Activation includes outdoor musical performances, public art installations, the Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting, Block Parties, and the Bi-Rite Cafe. The CCCBD continues to build upon these efforts and develop them further through partnerships and resource development and is a core partner of the Civic Center Initiative.
in Civic Center Plaza
A new Civic Center Plaza café kiosk opened in October 2018. A gift to CCCBD and the public from the Trust for Public Land, the café kiosk sits adjacent to the new Helen Diller Family Foundation Playgrounds. The café, operated by San Francisco landmark business Bi-Rite, offers sweet and savory food and beverages for every price point. The site-responsive design, with gates that open to form a canopy, was led by architecture firm WRNS Studio and creates a welcoming sense of place that complements both the new playgrounds and the historic architecture of Civic Center.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7am-7pm; Saturday, 9am-7pm; Sunday, 9am-5pm
2019 Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting & Fanfare
The Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting happened on December 4 and featured holiday entertainment, musical guests, a toy giveaway for 400+ children, festive bites, free craft making, “snow” flurries, and more. As well as the Holiday Fanfare returned, featuring brass quintets from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music during the month of December on District sidewalks.
2018 Civic Center Holiday Tree Lighting & Fanfare
The Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting happened December 5, 5-7pm — a free, family-friendly event — featuring the SF Girls Chorus, the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, a capella group Business Casual, youth poets from America Scores literacy program, and Boxcar Theatre holiday characters including the Grinch and Santa, led by Artistic Director Nick A. Olivero. This festive event also featured a toy giveaway for 400 kids from the San Francisco Police Department’s Northern Station and Another Planet Entertainment, activities such as DIY ornaments with SF Etsy, and free books from the San Francisco Public Library. It also had snow flurries, and — new in 2018 — the adjacent Winter Park Ice Rink!
Also during the month of December in 2018, Holiday Fanfare returned: cheerful holiday music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the SFGC School on District sidewalks.
2017 Civic Center Holiday Tree Lighting
Host Honey Mahogany emceed the night of entertainment, which included performances by vocalist and X-Factor finalist Jason Brock; The Tap Dancing Christmas Trees; and members of Boxcar Theatre’s Speakeasy, including Artistic Director Nick A. Olivero, who lead a Christmas song sing-along. Christmas VIPs such as The Great Dickens Christmas Fair’s Coventry Carolers, Charles Dickens, Mr. Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Present, Sam Weller, the Grinch, and the man-of-the-hour — Santa himself — were also in attendance. Members of The Speakeasy’s six-piece house band also performed, as well as members of the San Francisco Symphony. The event was sponsored by the Civic Center Community Benefit District, San Francisco Police Department’s Northern Station, San Francisco Public Works, San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, Another Planet Entertainment, and Civic Center Commons. See photos of the event here.
2013-2016 Holiday Fanfare
The holiday entertainment included carolers and brass quintets from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music during the month of December on District sidewalks; the number of Holiday Fanfare concerts grew from five in 2013 to 19 in 2015. The CCCBD-sponsored festivities also included the daytime concerts in front of City Hall.