Weekend Planner: December 21st
You’ve worked hard all week, and now Friday’s here again! It’s time to start planning your weekend! Welcome to Weekend Planner, your weekend update on fun.
Every Friday we put together a list of the weekend events we think look most interesting and provide them here. Keep in mind there is always a lot more going on, and all it takes is a little digging to find something that will be the perfect activity for you.
Click on any of the event titles for a link to the event.
Friday, December 21st
Public Works, San Francisco
10 PM, Ages: 21+
$15
SF! We are back with another 70s night, this time bringing you a night dedicated to one of the biggest groups of all time. Throw on your Freddie Mercury inspired outfits and meet us on the dancefloor.
Dance to a massive dose of Queen and Queen inspired hits, all mixed with the biggest 70s anthems from glam rock to disco and everything in between. From Bowie to Abba and more.
Free pins for the first 200
2 Full Bars
21+
Public Works SF
Luminescent Grand Concert at “Winter Walk”
Union Square, San Francisco
All Day, All Ages
Free
Union Square’s Winter Walk will once again make the holidays brighter by transforming Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis, which is adjacent to Union Square Park, into 17,000 sq ft of open green space and a pedestrian-only holiday pop-up plaza.
2018 Winter Walk SF November 26 – December 31, 2018 | 9am to 9pm Stockton St. between Geary and Ellis, San Francisco FREE (most special activities are free, but some have a nominal charge)
Back again for its fifth year, this year’s Winter Walk will be open for 5 weeks from November 26 through December 31, 2018 with two open-air beer and wine gardens, food trucks, live performances, carolers, holiday-themed photo opportunities, lots of family-friendly activities, and other wintery surprises.
Last year, Winter Walk was attended by over 750,000 locals and visitors and many more are anticipated to enjoy the festivities this year.
2018 Winter Walk Schedule
Highlights
Please note that as of 12/5/18 the times for some events still had not been announced. Check winterwalksf.com for updates.
Monday, November 26 | Opening Day
December 6: Dickens Fair Choir from 11:30 am-12:30 pm
December 6: “Mean Girls” themed drag performance by local drag queen Tye and friends at 6:30 pm, 7 pm & 7:30 pm
December 7: Performance by the Salvation Army Children’s Choir
December 9: Urban Flowers – Wreath & Centerpiece Demos from 11 am-2 pm
December 13 and 21: Pop-up appearances by the Bay Area’s beloved Dickens Fair
December 13: Silent Disco presented by HUSHconcerts from 5-9 pm – $10 tickets
December 14-16 – Mary Poppins Takeover – Special Photo Wall for you to pose in front of as well as giveaways including tickets to an advance screening of the film on Monday, December 17 in San Francisco.
December 15: Core Power Yoga from 11-11:30 am
December 16: Urban Flowers – Wreath & Centerpiece Demos from 11 am-2 pm
December 21: Special Winter Solstice performance by Luminescent Grand (the world’s first synesthesia piano)
December 23: Museum of Craft & Holiday Craft Station from 11 am-2 pm
Happening Everyday
Curated Off the Grid food trucks, beer, wine, and holiday craft cocktails
Mobile holiday photo stations
Community performances & entertainment, various times
Instagrammable moment: Life-sized letters of “Winter Walk SF” presented by Columbus Craft Meats on the corner of Stockton and Ellis
Interactive cloud art installation on Stockton between Ellis and O’Farrell, presented by Lufthansa. Enter to win trip tickets on site
Weekly Themes
Sunday – Wednesday: Traveling Home for the Holidays
Wreath and centerpiece making demos from Home Sweet Flowers
Multicultural and traditional holiday performances
Thursday: Under the Mistletoe
Personalized holiday love poems from the Haiku Guys + Gals
Couples’ photobooth and candlelit beer garden
Friday: NorCal Winter
Lunchtime yoga classes from Corepower Yoga on select Friday
Holiday tunes from Bay Area favorite Ukelenny
Saturday: Bad Santa
Holiday-themed beat making / DJ station and canvas tote spray-painting workshops
Holiday “turn up in the streets” dance party tunes
Saturday, December 22nd
2018 Russian Holiday Bell Concert
SF Main Public Library, San Francisco
12 PM, All Ages
Free
Please join for a unique event featuring the majestic sound of Russian bells. San Francisco Symphony’s extraordinary guest percussionist, Mr. Avdienko will play a peal of 6 Traditional Russian Bells, accompanied by 2 bass Russian Flat Bells (bila).
The event program comprises:
Introduction On Russian Bells and Bell Ringing by Mark Galperin
Russian Bell Concert by Bell Ringer Victor Avdienko
Screening of Blagovest Bells’ film A Voice of Pure Earth: The Sacred Bells of Russia
The traditional bells were cast in 2014 in Urals at Nikolai Pyatkov’s bell foundry. Newly introduced bila were made in Moscow in 2017 by their inventor Alexander Zhikharev and the Russian bell instrument (zvonnitsa) was built in 2015 by Blagovest Bells of Novato, California– the sole promoter of Russian bells and bell ringing in the U.S.
Krampus du Nord: Holiday Pop-Up Bar
Cafe du Nord, San Francisco
5 PM, Ages: 21+
Free
Have you been a little naughty this year? Cafe du Nord turns into a special creepy Christmas holiday pop-up, Krampus du Nord, for just 5 nights only.
Expect Norwegian black metal, torture decor, a naughty list of libations by Deep Eddy Vodka (drinks like The Horny Goat, Evil Nog, & Witch’s Spiked Cider), and more evil holiday surprises.
In Central European folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure described as “half-goat, half-demon,” who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts.
Sunday, December 23rd
Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair
Telegraph Ave, Berkeley
12 PM, All Ages
Free
Holiday shoppers to the Telegraph business district will be treated to an abundance of good cheer, great music, fine food, and unique and unusual handicrafts by some of Northern California’s finest artists. Festive lights, colorful decorations, and a friendly multicultural shopping atmosphere complete the experience.
This fair offers you a very unique opportunity to buy fine original art and inexpensive gifts in the same place. With 200+ local artisans offering their handcrafted wares for sale, there will be a little (or big) something for everyone.
Free Ice Skating Lessons in Union Square
Union Square Park, San Francisco
8:30 AM, All Ages
Free
Don’t know how to skate? Kaiser Permanente is inviting beginner skaters to the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Alaska Airlines to come learn from professional skate instructors every weekend.
Lessons are free (including skate rental) to those who sign up in advance, thanks to Kaiser Permanente. Signups are limited to 50 participants per session.
Available for ages 3 to 300, lessons will take place every Saturday and Sunday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 am throughout the season.
Check in time is 8:15 am – Standbys admitted after 8:15 am
How Can I Reserve Tickets? Reservations for next classes will be released one week in advance. Please note that these spots are very limited and often book up far in advance.
Advance sign-up required. Space is limited to 50 participants per day. Please provide skate size, name, email address, phone number and experience level.