The historic Monterey cypress outside McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park is lit for the 96th consecutive year, dazzling San Franciscans during a joyful community tree lighting ceremony last week. A lively countdown from the crowd preceded the illumination of more than 550 bulbs on the 100-foot tree. Mayor Daniel Lurie joined city and state leaders, residents, and kids onstage to lead the moment and officially open the holiday season.

The beloved community celebration featured an array of free, family-friendly activities, including carnival rides, cookie decorating, arts and crafts, live music, and cultural performances. Attendees also enjoyed ‘Photosynthesis,’ the nightly light show at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, adding another glowing highlight to the evening.

The lighting of the cherished cypress—affectionately known as Uncle John’s Tree—has been a defining San Francisco holiday tradition since 1929. Named after John McLaren, Rec and Park’s first superintendent, the tree was originally lit in honor of McLaren’s 84th birthday. Believed to have been planted in the 1880s, the tree has served as a steadfast symbol of community and holiday spirit for nearly a century. Learn more at the link below.

San Francisco’s parks earned top marks this year, with a new Controller’s Office report showing cleaner, better-maintained public spaces across the city. The citywide maintenance score ticked up to 92%, continuing a decade-long upward trend and reflecting strong performance systemwide. Nearly 90% of parks met or exceeded Rec and Park’s minimum goal score, while Corona Heights Park, Golden Gate and Steiner Mini Park, Joseph Lee Recreation Center, and Sergeant John Macaulay Park achieved perfect 100% ratings. India Basin Waterfront Park, which opened in October 2024, made an impressive debut with a 99% score.

The report highlights meaningful gains in equity and cleanliness, with parks in Equity Zones matching the citywide average and graffiti scores improving significantly. Mini parks saw notable progress as well, and seven of the city’s top-scoring parks are neighborhood sites. While 18 parks fell below the department’s 85% goal, six already have capital projects underway, while the others will be addressed with near-term fixes such as sand replenishment, pathway repairs, and surface improvements, along with longer-term capital investments and deferred maintenance prioritization. For more information, click the link below. 

Join the Friends of Sunset Dunes for its Jingle on the Way holiday event on Saturday, December 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place at Sunset Dunes and Judah Street and feature miniature train rides, a make your own holiday cards station, holiday carol sing-alongs, photos with cargo bike Santa, and more! For more information, click this link. 

See additional holiday events in our parks below: 

Rec and Park's winter class registration begins on Saturday, December 13 at 10 a.m. Classes range from Shred and Butter adult skateboarding lessons to Petite Bakers for tots, woodworking for tweens, art expression for seniors and more. To view the class catalog and to register on December 13, click the link below. 

(Photo credit: Brandon Irvin)

Lincoln Park Playground (33rd Avenue and Clement Street) is reopening after an act of arson last spring damaged the play surface, equipment and several nearby trees. The refreshed playground now includes a new play structure with a tower, slides, and climbing elements, along with new safety surfacing and plantings.

The reopening celebration takes place on Friday, December 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. and will feature face painting, bubbles, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. We look forward to welcoming families back to this revitalized space! 

The Super Bowl Experience comes to Moscone Center (747 Howard Street) from February 3 to 7 ahead of Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium, offering interactive football games, autograph sessions, Super Bowl rings and the Vince Lombardi Trophy on display, and NFL Shop merchandise. Free admission for kids 12 and under.

Bay Area residents and employees can receive 15% off general admission with promo code PARTNER15 beginning on December 9 at 10 a.m., courtesy of the Bay Area Host Committee. For more information and to use this promo code, click the link below.

Volunteers are invited to join Refuse Refuse San Francisco for a horticultural maintenance day at Lake Merced on Thursday, December 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The group will meet at the penguin statue parking lot near Brotherhood Way and Lake Merced Boulevard before heading out for a morning of stewardship and cleanup along the shoreline. To sign up, click the link below or email info@refuserefusesf.org with the event name.

Join Ikebana International's San Francisco Bay Area Chapter for a festive afternoon featuring demonstrations by some of the organization's newer members, along with the chapter’s annual holiday bazaar offering handmade gifts, crafts and paella. It’ll take place at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue) in Golden Gate Park on Friday, December 12, with doors opening at 11 a.m. and the program beginning at noon 

Ikebana, or Japanese flower arrangement, is an ancient Asian art vibrantly practiced in contemporary interpretations by this organization's members. For more information, click the link below.

