Park Programs

Films at Sunset | Select Saturdays

All films begin at sunset with pre-show activities taking place two hours before sunset, including movie trivia, prizes, performances, popcorn (while supplies last), drinks from the bar (for purchase), and more! Presented in partnership with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and Bank of America.

Please bring your own low chair or blanket, and warm layers! Very limited seating is available. Pets are required to be on leash.

 

Imagination Mondays

10:00am | Mondays

Get your wiggles out with interactive activities led by Happily Ever Laughter’s Faerie Rosella or storytime led by the Best Bookstore in Union Square, on an alternating basis. All ages are welcome, but the program will be geared towards kids aged 2-4. Caretaker supervision is required at all times.

Sketching Lessons

4:00 – 6:00pm | Mondays

Join City Studio‘s roster of artist/educators for sketch classes in Union Square. Artists will use a wide range of materials and cycle through figure drawing, architectural drawings, botanical illustrations and more! Artist/educators are graduates or students from California College of the Arts and the University of San Francisco.

Toddler Tuesdays 

10:00am | Tuesdays 

Bring your little ones for interactive and musical activities, led on an alternating basis by JAMaROO Kids and Music Together of San Francisco. All ages are welcome, but the program will be geared towards kids aged 2-4. Caretaker supervision is required at all times.

Tuesday Blues
4:00 – 6:00pm | Tuesdays 

Turn your Tuesday into a celebration of music and joy as the vibrant sounds of blues and jazz music fill the Square! Curated by Jazz in the Neighborhood and Biscuits and Blues on a rotating basis.

Low Impact Fitness
8am – 9am | Wednesdays 

Achieve greater physical and mental wellness by practicing the art of Tai Chi with 64 Movements or Strength and Balance Fitness with Chinatown YMCA, on an alternating basis.

Cardio Dance
5:30 – 6:30pm | Wednesdays

Get ready to move, groove, and feel amazing at this free outdoor fitness class led by Rae Studios! Break a sweat and meet a new community at this rotating class. All participants should RSVP at www.raestudios-sf.com/union-square or be prepared to sign a waiver onsite each week.

Lunchbreak Music 
11:30am – 1:30pm | Thursdays 

Bring your lunch for an alfresco escape and tap your toes to local indie and singer-songwriters. Curated by Trixie Rasputin Presents.

Crafternoons
4:30 – 6:30pm | Thursdays

Learn to make and take home a wide-ranging variety of arts and crafts, from knitting to upcycled sculptures to natural printmaking. Drop in anytime during the program and stay as long as you’d like. Led by Rebecca Saylor Studio and SF Etsy, Coffee N Cream Press and SF Etsy, SCRAP, and Spark Studio, on a rotating basis. All ages are welcome, but children should be accompanied by a grown-up helper.

Chess Lessons and Social
11:30am – 1:30pm | Fridays 

Come learn to play chess, hone your strategy, or meet new opponents during weekly programs led by the Mechanics’ Institute. Located at the Reading and Chess Pavilion in the southeast corner of the park.

Union Square Dances
5pm – 8pm | Fridays

Rotating styles of free live music and dancing outdoors in the Square include Salsa, Country Western, Swing, Bollywood, and Tango. Each event features a dance lesson and then open dancing. All are welcome and no experience or partner is needed!

Juggling Lessons
11:30am – 1:30pm | Saturdays 

Test your dexterity and meet the talented jugglers of Circus Bella! Join in for a quick lesson, stay the whole time, or just enjoy watching others put their skills to the test. All skill levels are welcome and beginner equipment (scarves and balls) will be provided. 

 

Second Saturdays ‘Round the World
11:00am – 2:00pm | Second Saturdays 

Experience the many cultural traditions represented in San Francisco through a day of themed music, dance performance, and crafts. Check back for more info on upcoming months’ themes. 

• August 8: presented by Pacific Islander Cultural District
  • Celebrate the vibrant cultures of the Pacific at this free, family-friendly event! Enjoy an afternoon filled with dynamic traditional and contemporary dance, island music, cultural performances, and community spirit presented by the stewards and cultural partners of the Pacific Islander Cultural District. Experience the rich diversity of the Pacific through performances by the SALT Pacific Islander Association, the dynamic and vibrant Mixed Persuasion dance troupe, SF Tongans Rise Up, Fa’aSamoa Initiative, Mātua Advisory Council and other talented local artists and cultural organizations dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and sharing Pacific Island traditions. Everyone is welcome to join us in honoring the history, resilience, and living cultures of San Francisco’s Pacific Islander community.

    About the PICD: The Pacific Islander Cultural District (PICD) is San Francisco’s newest and 10th cultural district, as well as the first Pacific Islander cultural district of its kind in the United States. Following World War II, large numbers of Pacific Islanders settled in San Francisco, with the Visitacion Valley and Sunnydale neighborhoods becoming the city’s primary Pacific Islander enclave. The SALT Pacific Islander Association serves as the steward of the PICD, working to strengthen, celebrate, and preserve the community’s rich cultural heritage by supporting and collaborating with longstanding community organizations, including the Samoan Community Development Center, and cultural orgs such as Mixed Persuasion, an award-winning Pacific Islander dance troupe dedicated to preserving and sharing Pacific Island traditions through performance, education, and community engagement, and SF Tongans Rise Up, a community-based cultural org that preserves and celebrates Kingdom of Tonga heritage through traditional Tongan dance performances and cultural education. While rooted in Pacific Islander history and culture, the district welcomes and serves people of all cultures, fostering cross-cultural connection, inclusion, economic opportunity, and community development throughout the neighborhood.

• September 12: presented by Kpop Nara SF
• October 10: Rhythms of India, presented by Rang de Bollywood

 

Karaoke 

4pm – 7pm | August 15 

Bring your friends, your questionable singing voice, and your main character energy to Union Square’s stage! Hosted in partnership with local spot  Sool Bar & Lounge.

 

Golden Gate Park Band

12pm – 2pm | August 15

Elevate your Saturday afternoon with a quartet performance by San Francisco’s oldest musical organization, the Golden Gate Park Band. Since 1882, the band has been part of the rhythm of San Francisco life. Their mission is simple but powerful: keep great music accessible, keep the tradition alive, and keep welcoming new audiences into the circle.

Sunday Fun Days
11am – 2pm | Sundays 

Calling all kids and their families! Join us for fun and free drop-in S.T.E.A.M. activities led by Maker Studio Kidz, California Academy of Sciences, Walt Disney Family Museum, Randall Museum, and the De Young Museum. Activities geared towards kids aged 5 – 12. Caretaker supervision is required at all times.

Mahjong & Mixer  

3:00 – 6:00pm | Sundays 

Unwind with a sophisticated afternoon of strategy and community at these free mahjong lessons and social hour sessions led by local enthusiast Andrew Keeler. Come for the tiles, and stay for the smiles!  

• Lessons: New to the game? Our friendly instructors will guide you through the basics and have you winning your first hand in no time. 

• Social Hour: Meet fellow locals and visitors for a relaxed, open-play session. It’s the perfect way to bridge cultures and generations over a friendly match.