Park Programs

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.

Tai Chi / 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. 

 

Karaoke 

4pm – 7pm  |  Third Saturdays 

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.

 

Union Square Open Air 

4pm – 8pm  |  May 2, June 6, August 1 

Free techno! No walls, no tickets, just pure beats in the heart of the city. Hosted by Free Techno SF.

          May 2: Free Techno welcomes techno pioneer Joey Beltram to Union Square

For nearly 4 decades, Joey has stood as a defining force in techno. In 1990, the timeless Energy Flash took the world by storm, a track that still hits with the same intensity today. With Mentasm, he introduced the now-iconic “hoover sound,” a churning synth pattern that                embedded itself deep into techno’s DNA and continues to echo through the music.

His work across Warp, Tresor, Transmat, Nu-Groove, Harthouse, Drumcode, and R&S Records has helped shape techno at its core. Nearly 40 years in, that influence remains, from the world’s largest stages to the deepest corners of the underground.

Joining him we have some familiar faces in San Francisco: Max Gardner b2b Adra Zachary Noel Together, we gather in the heart of downtown San Francisco to create a new chapter for our city while paying respects to one of this music’s greatest architects.

We’re thrilled to continue reviving and building this culture of vibrant expression in our beautiful home.

See you on the dance floor!

          Golden Gate Park Band

12pm – 2pm  |  May 16, June 20, July 18, 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.