Come out to the EcoCenter in Heron's Head Park (32 Jennings Street) for its 15th Anniversary and Earth Month celebration on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event will feature activities, games, a volunteer work day, community resources, free books and more. For more information and to RSVP for this free event, click the link below

Join the Tenderloin Merchants Association at Jefferson Square Park (Eddy and Gough streets) for its Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a volunteer cleanup, ceremonial tree planting, brief remarks, and a cake picnic. For more information, click the link below.

Come out to Alemany Farm's (700 Alemany Boulevard) Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free event will feature potato planting, farm tours, face painting, DJ, live music by Duo Pizzicato, the traditional pig roast, and more. For more information, click the link below. 

Join community partners in celebrating the fifth anniversary of the JFK Promenade with a community picnic on Sunday, April 27 from noon to 3 p.m. It will take place at Peacock Meadow east of the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers by the Solar Arch. The event will feature activities for all ages as well as food trucks. For more information, click the link below. 

Rec and Park is working with the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII) and Mission Bay Development Group (MBDG) to design and develop the future parks at Mission Bay. MBDG is holding a community meeting on Tuesday, April 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to present ideas and gather input. It will take place inside the big red tent at Spark Social (601 Mission Bay Boulevard). For more information and to RSVP for the meeting, click the link below. 

Are you between the ages of 12 and 23 and ready to make a difference in your community? The San Francisco Youth Commission is now accepting applications for its next cohort of youth leaders! The Youth Commission is a diverse group of 17 young San Franciscans appointed by the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to serve as the official youth voice in City Hall. This isn’t just an after-school program—it’s a chartered commission, written into city law, where you’ll have a seat at the table on policy and budget decisions that impact young people across the city. For details, including upcoming information sessions and to apply, click the link below.

Artists and artist teams with strong ties to the Fillmore are invited to apply for Phase 1 of the Buchanan Street Mall Memory Walk—a public art initiative celebrating the neighborhood’s rich history, culture and legacy. Selected applicants will design interpretive elements that reflect the stories, people, and memories of the community. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 23. Applications can be submitted online or in-person. For more information on how to apply, application support including upcoming office hours, and other details, click the link below. 

Additional questions? Contact the Trust for Public Land at BayAreaParks4People@tpl.org.

The Dahlia Society of California is seeking two young adult interns to volunteer at the Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park. Interns will work Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from early June through mid-August, under the guidance of master gardener Deborah Dietz. This hands-on opportunity includes learning how to weed, deadhead and disbud dahlias, while helping prepare for the Dahlia Show from August 16 to 17 at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue) in Golden Gate Park.

Applicants must be 16 to 26 years old, reliable, and comfortable getting dirty, crawling, bending and lifting up to 25 pounds. They must be available and committed to all Saturdays during the internship session, willing to be fingerprinted by mid-May and complete a volunteer application shortly after expressing interest. The time commitment is about 20 hours over 10 Saturdays, plus additional hours for the Dahlia Show.

This opportunity is open until filled and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified candidates. To apply, email brenda.cartagena@sfgov.org and explain why you’d like to be considered. For questions, email dahliasocietyofcalifornia@gmail.com. To learn more about the Dahlia Dell, click the link below.

We're excited to share that Peixotto Playground (Roosevelt Way and 15th Street) has fully reopened following repairs from a landslide caused by the 2022 winter storms. The project scope included removing the debris and installing safety netting on the hillside, as well as repairing an exterior water leak at the clubhouse, renovating a large area of the play structure and repainting the clubhouse and play structure. A special thanks to our deferred maintenance, structural maintenance, park services and property management teams for their diligent and amazing work on this park. Plan your next trip there at the link below.

We're excited to share that the resurfacing of the tennis court at Eureka Valley Recreation Center (100 Collingwood Street) is complete. Grab your racket and serve up some aces this week! 

Civic Center Soundtrack, a free concert series by Illuminate Live, is at Fulton Plaza (Fulton and Larkin streets) between San Francisco Main Library and the Asian Art Museum. These diverse musical performances will be held every Tuesday and Thursday. See the upcoming shows:  

          April 24 | Noon-3 p.m. - Barb Murphy, Ben Lang, and Pete Kronowitt

          April 29 | Noon-3 p.m. - Donovan Plant, Junior Correa, and Tilde Mouw

For the full concert schedule, click the link below.

