Winter Walk 2023
Winter
Walk
in Union Square
Winter Walk 2023
Winter Walk, a tradition beloved by both San Francisco locals and Bay Area visitors, has made a triumphant return to the City’s heart. Presented by Amazon and the Union Square Alliance and sponsored by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Office of Mayor London N. Breed, this event pledges an enchanting fusion of contemporary arctic wonderland aesthetics, captivating performances, and festive offerings of food, drink, activities and shops.
This event is free to the public.
Now – Sunday, December 24th
M-W 12 – 7:00 pm, Thurs – Sun 10 am – 9 pm
Stockton Street from Post – Geary Street and Geary – O’Farrell Street and Maiden Lane between Stockton – Grant
Live Performances
This event wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Santa. So, in conjunction with Boswick the Clown, We Are the Kind and Dottie Lux, Winter Walk will have a complete schedule of performances on stage, sit-downs with Santa and a variety of roaming performers, with something to entertain and delight every audience.
Santa Comes to Winter Walk!
Santa comes to Winter Walk on Saturday, December 23rd and Sunday, December 24th from 1 – 6 pm.
Winter Walk Music & Entertainment Schedule
Morning & Lunchtime Acoustic Vibes – Latin Roots / Rene Escovedo
Afternoon Musicians and Bands – Latin Roots / Rene Escovedo
Evening DJ’s + Bands – Holiday Music
Morning & Lunchtime Acoustic Vibes – Alvon Johnson
Afternoon Musicians and Bands – Sofie Mae Band
Evening DJ’s + Bands – Holiday Music
Morning & Lunchtime Acoustic Vibes – Jose Simioni
Afternoon Musicians and Bands – Death & Taxes Swing Band
Evening DJ’s + Bands – DJ Trippy
Morning & Lunchtime Acoustic Vibes – We Are The Kind
Afternoon Musicians and Bands – Parlor Tricks
Evening DJ’s + Bands – DJ Tangerine
Morning & Lunchtime Acoustic Vibes – Holiday Music
Afternoon Musicians and Bands – Nigel & Clive (British Invasion)
Evening DJ’s + Bands – DJ Mario
Morning & Lunchtime Acoustic Vibes – Billy White plays Holiday Classics
Afternoon Musicians and Bands – Billy White plays Holiday Classics
Evening DJ’s + Bands – Holiday Music
Off the Grid Foodtrucks
The Union Square Alliance announces its collaboration with Off the Grid, offering an array of fantastic food trucks on themed days. Make it a daily tradition to explore diverse cultures and flavors. Alongside these delectable offerings, Winter Walk will host multiple Bars serving an extensive variety of festive specialty cocktails and beverages, ensuring there’s something for every palate to savor.
Indoor Holiday Marketplace by Sunset Mercantile
Union Square stands out as a premier destination for seasonal shopping, and The Alliance is introducing an indoor holiday marketplace at 100 Stockton, curated by Sunset Mercantile which will showcase a rotating selection of over 60 local vendors daily, representing the rich diversity of both the City and the Bay Area. This includes a vibrant mix of vendors from nearby Chinatown and the Tenderloin district. Attendees will have the chance to discover unique stocking stuffers while actively supporting small, local businesses. Sunset Mercantile has also planned family-friendly arts and crafts activities, along with optional indoor activities for an additional fee, ensuring a festive and engaging experience for all.
Ornament Trail
The Union Square Alliance continues its newer tradition of the great Ornament Trail. Giant, larger than life Ornaments designed by local artists. Download or pick up an Ornament Trail coloring sheet at our Winter Walk Info booth and wander the neighborhood for a fun activity for the whole family. Fill out the Trailbook and redeem for a prize on the Winter Walk art the Info Booth Tent while supplies last.
A Modern Arctic Wonderland
Winter Walk has long been associated with its most recognizable feature – the vibrant green faux grass. This year, however, get ready for a fresh and bold statement as the Union Square Alliance introduces a new color palette. Brace yourself for a spectacle filled with glaciers, penguins, and polar bears (oh my) as you step into a wonderland designed to captivate audiences of all ages (kids from 1 to 92). Enjoy Instagrammable moments in a modern arctic adventure brought to you by some of the best decorators in the District brought to life by Dianna Cavagnaro, Ideas Events & Rentals, Impact Lighting, Props2C, Gump’s, and the Westin St. Francis.
