provide self-guided adventures, like the Explorer Backpacks with tools for exploration, scavenger hunts, or discovery maps. The two-acre Outpost nature play space is the largest of its kind in the Bay Area, and a huge hit with its play elements made of all natural materials. The Presidio Visitor Center provides orientation to the entire park, special interactive exhibits, and retail items to make any day in the Presidio successful.

While at Presidio Tunnel Tops, see the temporary outdoor mural exhibition Ancestral Futurism: Looking Back to Repair the Future by Favianna Rodriguez. The colorful imagery honors the diversity and interconnectedness of all humans, land, flora, and fauna that have lived in this ecosystem for centuries. Abstract symbols reflect plants and creatures that were once abundant in the region, and illustrate themes of justice, freedom, and belonging. The installation is outdoors on the pathways near the Presidio Visitor Center and the Outpost nature play space.

Bluffs and Marshes

A short walk from Presidio Tunnel Tops is Battery Bluff, a new gem built on top of the western set of Presidio Parkway tunnels. Opened in April 2022, it showcases historic gun batteries built by the U.S. Army between 1899-1902, making them accessible to visitors for the very first time. Battery Bluff also features picnic tables where visitors can enjoy a meal with a bay view, three scenic overlooks with sweeping views of the Golden Gate, Angel Island, and Alcatraz, and a multi-use pathway to the Golden Gate Bridge. Quartermaster Reach Marsh is another site worth visiting! It’s seven acres of restored wetlands located across from East Beach at the Presidio’s Crissy Field. Enjoy the view from the marsh trail, a birding hot spot. Or take a walk all the way up the Tennessee Hollow Watershed to Inspiration Point.

Volunteer in the Presidio

Giving back to the Presidio through volunteering is a way to meet people and contribute to the health and vitality of the park. Along with thousands of volunteers each year, the Presidio Trust, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the National Park Service work to protect the natural and cultural resources of the GGNRA for the enjoyment of everyone. Choose from a variety of projects for individuals and groups, from planting to archaeology, to greeting visitors. All training, tools, and leadership are provided. Check the website for more information.

Culture, Art, + History

The Presidio is home to several museums and cultural institutions like The Walt Disney Family Museum, the California Society of Pioneers, Military Intelligence Service (MIS) Historic Learning Center, Presidio Theatre, and more. Public outdoor art sculptures by Andy Goldsworthy—Spire, Wood Line, and Earth Wall—are unique examples of the English sculptor’s place-based, grand scale art works, and can be found along trails in the park. The various galleries in the Presidio Officers’ Club are open on Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Recreation

Several fitness operations are based in the Presidio, including the newly opened Crossfit 7×7 gym, the Presidio Community YMCA, yoga and Pilates studios Baptiste Power Yoga and A Body of Work, Movement climbing gym, and the House of Air trampoline center. Presidio Golf Course is a public, 18-hole course that is one of the most historic courses in the west. The Presidio Bowl has also been a family favorite for decades. See our website for visitor-facing business in the park.

Eat in the Presidio

The new and wildly successful Presidio Pop Up offers a daily rotating roster of mobile food trucks and carts. They serve up delicious food that celebrates the diverse cultures and cuisines of the Bay Area, seven days a week on Presidio Tunnel Tops (9 am to 5 pm weekdays, to 5:30 pm on weekends) at two locations – Mason Street by the Outpost, and by the Main Parade Lawn across from the Visitor Center. Presidio Pop Up supplements a growing roster of brick-and-mortar restaurants in the park, like Colibri Mexican Bistro, newly opened in the historic Presidio Officers’ Club. Presidio Bowl sports a refurbished patio with heat lamps and fire pits, a selection of over 45 beers, ciders, and seltzers, and delicious pub food. Presidio Café at Presidio Golf Course serves American comfort food with California flair from 9 am to 5 pm daily. For more fine dining, Presidio Social Club and Sessions at the Presidio are park favorites. For a full list of restaurants in the Presidio, visit our website.

