Picnic season is upon us, and we’re excited to welcome your beautiful faces back to the Presidio of San Francisco for another season of noshing, sunbathing and memory making.
From discovering diverse street food fare and taking advantage of accessible transportation options, to exploring a network of scenic trails at your fingertips, here’s our guide to getting the most out of your Presidio Picnic experience this season.
Arrive early.
Presidio Picnic is one of our largest market experiences of the season, attracting thousands of Bay Area locals, guests from neighboring cities, and international visitors each week.
With its picturesque location in the Presidio of San Francisco and easy access via transit, free shuttle or bike (make sure to take advantage of free secured bike parking courtesy of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition!), it’s the perfect spot to meet old friends and mingle with new ones. Presidio Picnic brings a special focus to the food and cultures of our diverse Bay Area community. In fact, cultural dance performances are offered the third Sunday of each month at 11am or 11:30am (check out the Presidio’s dance performance schedule here).
All of our mobile food creators are prepped and primed to be ready for the exhilarating rush of serving at Presidio Picnic, and will do their best to feed you as soon as possible. But if you roll out of bed on Sunday feeling particularly hangry, consider heading down early to squirrel away some bites before the hungry crowds arrive. It’ll also better your chances of snagging a sweet beer garden table or staking out a primo spot on the lawn.
Bring the essentials.
As any pro picnic-goer will know, it’s important to come equipped with all the essentials for maximum relaxation. Bring a picnic blanket (preferably an Instagram-friendly one), lawn chairs if you’re inclined to recline, hired models to pose as your friends (kidding), and your reusable water bottle to refill at our onsite water stations.
If you leave anything behind, don’t fret — many items are available to purchase at the Presidio Visitor Center, open daily and located next door to the picnic lawn.
Presidio Picnic operates rain or shine, and weather can vary from clear skies and sunshine, to wind and fog — and as native San Franciscans know too well, often all in the same day. Dress in layers and bring protective sunwear as well as a permitted shade structure, if you like. But save the pop-up tents and lawn stakes for Tahoe, as they could damage the lawn (not cool). See the full list of FAQs about Presidio Picnic by clicking here).
Dig in.
This year, we’re excited to offer an even more diverse selection of international street food fare from a curated selection of the Bay Area’s best mobile food creators.
From Mexican fusion bites from Cool!naria, to Thai coconut curry tofu from Bombzies BBQ, to irresistible Filipino desserts from Turontastic, there’s truly something for everyone. Head to your tent, truck or cart of choice and dig into a picnic experience like no other.
Pro tip: check out some of our Presidio Picnic newcomers for 2019. Debuting this season are La Santa Torta, with a mouthwatering menu showcasing the gastronomy of the Jalisco region of Mexico, Sam Choy’s Poke, the proclaimed “god father” of Hawaiian style poke, and Bowl’d Acai, serving up made-to-order juices, smoothies and acai bowls (perfect for those sunny afternoons).
Can’t get enough of your favorite creator? Get in touch with us at Off the Grid Catering to inquire about booking them for your next private event!
Pack in, pack out.
Even though we’re entering out seventh year of fun on Sundays, it’s always a marvel to see the beautiful Presidio grounds transformed into a bustling outdoor picnic before it’s all packed away, cleared out and left as it was without a trace of the day’s festivities.
Presidio Picnic strives to be a zero-waste event, and we’re proud to embody a “leave no trace” ethos. Be sure to dispose of your garbage in the appropriate bins, and leave the park with everything you brought in. This includes pet waste from our furry friends — doo-doo the right thing and put it in the trash!
Explore your national park.
We don’t know if you guys noticed, but the Presidio is nice. Like, really nice.
While you’re there, why not stay awhile and explore all that the park has to offer, including museums, art exhibitions, scenic overlooks, and a spectacular 24-mile long trail network (perfect for burning off all those tacos). In fact, the Presidio is the first national park in the west to offer an electric bike share, with JUMP dockless e-bikes now available in the park for your exploring pleasure— or to just get there in the first place!
For those with tykes in tow, the Presidio Trust offers free bicycle lessons for kids on the first Sunday of each month in partnership with the Presidio Community YMCA. You can also let them run wild on the Presidio’s expansive seven-acre lawn (bring a frisbee!), or swing by the adjacent Walt Disney Family Museum and Presidio Officers’ Club, where the whole family can explore the history of the Presidio.
Presidio Picnic is presented by Off the Grid in partnership with the Presidio Trust, and is open every Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm — rain or shine — through mid-October. Learn more about Presidio Picnic and view our weekly creator lineups here.
