Golden Gate Park Events – September 2013
Golden Gate Park events in September 2013 are full of opportunities to enjoy extra-curricular activities that free both the mind and body, including moonlit walks, competitive runs, and free outdoor yoga sessions. Music will also play an important role in attracting locals and tourists this month, where you can listen to our very own band, catch the annual SF Opera and Orchestra concert, or admire live cultural music at the deYoung Museum. Spend a Sunday roller skating in the park, or attend a free festival that celebrates beer and bikes – there’s something for everyone at Golden Gate Park this month.
Sunday Roller Disco Party – September 1
From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., you can enjoy the free sights and sounds of the “Skatin’ Place” – a haven for roller skaters who gather at the official home for outdoor roller skating in the San Francisco. Located at 6th Avenue and Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park, this is a welcomed getaway for inline and roller skaters where the Godfather of Skate brings his mobile DJ unit, and fills the air with the sounds of disco and other energizing tunes. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for additional roller disco events in Golden Gate Park for September 2013 – 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, and 9/29.
Spreckles Lake 5K & Lightning Mile – near Spreckles Lake – September 1
For an enchanting run by the lake, this event starts and finishes at Kennedy Drive/36th Avenue – right across from Lindley Meadow. It is here that you can register for both races if you like. The 1M begins at 8:45 a.m., followed by the 5K. The cost to participate in one race is ($3 members; $5 non-members), and for two races is ($5 members; $7 non-members). The course will include Transverse, Middle Drive West, Bernice Rogers Drive, and Kennedy Drive. For more information regarding the race, visit http://dserunners.com.
GGP Band Labor Day Celebration Concert – Spreckels Temple of Music – September 2
Why don’t you take a load off your feet and relax with a special Labor Day celebration concert, delivered to you by the renowned Golden Gate Park Band? Starting at 1 p.m. and usually lasting until 2:30/2:45 p.m., the Band hosts free afternoon concerts that typically center on a specific theme or cultural celebration. Every Sunday, locals gather at the Spreckels Temple of Music (Music Concourse) to become a part of this historic tradition – the concerts in the park have been held for more than 130 seasons. Don’t be shy…bring a picnic lunch and take in an unforgettable experience.
Additional Golden Gate Park Band performances for September 2013 include:
• September 15 – Spanish Dance Day
• September 22 – Robert Emmet Day with Irish music, singing and dancing
• September 29 – All That Jazz with swing, pop, and jazz hits
“Belief” Friday Nights Event – de Young Museum – September 6
The first Friday Night at de Young of the month will coincide with the special exhibition Objects of Belief from the Vatican: Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas at the museum. From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wilsey Court will host live music of Venezuela by the VNote Ensemble, which includes the combined sounds of folk music and jazz in a performance that will include flute, bass, percussion, and vocals. A guest lecture featuring Jacqueline Windh, who spent months with the Yagán people of Navarino Island, will also take place at the Koret Auditorium (7 p.m. – 8 p.m.).
All Friday night events are free to the public, and held from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Guests of all ages are welcome to enjoy, listen to the music, dance, and participate in themed art-making projects.
Other Friday Days at de Young for September 2013 include the following themes:
• September 13 – Celebrate Richard Diebenkorn, Hometown Hero: With programs that coincide with the special exhibition Richard Diebenkorn: The Berkeley Years, 1955–1966, you will encounter live classical music by Quartet San Francisco.
• September 20 – “The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita and Beyond, 1950–1990″: With live music by Richard Marriott and the Club Foot Orchestra, featuring Pamela Z; film projections celebrating Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor, and themes of La Dolce Vita.
• September 27 –Dreams: With live music, dance, and a film screening presented in partnership with the Latino Film Festival.
Free Outdoor Yoga in the Park – Big Rec Field – September 7
Stretch your limbs and spend a moment of calm in your favorite park by taking part in the free outdoor sessions of yoga on Saturday mornings – taught by Purusha yogis, as part of the Purusha Seva Project. You are encouraged to bring a mat or blanket. This free experience starts at 11 a.m., and meets at Big Rec Baseball Field located close to Lincoln Way and 9th Avenue. Free yoga in Golden Gate Park is also offered in September 2013 on 9/14, 9/21, and 9/28.