Safety
Safety continues to be a top priority. 24/7 private security by Legion Security will be in place within Winter Walk, in addition to the popular retired Police Officers Program, augmented by active-duty members of the SFPD, SF Travel Welcome Ambassadors, and Union Square Ambassadors throughout the district team-up to support a welcoming outdoor environment for all to enjoy.
Non-Profit Partners
Winter Walk is delighted to highlight two esteemed charities as our community non-profit partners: The Salvation Army and the San Francisco SPCA. The iconic sound of Salvation Army bells will resonate, urging guests to contribute to holiday meals for families, provide food for the unhoused, and support a range of crucial services throughout the entire year. Adding to the festive spirit, the San Francisco SPCA, known for their charming Macy’s windows, will bring their lovable furry friends onto the turf for attendees to interact with, donate to, and even adopt. It truly embodies the spirit of the Season of Giving.
About Winter Walk
Having been an annual gathering place for people to jingle, shop, and mingle between 2015 and 2018, Winter Walk reached its peak 2018 with an impressive turnout of 2.2 million attendees. Serving as a holiday respite during the Central Subway construction hiatus, Stockton Street in Union Square, which symbolizes a lively link between Chinatown and Market Street, was activated annually during the festive season. Transforming it into a welcoming public space adorned with artificial grass, illuminated seating, and a festive ambiance, Winter Walk became an enduring tradition.
Even with the Central Subway officially opening its doors in January 2023, seamlessly linking communities from Chinatown to the newly revealed Chase Center and fully reopening Stockton Street to traffic, the triumphant return of Winter Walk is a testament to the enduring spirit of community enthusiasm for this event. This revival is the result of collaborative efforts by City and community partners, including Mayor London Breed, SFMTA, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Chinatown, SFPD, SFFP, and the Union Square Alliance. The event is poised to continue bringing joy and fostering a sense of togetherness, encapsulating the spirit of the holidays in San Francisco.
Muni Impacts and Street Closures
Stockton Street between Post and O’Farrell streets will be closed beginning Monday, December 11, at 6 a.m. until Thursday, December 28th, at 11:59 p.m. Muni will reroute the 8 Bayshore, 8AX Bayshore “A” Express, 8BX Bayshore “B” Express, 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton, 91 3rd Street/19th Avenue, and T Third Street Bus routes. Please consult the table below for full details. Reroutes will begin with the start of service on Monday, December 11, and will run through end of service on Thursday, December 28.
Business Impacts
We are confident that this event will draw holiday foot traffic to Union Square which will support our local businesses and boost the economic development of Union Square and San Francisco. For information on timeline, event operating hours, delivery/trash pick-up hours, amplified sound, and layout, click the link below.
How To Support
We’re excited to offer sponsorship opportunities for Winter Walk, presenting compelling statistics and unprecedented visibility. In 2018, Winter Walk was the second most popular reason for visiting Union Square during the holiday season, drawing an astounding 2.2 million attendees in a single year. With its prime location and robust marketing, Winter Walk consistently attracts thousands of attendees, offering sponsors unparalleled exposure. Sponsorship levels range from $2500 – $50,000. If you’re interested in custom sponsorship packages for 2024’s Winter Walk, reach out to [email protected].
Winter Wander-land
San Francisco’s Union Square leans into old-world meets new-world traditions this holiday season with Winter Wander-land in Union Square, presented by The Union Square Alliance. Winter Wander-land encompasses all holiday activations in the Union Square District, making it clear that there’s no place like Union Square for the holidays. The activations include Gump’s Holiday Pop-Up, The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Kaiser Permanente, Macy’s Great Tree, Macy’s SFSPCA Holiday Windows, Bill Graham Menorah, The Westin St. Francis Sugar Castle, Larger-Than-Life Ornament Trail, and Miracle at PCH.