Special Events and Lodging

There are many locations in the Presidio perfect for a wedding, holiday party, or corporate meeting – both indoors and outdoors. Special event venues, like the Golden Gate Club, Presidio Officers’ Club, or the Log Cabin have created happy memories for decades. Now for the first time ever, it’s possible to rent out the Presidio’s Main Parade Lawn and two meadows at the new Presidio Tunnel Tops (East Meadow and the Western Lawn). Picnic Place – with tables and BBQ grills – is reservable via recreation.gov, and reservations are available 30 days in advance. Tables range in length from 16 to 23 feet, are wheelchair accessible, and are shaded by Torrey pines.

A stay at the Lodge at the Presidio or the Inn at the Presidio may be part of a special event, a trip to San Francisco, or a staycation. The two historic boutique hotels are a lovely escape – both featuring indoor and outdoor fireplaces, complementary wine and cheese hour, and breakfast buffet. They are pet-friendly and situated within the Presidio’s idyllic park surroundings.

Getting to the Park

With the re-opening of the Transit Center and the return of several Muni bus routes, it’s now easier to take public transportation to visit the park. The Presidio Go Shuttle operates an express route downtown, free to all during non-commute hours, and an “Around the Park” route serves various park locations. Visitors can take advantage of a new rideshare drop-off zone and the new Bay Wheels bike share stations as well. For details on transportation please visit www.presidio.gov/transportation.

Attention Calendar Editors:

Event: 4th Annual Chuseok (Korean Harvest) Festival
Who: Korean Center, Inc.
Date: Saturday, September 10
Time: 11 am to 5 pm
Place: Main Parade Lawn in the Presidio
Price: Free
Weblink: https://koreancentersf.org/
https://www.presidio.gov/events/4th-annual-chuseok-korean-harvest-festival
The Korean Center, Inc.’s Annual Chuseok (Korean Harvest) Festival is the Bay Area’s largest public event celebrating, showcasing, and promoting Korean culture, cuisine, music, arts, and community. The festival’s mission is to inspire exploration and discovery of Korean culture and offer Korean Americans a way to come together for this important traditional holiday. Free to the public and back in person at the Presidio, this year’s Chuseok Festival promises to be an exciting event filled with delicious food, fun activities, raffles, and live performances!

Event: USAF Band of the Golden West, Fleet Week Performance
Who: USAF Band of the Golden West
Date: Thursday, October 6
Time: 3 pm to 4:30 pm
Place: Presidio Visitor Center, 210 Lincoln Blvd., San Francisco, 94129
Price: Free
Weblink: https://www.presidio.gov/events/usaf-band-of-the-golden-west-fleet-week-performance
The U.S. Airforce Band of the Golden West from Travis Airforce base will perform two afternoon shows to kick off San Francisco’s Fleet Week.

Event: First Sunday Afternoons at Presidio Tunnel Tops
Who: Partnership for the Presidio
Dates: October 2; November 6
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
Place: Presidio Visitor Center, 210 Lincoln Blvd., San Francisco, 94129
Price: Free
Weblink: https://www.presidiotunneltops.gov/events/first-sunday-afternoons
Enjoy family-friendly fun for all ages at First Sunday Afternoons at Presidio Tunnel Tops. The event features a variety of special activities like DJs, world music, and dance performances on the Community Stage; Presidio Pop Up food vendors; public art; and more. The series is co-curated with the Presidio Activator Council and Community Experts, Hip Hop for Change, World Arts West, and Korean Center, Inc.

Event: International Archaeology Day
Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Place: Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., San Francisco, 94129
Price: Free

Bring your family to the Presidio of San Francisco to learn about the layered history of this special place! Enjoy guided tours of the live archaeology dig site of El Presidio and the Presidio Archaeology Lab. Activities include exploring the Presidio Officers’ Club, learning from archaeologists working in the field, making adobe bricks, and other crafts and family fun both indoors and out.
Link: https://www.presidio.gov/events/international-archaeology-day

Event: Visit a Live Archaeology Dig at El Presidio
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays, through October 16
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Place: Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., San Francisco, 94129
Price: Free
Witness archaeology in action! Presidio archaeologists are working on a long-term research project to excavate El Presidio de San Francisco, the Spanish-colonial site buried just below the ground in front of the Presidio Officers’ Club. Stop by the dig to check out their recent discoveries and ask questions. Or check out opportunities to volunteer to help with the discovery.
Link: https://www.presidio.gov/officers-club/exhibitions/archaeology-research

Event: World Arts West Dances in the Park
Who: World Arts West
Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 12 pm to 5 pm
Place: Presidio Main Parade Lawn, 210 Lincoln Blvd., San Francisco, 94129
Price: Free
Weblink: https://www.presidio.gov/events/world-arts-west-dances-in-the-park
Description: World Arts West Dances in the Park is a free, family-friendly celebration showcasing performances by culturally diverse Bay Area dance companies. From the producers of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival and hosted on the Presidio’s Main Parade Lawn for the Opening Season of Presidio Tunnel Tops.