Join the Tenderloin People's Congress on Friday, December 12 for the eighth Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Boeddeker Park (246 Eddy Street) beginning at 4 p.m. There will be music, live entertainment, special guests, Santa and more. For more information, click the link below.

The San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor's (1 Marina Green Drive) lighted boat parade and holiday event returns on Friday, December 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. Come out for family fun at this event, which will feature refreshments, live music, train rides, Santa and more. 

As a part of this event, the harbor is supporting the San Francisco Fire Department's annual toy drive. Community members can now drop off a new, unwrapped toy through Saturday, December 13 at the Marina Office at 1 Marina Green Drive, including during the holiday event. Gifts for all ages are accepted, though the program does not accept plush toys. For questions, email recsfmarina@sfgov.org. See you dockside!

Join the Randall Museum (199 Museum Way) for its Winter Craft Day on Saturday, December 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event offers low-cost, hands-on activities perfect for gifting and keepsakes, including woodshop trains, beeswax candles, mosaic picture holders, laser-cut bird ornaments, quick pickles, and handmade cards and gift bags. For more information, click the link below.

The Food Pavilion at India Basin Waterfront Park (900 Innes Avenue) is closing out the year with its “Savoring the Year: Food Pavilion Chef Showcase,” a three-weekend series highlighting local culinary talent from the Bayview–Hunters Point community.

Chef Fred of Curbside BBQ takes over on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14 with his signature smoked dishes.

Chef Classie of Cooking with Classie wraps up the showcase on Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21, offering her soulful, home-inspired plates.

Each pop-up runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Food Pavilion. The venue will close for the holidays on December 27 and 28 and will return with more programming in 2026. For more information, click the link below. 

Head to Sharon Art Studio (300 Bowling Green Drive) for its winter sale on Saturday, December 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shop an inspiring selection of handcrafted works by studio teachers at this festive marketplace, including elegant ceramics and one-of-a-kind pieces perfect for holiday gifting or adding a special touch at home. For more information and to RSVP, click the link below.

Taraval Street comes alive for Holidays on Taraval on Saturday, December 13 from 4 to 8 p.m., offering a free, family-friendly night of music, activities, local vendors, and neighborhood specials. The celebration stretches along Taraval Street between 21st and 23rd avenues, featuring handmade goods, festive treats, and opportunities to support small businesses. The evening also includes the community tree-lighting ceremony at McCoppin Square (1200 Taraval Street). For more information, click the link below.

The Harvey Milk Center for the Arts (50 Scott Street) is hosting its annual holiday craft fair on Sunday, December 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will include numerous local artists offering their unique handmade holiday gifts for sale to the public. There will also be family-friendly craft activities, a free photo booth, and hot apple cider. For more information, click the link below.

Families with little ones are invited to the Tot Holiday Party at Moscone Recreation Center (1800 Chestnut Street) on Wednesday, December 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Designed for children ages 1 to 4, the morning features holiday arts and crafts, toys, open tot play, and circle time. Space and supplies are limited, so arrive early for this festive celebration. For more information, call the center at (415) 292-2045.

Join the San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program for free clinics to work on your game this offseason! The final of 2025 will take place on Saturday, December 13 at Silver Terrace Playground (1700 Silver Avenue) from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 7 to 10 and noon to 1:30 p.m. for ages 11 to 14. For more information and to register, click the link below.

Lottery registration for Camp Mather's 102nd season is open and will run through Friday, January 2, 2026. Family Camp will run in weeklong sessions from May 31 through August 15, with Inclusion Week from June 21 to 27.

To register for the lottery, you will need a Rec and Park account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one at sfrecpark.org/register or call us at (628) 652-2900 for assistance. San Francisco residents will need to upload a verification of residency after lottery registration has been submitted, with the deadline for this before January 2, 2026.

For more information, including rules and regulations, as well as fees, click the link below.

Our Video of the Week from CBS Bay Area honors Brixton, the beloved therapy dog who spent more than a decade bringing comfort and joy to San Franciscans. He received a heartfelt public farewell last week after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, with friends and well-wishers gathering beneath the Union Square holiday tree to share one last moment with him.

A part of the City family through SFO’s Wag Brigade and a familiar presence in parks from Golden Gate Park to Stern Grove, Brixton helped make our public spaces brighter. His gentle demeanor and ability to make people feel seen provided a furry ray of sunshine for our city. We'll miss you, fren, and wish you a happy journey across the rainbow bridge.

(Photo credit: Brixton at Large)

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