Let's have a summer goth picnic! People have been asking when the next one would be after we had one in March to celebrate World Goth Day... How about:
When: Saturday, July 12th, 2:00pm Pacific
(July 12th might also be a certain person's birthday... 😁)
Where: Meet in the lovely shade of the big tree on the left side of the Conservatory of Flowers (
https://conservatoryofflowers.org/) in Golden Gate Park (
https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park), between Conservatory Dr. East and Nancy Pelosi Dr., San Francisco
Bring: Blankets or other ground cover, lawn chairs, parasols, your own food, your own drinks, hand fans, masks to use when appropriate, and your own fabulous spooky selves! Decor is welcome too. (There's a regular appearance of goth lawn flamingos...)
FOOD/DRINKS/SUPPLIES
Bring food and drinks for you and yours. This is not a potluck, but if you feel like sharing that's awesome! There's a local market in walking distance nearby: Arguello Super Market, at 782 Arguello at McAllister St. And there's a Safeway a bit further away at 735 7th Ave. And there are usually hot dog and drinks vendors nearby in the park. Bring a blanket or something to sit/lay on if you can.
VENUE
There's a big tree in front of the Conservatory of Flowers (left side if you are facing it) that we gather under for shade. You might want to bring fashionable parasols, hats, etc. to move around safely under the daystar when you're away from the shady area. Wear sunscreen.
The Conservatory of Flowers is open 10:00am - 4:30pm (last entry at 4:00pm) and admission to all San Francisco residents, with ID, is now FREE! (There's a $10 entry fee for non-residents.) Come early before the picnic and have a look inside. We are not going into the conservatory as a group, though you can if you want to obviously, so this is fully a free event.
There are restrooms nearby just across the path to the left of the Conservatory. THE TOLIET PAPER RUNS OUT, though, so be sure to BRING YOUR OWN.
FAQs
Q: Will there be music? Dancing? Can I bring a sound system?
A: You are welcome to bring something. Please be considerate of other parties in the park and obey San Francisco's noise ordinances:
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/EH/Noise/default.asp
Q: Do I need to dress up?
A: Many people will surely choose to. It's a goth picnic...
Q: Is there a theme?
A: Yes. Goth.
Q: Can I take photos?
A: It's a public park. Please be courteous.
Q: Can I bring kids?
A: Yes, Golden Gate Park is great for kids.
Q: Can I bring a dog or other pets?
A: Dogs are frequently walked in the park. Please obey appropriate San Francisco laws regarding pets in parks, and be courteous to our four-legged (or winged, or whatever) friends and their humans.
Q: Are we going to be in a reserved area in the park?
A: No. We're just gathering under a big tree on a hill, not at a reserved picnic area.
Q: Is there parking?
A: There's a VERY limited amount of parking on the street on Conservatory Dr. East. There's a limited amount of parking on Nancy Pelosi Dr., near the tennis center. There's parking on Fulton St. and side streets. A large parking garage under the De Young Museum can be accessed via 10th Ave. at Fulton St., from which it's a short walk to the Conservatory. However, taking public transit or rideshare is encouraged (see below).
Q: Where should I get droped off or picked up that's closest to the picnic?
A: An ideal spot to be dropped off and picked up is Conservatory Dr. East, which is open right behind the Conservatory, with a turnaround at the end. Vehicles can get there by entering the park on Arguello at Fulton.
Q: What about accessible parking?
A: The closest accessible parking spots are four at the end of Nancy Pelosi Dr., at John F. Kennedy Promenade, right across from the Conservatory of Flowers. Sadly none of the limited parking on Conservatory Dr. East is reserved for accessible spots (maybe because it's all soft shoulder and needs to be improved, first). There's a map showing accessible parking spots and shuttle bus stops on the free Golden Gate Park shuttle bus web site (
https://sfrecpark.org/1617/Golden-Gate-Park-Free-Shuttle).
Q: Busses or bikes?
A: Muni bus line 5 Fulton runs very close by. The 7 Haight/Noriega, 33 Ashbury/18th, and 66 Quintara stop at the end of Haight St. at Stanyan St. where you can get a free Golden Gate Park shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes from 9am to 6pm on weekends and stops right in front of the Conservatory of Flowers.
Golden Gate Park is the best place to ride bikes, thanks to the John F. Kennedy Promenade which is closed off to street traffic, right in front of the Conservatory.
Q: Is the park close to BART?
A: No. But the 33 Ashbury/18th bus goes from the 16th St. BART station to Haight and Stanyan, where you can get the free Golden Gate Park shuttle bus to the Conservatory (see above). BART is running until midnight again:
https://www.bart.gov/schedules
Q: How about Caltrain?
A: Caltrain is even less convenient to use to get to the park, but you just need to get to Market St. on one bus and then take the 7 Haight/Noriega or 5 Fulton bus, or take the N Judah metro line and walk through the park a bit from the stop at Irving and Arguello. Caltrain is currently running every hour on Sundays until midnight:
https://www.caltrain.com/schedules/weekend-timetable.html
Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in San Francisco, Kids events & activities in San Francisco, Sports events in San Francisco.