Join Young People’s Teen Musical Theatre Company (YPTMTC) for a special workshop production of "The Day The Sky Turned Orange," an upcoming R&B musical with a script by Julius Rea and music by Olivia Kuper Harris and David Michael Ott. Featuring new student-created content alongside the script, this workshop brings YPTMTC's director and young performers together with the creative team behind the production's upcoming world premiere this fall, which is co-produced by the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO) and Z Space. A heartfelt call for environmental awareness, the story follows a group of students fighting to hold onto hope during the 2020 Covid lockdowns, as wildfire smoke turns Bay Area skies orange.

The last weekend for these productions is April 25 to 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Randall Museum (199 Museum Way). For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link below.

Join McKinley Elementary for DogFest, a celebration of dogs, families and community at Duboce Park (Duboce Avenue and Scott Street) on Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This charitable event raises funds for McKinley Elementary and features doggie contests and treats, games, activities, and more. For more information and to register your dog, click the link below. 

Come out to Skate, Rock, Roll, Read at Fulton Plaza (Fulton and Larkin streets) on Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fulton Street will become a hub of activation—live performances, hands-on creative activities, and community-based resources for youth and families. Participate in skateboarding lessons, design skate sneakers, create signature skateboard deck designs, and be part of the outdoor performance space in the heart of Civic Center. For more information, click the link below.

Celebrate Thai, Lao and Khmer New Year at the Tenderloin Recreation Center (570 Ellis Street) on Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Southeast Asian Development Center (SADC), in partnership with Rec and Park and Community Youth Center (CYC), invites families and community members to a Songkran Day celebration with games and activities, food and refreshments, live entertainment, crafts, cultural performances, and more. For more information, call (415) 771-2600 or email info@seadcenter.org.

Mark Foehringer Dance Project | SF presents Dancing in the Park SF, a free outdoor dance festival on Saturday, April 26 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive). This free family-friendly event will feature live performances from renowned Bay Area dance companies including ODC/Dance Company, Robert Moses’ Kin, Soulforce, and more. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy an afternoon of movement, music and celebration. For more information, click the link below. 

The Francisco Park (Bay and Larkin streets) Conservancy will be celebrating the park's third birthday on Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be yoga, bubbles and face painting, coffeeklatch, and a cake picnic at 1 p.m. For more information, including on how to participate in the cake picnic, click the link below. 

Join the San Francisco Public Library and community partners for its Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros celebration of literacy, books and nature. It takes place on Sunday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Parque Niños Unidos (23rd and Folsom streets). The event will feature performances, arts and crafts, community resources, nature play, reading activities and more. For more information, click the link below.

Join the Golden Gate Park Band for its next concert on Sunday, April 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive). Dr. German Gonzalez will lead a program that includes audience favorites from the band's history including Stars and Stripes Forever, Amazing Grace, the Looney Tunes Overture and more. For more information, click the link below.

Join us for free concerts with Illuminate Live at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) between the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. See the upcoming shows:  

April 27 | 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Reggae Sunday featuring DJ Guid8nce, DJ Sep, Irie Dole, and OG The DJ

April 30 | Noon-4 p.m.

Singer/Songwriter Wednesday featuring Joe Brennan, Karaj Lost Coast, and Purple Albatross

For the full concert schedule, click the link below.

Come out to Sharon Art Studio (300 Bowling Green Drive) for its open house on Sunday, May 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. Meet the studio's instructors, participate in art activities, see live demonstrations, and take guided tours of this vibrant space. Additionally, see the work of Sharon Art Studio teachers, assistants, and students—with some art pieces available for purchase. For more information, click the link below.

Check out all of the amazing drop-in activities and scheduled classes available at the reimagined UN Plaza and surrounding Civic Center area. From the Heart of the City Farmers' Market at Fulton Plaza to free skateboarding lessons at UN Plaza, we have something for everyone to get out and play in San Francisco's core. See the workout class schedule from Rae Studios at UN Plaza, as well as the full amenity list and schedule at the link below.

