SAN FRANCISCO – One of Golden Gate Park’s most joyful seasonal traditions is back: The Whale’s Tail outdoor garden bar reopens Memorial Day weekend with an even bigger splash—featuring live music, guest DJs, paint-and-sip classes, interactive photo booths, animal fun, and a kickoff celebration for SF Pride.

Now in its fourth season, the family- and dog-friendly space will once again transform the JFK Promenade’s Golden Mile into a vibrant weekend destination filled with drinks, lawn games, public art, and curated local food trucks. Located just west of the Rose Garden near 14th Avenue East Meadow, the Whale’s Tail will be open every Saturday and Sunday afternoon (noon to 6pm) through October, plus select holiday Mondays.

This year brings even more to love: a rotating calendar of live local music, DJs, family-friendly interactive events such as yoga, paint & sips, and photobooths, plus delicious food and beverage offerings. Visitors can even enjoy a bit of whale watching, thanks to the vibrant Street Whale mural by Reuben Rude just outside the garden. This colorful 3D installation and other public art along The Golden Mile channel the creative energy that adds to the whimsy of Golden Gate Park.

“Golden Gate Park is a place of connection, wonder, and escape. The Whale’s Tail captures that spirit perfectly—it’s playful, inclusive, and one more reason to fall in love with this park all over again,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Visitors can enjoy a cold drink, play lawn games, and check out interactive art.” 

“We’re thrilled to be back in this awe-inspiring space,’ said Ben Davis, of Illuminate, which created and maintains The Golden Mile. “Our goal from the outset has been to create a place of  joy in the park where you can relax with a beverage and enjoy some beautiful music. This most definitely is it.”

Highlights of the special three-day opening weekend include an interactive animal experience hosted by Tree Frog Treks, immersive photo booths by SnapFiesta, paint & sip classes, a Pride Month kickoff on Memorial Day, and much more. The project is a collaborative effort from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Illuminate, and Non Plus Ultra, all committed to creating an inclusive and joyful gathering space.

The Whale's Tail will be open from noon to 6 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, plus select holiday Mondays from May through October.

Schedule for Opening Weekend:

Saturday May 24, noon - 6:30 p.m. 

Ongoing: 

• Interactive Animal Exhibit by Tree Frog Treks 
• Photo Booth by SnapFiesta 
• Food Truck: El Alambre Performing 

Artists: 

• 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Manos Lindas 
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. LOUIZA
• 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. DJ Kinki
•  4 – 5 p.m. R-E 
• 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Jubilee 

Sunday May 25, noon- 6:30 p.m. 

Ongoing: 

• Interactive Animal Exhibit by Tree Frog Treks 
• Photo Booth by SnapFiesta 
• Food Truck: Borschmobile

Performing Artists: 

• 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Three Flower Jam 
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Jin the Queen 
• 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. DJ ZayBae 
• 4 – 5 p.m. The Junior 
• 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The Fibonacci Monday 

May 26, noon- 6 p.m. (Memorial Day) 

Ongoing: 

• Photo Booth by SnapFiesta 
• Face Painting 
• Fashion Showcase 
• Balloon Art by Alex the Balloon Artist 
• Food Truck: Tacos El Cowboy 

Performing Artists: 

• 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. DJ FLPN 
• 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. DJ Pap 
• 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. SweetFeep 
• 3:30 – 3:45 p.m. Drag Show Featuring Sicaria + Goyo, Kris Shein, Mark Savant 
• 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Vega 
• 4:45 – 6:00 p.m. Castaway

To view the performance schedule, click here. 

Additional info: The Golden Mile and JFK Promenade

About Illuminate

Illuminate’s mission is to rally large groups of people together to create impossible works of public art that, through awe, free humanity’s better nature. The San Francisco-based nonprofit’s large-scale and radically accessible installations are experienced by more than 20 million people annually. Iconic works include The Bay Lights on the Bay Bridge, Photosynthesis on the Conservatory of Flowers, Grace Light in Grace Cathedral, Hope Will Never Be Silent in the Castro, Monumental Reckoning in Golden Gate Park, and the revival of the Golden Gate Bandshell. In 2021, Illuminate and partner Steffen Franz began producing free live music events that now exceed 400 performances annually at venues throughout the city.  In 2022, Illuminate created a new immersive and whimsical art experience “The Golden Mile,” a former busy street turned promenade that runs through San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.  In 2023, Illuminate, in partnership with Nu-Salt Laser, began a series of temporary large-scale art activations using laser space cannons on some of San Francisco's most iconic landmarks, including Coit Tower, Sutro Tower, Grace Cathedral, and Market Street.  In 2024, Illuminate began an inspirational and transformative series of art installations and live music at Fulton Plaza. After a successful $11M fundraising effort, Illuminate expects to officially return The Bay Lights to the San Francisco waterfront in the fall of 2025. For more information Illuminate.org

About the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department 

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 235 parks, playgrounds, and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields, and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages. Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo, and Lake Merced. In 2017, San Francisco became the first city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city.

About Non Plus Ultra

Non Plus Ultra is the leading real estate partner for the corporate activation and experiential entertainment industry. Non Plus Ultra activates historic and architecturally significant landmarks as iconic event venues. The company partners with full-service event producers, global brands, and brilliant creators to produce mind-blowing experiences, large-scale events, and impactful community activations. npu.co