Join the community for the grand opening of Herz Recreation Center (160 Mrs. Jackson Way) in McLaren Park on Friday, January 9, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The new recreation center, the first built from the ground up in more than 25 years, includes an indoor basketball court with bleachers, a multipurpose room, restrooms, outdoor fitness equipment, and a nature exploration and picnic area

The event will include a speaking program, activities for youth and seniors, and open gym, followed by a Junior Warriors game. Learn more about the project at the link below.

Join Rec and Park for its annual budget meeting, which will take place virtually on Tuesday, January 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. Preliminary plans for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28 will be discussed. Learn about the department's budget instructions for the next two years and share what priorities you have for your neighborhood parks. To register for the meeting, click the link below. 

Head to Fulton Plaza (Fulton Street between Larkin and Hyde streets) for a SPECTRA showcase on Thursday, January 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. This free event will feature Joshua Hubert from GlowFidelity syncing sound to the LEDs of the SPECTRA light sculpture that spans the plaza. For more information, click the link below.

Take part in BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation's wheelchair basketball tournament at Glen Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) on Saturday, January 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This free, four-team tournament is open to players and spectators alike, and organizers are currently recruiting teams. For questions or to get involved, contact jorge@borp.org or molly@borp.org.

Join the San Francisco Rose Society for its pruning workshop on Saturday, January 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. The demonstration, which takes place at the Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park (Funston Avenue and the JFK Promenade), is perfect for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. Expert rosarians will share simple and effective techniques for keeping roses healthy. For more information, click the link below.

Calling all aspiring bottle boat builders! Come out to the San Francisco Model Yacht Club (1217 John F. Kennedy Drive) on Sunday, January 11 starting at 1 p.m. for the 2026 Bottle Boat Builders Kickoff.

Bottle boats are homemade model yachts built from recycled, low cost materials and are a fun and affordable way for novices, especially youth, to experience the joy of model yacht sailing on Spreckels Lake. Aspiring bottle builders and curious novices will have a chance to begin making their own. For more information, click the link below.

Explore "A Measure of Uncertainty," a fine art photography exhibition presented by the Bay Area Photographers Collective (BAPC) at the Harvey Milk Photo Center (50 Scott Street) from January 17 through February 21. Curated by Heather Snider, the show brings together work by 22 artists examining how imagination, technology, and photography intersect with instability in the natural world and contemporary life. An opening reception will be held Saturday, January 17 from 2 to 5 p.m., with meet-the-artist events on Saturdays, January 24 and February 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, click the link below. 

The California Academy of Sciences is hosting a celebration of life for Claude, San Francisco’s beloved albino alligator who passed away last month, at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) on Sunday, January 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free community event will feature stories, speeches, performances, and family-friendly activities celebrating Claude’s impact across generations.

Following the outdoor program, the California Academy of Sciences (55 Music Concourse Drive) will host special indoor programming from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., including craft activities and an artisan marketplace with commemorative Claude souvenirs available for purchase from local vendors. Museum admission is required. For more information, click the link below. 

Rec and Park is offering a variety of Winter 2026 arts and media classes for toddlers, youth, teens, and adults at Mission Arts Center, Harvey Milk Center for the Arts, and other neighborhood recreation centers citywide. Programs range from hands-on art exploration and creative mixed media to introductory filmmaking, providing opportunities for participants of all ages to build skills and explore creativity. See the list below and click their class name links to register.

Join the San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program for free clinics to work on your game in the offseason! The first of 2026 will take place on Saturday, January 10 at Margaret Hayward Playground (1016 Laguna Street) 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.

San Francisco Nature Education (SFNE) is hosting Saturday bird walks, with the next taking place at Heron's Head Park (32 Jennings Street) on January 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. SFNE volunteers will lead these walks, offering one program for children ages 5 to 12 (accompanied by a parent or guardian), and another for youth and adults ages 13 and up. For more information and to register for these field trips, click the link below.

Join the Friends of Sunset Dunes for its new free Traditional Chinese Dance class, held at Sunset Dunes and Judah Street every Wednesday at 11 a.m. Instructors Lisa and Amy lead the class with a focus on graceful movement, posture, breath, gentle stretching, rhythm coordination, and flowing choreography. Instruction is offered in Cantonese and Mandarin, and participants of all skill levels are welcome. For more information, click the link below.

Join the San Francisco Sea Lions Underwater Hockey (SFUWH) team for an information and practice session for new recruits and their parents at Martin Luther King Jr. Pool (5701 3rd Street) on Friday, January 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. The co-ed youth program serves capable swimmers ages 9 to 13 and focuses on training athletes for national and international competition. Our Video of the Week comes from the team and gives a glimpse at what this sport looks like. 

Founded in 1974, with a youth program established in 2008, SFUWH has produced more than 30 Team USA athletes since 2015 and competes regularly at world-level events. For more information and to register, click the link below.

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