SF Opera in the Park – Sharon Meadow – September 8
The annual free concert that the San Francisco Opera holds in Golden Gate Park will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Sharon Meadow, marking the start of yet another season of operatic magic. This outdoor performance is the perfect time to bring a picnic and enjoy the vocals of fall opera stars, which will be joined by the San Francisco Opera Orchestra – conducted by Music Director Nicola Luisotti. Food and beverages will also be sold at the event. All ages are encouraged to attend.
Plant Sale: Native Plants & Succulents – SF Botanical Garden – September 14
If you’re looking to add to your garden, the San Francisco Botanical Garden is hosting their monthly plant sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nursery, where you can browse a collection of native plants and succulents that you may purchase. You can access the plant sale from the Main Gate.
Kennedy Drive 8K – Polo Field – September 15
With a start and finish at the south side of Polo Field, the Kennedy Drive 8K will take place at Golden Gate Park with a course that runs uphill on Middle Drive, and includes Overlook Drive, Transverse, and the barricade at Kezar Drive. For maps, directions and more information related to the race, you can visit: http://dserunners.com .
Japanese Full Moon Walk – SF Botanical Garden – September 18
Not only is a nightly garden stroll a romantic way to spend the evening, but you’ll also have a chance to mingle with a docent naturalist who will point out interesting night features in the Garden. California Academy of Science Planetary Docents will also be on hand so that you can view the moon through high-powered telescopes. At the end of the event, fill up on hot tea and cookies. It is suggested to dress in warm clothing, and bring a flashlight along for the outing. Check in for the walk is at 6:30 p.m., and it’s very important that you arrive early as the tour will promptly leave at 7 p.m. This event is held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and costs $15 for members and $20 for non-members.
“Tour de Fat” 2013 Bike & Beer Festival – Lindley Meadow – September 21
This month, another free festival comes to Golden Gate Park, and this time, the theme of the event concentrates on bikes and beer. The “Tour de Fat” Festival will feature live music, lots of beer, bicycles, and activities centered on composting and recycling. Local food carts will provide tasty edibles and unique bike contests are sure to entertain. One of the highlights of the event is the Bike Parade, which typically starts at 11 a.m. Costumed and decorated bikes will cruise through Golden Gate Park for an intriguing show of creativity. The tentative time and location of the event is from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Lindley Meadow – you can visit www.newbelgium.com/tour-de-fat for updates on the lineup and schedule.
Aztec Dance Demonstration – SF Botanical Garden – September 21
As the San Francisco Botanical highlights the Meso-American and South America Cloud Forests, an Aztec dance group will give a demonstration of their traditional dance rituals – complete with costumes and plumed headdresses. Conservation organizations with an agenda to save the cloud forests and endangered plant communities will be present to answer questions. The performance is free with admission from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. A Cloud Forest tour will take place after the demonstration at 2 p.m.
Walk in the Clouds: Inside the Meso-American Cloud Forest – SF Botanical Garden – September 21
An informative tour with docent naturalist Dr. Joe Barbaccia will highlight the ‘secrets of the Cloud Forests’ at the Botanical Garden, which is the only location besides Meso-America where people can walk about a variety of rare and endangered plants. Some of the features of this event include fuchsia berries, medicinal plants, and encountering tiny kiwi-related specimens. Interested parties will meet at the main gate. This event is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the cost to participate is $10 for members and $20 for non-members.
Charity and the JAMBand Family Festival – Park Chalet/Beach Chalet Lawn – September 22
Surrounded by the green of Golden Gate park and the sands of Ocean Beach, another monthly music extravaganza for families is taking place at Park Chalet. In addition to listening to music and dancing, participants will also have a chance to work on a Peace Flag Project. That’s right…the theme of the day is celebrating peace, and this event will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Golden Gate Park