Event: Presidio Trust Public Board Meeting
Who: Presidio Trust
Date: November 14
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Place: Ortega Ballroom, Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., San Francisco, 94129
Price: Free
Weblink: https://www.presidio.gov/events/presidio-trust-public-board-meeting
Two of the Presidio Trust’s board meetings per year are open to the public. Learn about matters within the jurisdiction of the Presidio Trust and park operations. The public is invited to offer comments.

Event: Holiday Lights: The Presidio’s Traditional Tree-Lighting
Date: Friday, December 2
Time: At dusk
Place: Main Post, across from Presidio Community Y (corner of Lincoln and Funston)
Price: Free

Enjoy the Presidio’s historic holiday tree for the season! Since 1991, the now 55-foot-tall Norfolk Island pine has glowed with strings of lights at night beginning the first Friday in December, bringing the warmth of the season into the hearts of all. The tradition of tree lighting at the US Army base began even earlier in 1957, for families who lived and worked in the Presidio to enjoy the holidays. It continued when the Presidio opened its gates to all as a public park 27 years ago. Enjoy a quiet moment with the holiday lights, which will shine for passersby each night in December.

Event: Presidio Officers’ Club Museum Galleries
Who: Presidio Trust
Dates: Saturdays
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Place: Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., San Francisco, 94129
Price: Free
Weblink: /officers-club/exhibitions
The Presidio Officers’ Club, San Francisco’s most historic building, houses special events venues and is home to several galleries with permanent and temporary exhibitions tracing the Presidio’s past from the Ohlone period through the park’s latest national park chapter. The Presidio’s most popular special exhibition to date, EXCLUSION: The Presidio’s Role in World War II Japanese American Incarceration, invites visitors to investigate the choices – both personal and political – that led to this dark chapter in American history.

Event: NPS Park Ranger Campfire Talks
Who: National Park Service
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Time: 4 pm to 4:30 pm
Place: 210 Lincoln Blvd., San Francisco, 94129, Presidio Tunnel Tops Campfire Circle
Price: Free
Weblink: presidiotunneltops.org
Join the NPS Park Rangers for free campfire talks at Presidio Tunnel Tops every Friday – Sunday at 4 pm. Park rangers will present histories of the diverse people who have passed through the Presidio through time – this includes indigenous history, military stories including the Buffalo Soldiers’ stories, Japanese Americans interned during WWII, and more. No reservations are required for this free 30-minute drop-in program.

Event: Drop-In Presidio Nature + History Explorations
Who: Partnership for the Presidio
Date and Time: Wednesday – Friday 11 am to 4 pm; Saturday – Sunday 10 am to 5 pm (Closed Monday and Tuesday)
Place: Presidio Field Station, 601 Mason Street, San Francisco, 94129
Price: Free
Weblink: presidiotunneltops.org
The Field Station is a new indoor park facility filled with an abundance of real objects, field specimens, tools and reading resources that connect visitors with the park’s natural and cultural history. Sensory-based activities with seasonally changing content encourage curious exploration, discovery, and investigation of the real Presidio. It’s free and open to the public to drop in, five days a week and staffed by friendly Park Guides, and youth Adventure Guides from our Crissy Field Center youth programs.

For more events in the Presidio please visit these websites:

California Society of Pioneers
Presidio Theatre
Walt Disney Family Museum

Presidio Tunnel Tops Hours of Operation

Presidio Pop Up (mobile food): Weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm; weekends 9 am to 5:30 pm
Outpost Nature Play Area: 9:30 am to 6 pm daily (closes at 4 pm November thru March)
Field Station: Wednesday – Friday, 11 am to 4 pm; Saturday – Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm (Closed Monday and Tuesday)
Presidio Visitor Center: 10 am to 5 pm daily

About the Presidio + 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.