New Year's Eve in San Francisco, CA
New Year's Eve in San Francisco, CA — Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square ($22) and San Francisco on Ice ($20-25) are top options. Book by mid-December — popular venues sell out. Family-friendly countdowns usually start at 6pm.
Open every day of the year. SF residents get discounted admission. The Little Puffer miniature train is a guaranteed toddler hit.
Sloat Blvd & Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94132 · Daily 10am-5pm, last entry 4pm · Ages 0+
Free summer concert series in a eucalyptus grove. Kid Zone with face painting and instrument petting zoo. Bring a blanket.
19th Ave & Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132 · Gates noon, concert 2pm, Sundays mid-June through mid-August
1,200-capacity concert venue from the 1960s psychedelic era. Crystal chandeliers, balconies, concert poster art on the walls. They hand out free posters as you leave. Ticket prices vary by artist.
1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115 · Show nights only, doors typically 7-8pm
700-capacity concert hall built in 1907. Marble columns, gilded balconies, frescoed ceilings. Rock, jazz, bluegrass, soul, and comedy. Standing room main floor, seated balcony.
859 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94109 · Show nights, box office Wed-Fri 1pm-6pm
Seven floors of modern and contemporary art. Frida Kahlo, Warhol, Calder. Rooftop sculpture garden with city views. Free under 18. Late Thursdays open until 8pm. Federal employees free with ID.
151 Third St, San Francisco, CA 94103 · Mon-Tue 10am-5pm, Wed closed, Thu noon-8pm, Fri-Sun 10am-5pm
400-seat comedy club in North Beach with touring headliners and up-and-coming comedians. Good sightlines from every seat. Two-drink minimum. Plenty of Italian restaurants nearby for dinner beforehand.
915 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 · Show nights, check schedule
Open since 1978, 182 seats. Robin Williams, Dana Carvey, Ellen DeGeneres all came through here. Mix of established headliners and new talent showcases.
444 Battery St, San Francisco, CA 94111 · Show nights, check schedule
1922 Spanish Colonial Baroque movie palace, SF Historic Landmark #100. Wurlitzer organ still inside. Recently renovated, now hosts concerts, film screenings, comedy, and community events.
429 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114 · Event nights, check schedule
2,743-seat home of the SF Symphony. Classical concerts, film score performances, special events. Student and teacher rush $25 on select concerts. Open rehearsal tickets ($55-65) Thursday mornings.
201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102 · Performance schedule varies, check calendar
1915 Beaux-Arts rotunda and colonnades built for the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Grounds and lagoon free to visit year-round. Indoor theatre (1,000 seats) hosts concerts, ballet, comedy, cultural performances.
3301 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123 · Grounds open daily; theatre hours vary by event
Free museum inside the actual cable car barn and powerhouse. Watch the massive winding wheels pulling 9.6 miles of cable at 9.5 mph from the mezzanine. This is the real system, not a replica. Three antique cable cars from the 1800s. Donations cash only. Wheelchair ramp on Washington St side.
1201 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108 · Tue-Thu 10am-4pm, Fri-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon
Outdoor food truck park with trucks rotating from 200+ Bay Area operators. Free entry, food $10-18 per item. Fire pits, lawn games, bar. Weekday lunch has short lines; Fri/Sat evenings are packed. Dogs welcome. Check @sparksocialsf on Instagram for daily lineups.
601 Mission Bay Blvd N, San Francisco, CA 94158 · Mon-Thu 11am-3pm & 5-9pm, Fri 11am-3pm & 4-9pm, Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Music venue in a converted 1914 mortuary chapel in the Mission. 400-capacity room, indie rock, folk, electronic, world music. The upstairs restaurant and bar are good on their own. Tickets $15-40.
777 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110 · Show nights, Mon-Sun 5pm+, box office Thu/Sat 12:30-5:30pm
Free outdoor concerts in a natural eucalyptus grove amphitheater, running Sunday afternoons mid-June through mid-August since 1938. Classical, jazz, pop, world music. Reserve free tickets online in advance. Bring a blanket and picnic.
19th Ave & Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132 · Sunday afternoons, mid-Jun through mid-Aug, typically 2pm
Victorian-era saloon on Columbus Ave with free live jazz and ragtime most evenings from 8pm. No cover. Mahogany bar, pressed tin ceilings. Craft cocktails and small plates.
155 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 · Tue-Sat 4pm-12am, closed Sun-Mon
Basement venue in the Castro, 250 capacity. Indie rock, folk, electronic, jazz, comedy. Low ceilings, good acoustics, good cocktails. Tickets $15-35.
2174 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114 · Show nights, doors typically 7-8pm
Free monthly night market in Chinatown with 40+ vendors, food stalls, games, DJs. Typically one Saturday per month, 6-11pm. Check the schedule for dates.
Grant Ave & Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94108 · Monthly, typically one Saturday evening, 6-11pm
400-capacity venue in a converted TV studio. Indie rock, electronic, drag shows, comedy, themed dance parties. Good sound for the space. Tickets $12-30. Programming is all over the place in a good way.
155 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102 · Show nights, doors typically 8-9pm
Tucked in a Financial District alley — 100+ wines by the glass, no attitude.
408 Merchant St, San Francisco, CA 94111 · Mon-Sat 5pm-12am, closed Sun
$22 includes skate rental. The classic SF holiday rink. Drag on Ice nights in December. Open through mid-January.
333 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94108 · Daily 10am-11pm
Brand new for 2026. SF's largest outdoor rink at Fisherman's Wharf. Waterfront views. ~$20-25 including skate rental.
80 Jefferson St, San Francisco, CA 94133 · Daily 10am-11pm
$15 adults, $7 skate rental. Year-round indoor rink in downtown Oakland. Easy BART ride. Less crowded than anything in SF.
519 18th St, Oakland, CA 94612 · Mon-Sun, hours vary by day -- check website