Union Square Plaza (333 Post Street) is your 2025 destination for fun, free outdoor programming. Come out to the park Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a kids zone, giant games, recess cart, and reading and chess pavilion or break a sweat, listen to music or discover a new hobby. This week will have live music, cardio dance workouts, chess and juggling lessons, craft activities including ceramic bowl and bumble bee puppet making, the kickoff to Bay Area Dance Week, and more! For more information and to view the programming schedule at the Square, click the link below.

Come dig, smell, taste, build, and explore with the San Francisco Botanical Garden (1199 9th Avenue) on Bean Sprouts Family Days presented by Kaiser Permanente. Come out for family fun in the Children’s Garden on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon and the first Saturdays of each month from noon to 4 p.m. Programs are free with admission to the garden with no pre-registration required. For more information, click the link below.

Come out for Tot Outdoor Exploration at Glen Canyon Park (Elk and Chenery streets) on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning April 24. Designed for ages 4 to 5, introduce your little ones to the wonders of nature with mini-hikes, beginner-friendly archery, and arts and crafts inspired by the great outdoors. Each child must be accompanied by a participating adult. For more information and to sign up, click the link below. 

Check out the new mini indoor archery range at Mission Recreation Center (2450 Harrison Street). It's open on Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. through May 15. There will be paper and 3D targets with all bow and arrow types welcome. Equipment for loan will also be available. For more information and to sign up for a session, click the link below.

San Francisco Nature Education is hosting heron watch events at Blue Heron Lake (50 Blue Heron Lake Drive) in Golden Gate Park throughout the spring nesting season in April and May. They take place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the next on Saturday, April 26. Bring binoculars if you have them. For more information and to register, click the link below.

Mobile Rec comes to Joe DiMaggio Playground (651 Lombard Street) on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy free BMX biking, skateboarding and more. Skateboarding equipment will be provided. For more information, click the link below.

Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) is hosting a free drop-in wheelchair basketball session every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. in partnership with BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation. All ages are welcome. You don't have to have a mobility disability to participate, but you must be able to maneuver a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are available for participants at least 5 feet tall. Let's get hooping!

Additional questions? Contact Glen Park Recreation Center at (415) 239-4007.

The next Young at Heart intergenerational program, which takes place at the Golden Gate Park Senior Center (6101 Fulton Street), is on Monday, April 28 from 10 to 10:40 a.m. This event will feature an April showers themed story time and craft activity. These programs aim to bring children, families, and seniors together in a unique way to share stories, participate in activities, and more. For more information and to RSVP, call (415) 518-7725 or email katherine.villasin@sfgov.org.

Join EcoCenter staff and community partners for the free Explore and Learn program. Usually hosted in Heron's Head Park, the program will hit the road this winter and spring. Explore and Learn is a family friendly program for parents and children to connect with nature through stories and outdoor activities. Attendees will participate in live story telling and nature walks. For more information and to register for the next occurrence at Martin Luther King Jr. Pool/Bayview K.C. Jones Playground (5701 3rd Street) on Tuesday, April 29 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., click the link below.

Additional questions? Call (415) 676-1394 or email ecocenterhhp@sfgov.org. 

Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for classic movie nights! The next will take place on Tuesday, April 29 beginning at 6 p.m. and will feature a vintage cartoon night. Come meet your neighbors and enjoy these vintage films. For more information, contact Glen Park Recreation Center at (415) 239-4007.

The San Francisco Public Library's (SFPL) YouthMobile is coming to parks around the city. Movement and play are key to fostering literacy and a love of reading and the SFPL is bringing stories and song to San Francisco's parks through its Swing into Stories program. It takes place at a different park each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to noon (Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m.) with the next at the Garfield Playground (Treat and 26th streets) on May 6. 

The YouthMobile offers a diverse selection of children’s library materials available for checkout with an SFPL library card. For more information and the Swing into Stories schedule, click the link below. 

Our Video of the Week comes from SFGovTV and takes us back to the opening of Sunset Dunes a couple of weekends ago! Marking the largest pedestrian conversion project in California history, the opening ushered in a new era for San Francisco’s coastline. It transformed 2 miles of the former Great Highway from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard into a vibrant, 50-acre surfside park. Learn more about the project and plan your next trip to the park at the link below. 

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