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San Francisco Goth Picnic for World Goth Day 2023!

Bring your goth selves out to the park in San Francisco for a gothnic to celebrate World Goth Day! (https://www.facebook.com/theworldgothdaypage)!

When: Sunday, May 21st, 2:00pm Pacific

Where: In front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, between Conservatory Dr. East and Nancy Pelosi Dr., San Francisco

Bring: Blankets, lawn chairs, your own food, your own drinks, parasols, hand fans, masks to use when appropriate, and your spooky selves!

SF Goth 2022 Summer Goth Picnic group shot
(Group shot from our last gothnic)
San Francisco Goth Picnic map

SAFETY

All appropriate safety practices should be observed. Outdoor gatherings are safest. As goths we're better than most at keeping our distance anyway. Cyber goths who wear masks regardless are of course especially safe and fashionable!

If you haven't already, please get vaccinated and/or boosted. It's safe, it's free, and there are loads of drop-in, no-appointment needed sites across San Francisco.

If you're feeling sick, please don't come.

FOOD/DRINKS/SUPPLIES

This is not a potluck. 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.

VENUE

There's a big tree in front of the restrooms to the side of the Conservatory of Flowers that we can 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 is now FREE to all San Francisco residents, with ID! (There's a $10 entry fee for non-residents.) Come early before the picnic and have a look inside.

There are restrooms right next to the Conservatory of Flowers.

Here's some pics of where we'll meet in the park at the Conservatory. (Click for larger views)

San Francisco Goth Picnic location
Meet on the lawn under the big tree right here!
San Francisco Goth Picnic location
Meet around this nice big shady tree
San Francisco Goth Picnic location
Here's the lawn from the other side
San Francisco Goth Picnic map
The blue pin marks the spot!

[OpenStreetMap] [Google Maps] [Apple Maps]

FAQs

Q: Will it be safe to gather due to Covid?
A: Outdoor gatherings are safest. If you're feeling sick, don't come.

Q: Should we be wearing masks?
A: Please observe all appropriate Covid safety practices that are in effect on August 28th in San Francisco. See the Covid information page of the SF Department of Public Health.

Q: Are any safety requirements going to be enforced?
A: It's the honor system, and it's outdoors in a public park. Please act responsibly.

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.

Q: Are there other World Goth Day events happening in San Francisco this year?
A: The Dancing Ghosts club night has a yearly World Goth Day event. It'll be on Friday May 19th at Cat Club. This year World Goth Day itself falls on Monday May 22nd, which means it's on the same day as the world's longest running weekly goth night, Death Guild at DNA Lounge!

Q: Do I need to dress up?
A: Many people will surely choose to. It's a goth picnic, after all.

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.

Golden Gate Park Conservatory Dr. East
Conservatory Dr. East

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.

Golden Gate Park accessible parking
End of Nancy Pelosi Dr. at John F. Kennedy Promenade

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.

Golden Gate Park free shuttle

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: BART 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: Caltrain Weekend Timetable

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