Author: Alfredo Casuso

San Francisco’s “Real Summer” starts at the Presidio including picnics at Outpost Meadow, “World Arts West” & Korean Festival 

San Francisco’s “Real Summer” starts at the Presidio including picnics at Outpost Meadow, “World Arts West” and Korean Festival 

As the fog lifts and San Francisco’s true summer arrives in September and October, the Presidio becomes the city’s ultimate staycation escape. Think cocktails at the Glass Pavilion or Dalida, golden-hour strolls with your dog at Crissy Field, or one last weekend of camping under the stars at Rob Hill before the season closes. For those looking to linger longer, the award-winning Lodge and Inn at the Presidio offer the perfect Labor Day, or Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day 3-Day Weekend (or anytime) retreat—steps from trails, history, and some of the best views in the Bay Area. And of course, with the recent opening of Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre expansion of the beloved Presidio Tunnel Tops, there’s now even more space for kids to run, climb, explore—and for parents to relax and picnic with Golden Gate Bridge views. Below: links to the full schedule of events at the Presidio – including two especial highlights: the return of World Arts West on September 7 and the Chuseok Festival of Korean Culture on September 27.

 Below: links to learn more about Presidio Lodging and all the upcoming events at the Presidio:

https://presidio.gov/explore/events

https://presidiolodging.com

Late August and September events at the Presidio:

Thursday, August 21: Walt Disney’s Trains: A Grand Circle Through His Life and Legacy with Author Michael Campbell

Friday, August 29: Monthly Coyote Table Talk with Presidio Wildlife Ecologists\

Sunday, September 7 – World Arts West Dance Festival: A global tour of dance in one afternoon at Tunnel Tops.  The 2025 World Arts West Dance Festival  wraps up its third and final weekend at Presidio Tunnel Tops! This year’s festival features dance workshops, artist dialogues, communal activities and more in venues across the city emphasizing the theme of “Dance as Health and Healing.”

Saturday, September 20: Access to Adventure DayA family fun day of inclusive programs!

Saturday, September 27:  Chuseok Festival 2025, the Presidio’s 7th annual celebration of Korean culture, a vibrant mix of traditional music, dance, and community spirit right in the heart of the Presidio. Check it out via the event calendar below.

Daily: Park Overview Talks offered four times daily at the Presidio Visitor Center
Daily:  Park Ranger Campfire Talks at the Presidio Tunnel Tops Campfire Circle
Every Saturday & Sunday: Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center
Every Friday through Sunday: Free history exhibitions at the Presidio Officers’ Club
Every Friday through Sunday: Fort Point History Talk &  Exhibition – Black Gold: Stories Untold

New Space to Picnic & Play: Outpost Meadow
Directly next to the Outpost nature play space and Field Station, this new open lawn area is designed with families in mind: bring a blanket, celebrate a birthday, or enjoy a post-hike snack. Think of it as your new go-to outdoor living room—no reservation required.

Hands-On Discovery at the Field Station
Located just steps away, the Field Station is the place where curiosity turns into adventure. Kids can borrow Explorer Backpacks, complete the Adventure Passport, and take part in rotating crafts and nature activities with friendly park staff and volunteers. StoryWalks—picture books placed page-by-page along short trails—add a dose of literacy to the outdoor fun. Link here to all Self-Guided Adventures: https://presidio.gov/explore/self-guided-adventures

Presidio Pop Up: Family-Friendly Food Trucks
Whether you’re craving tacos, wood-fired pizza, or a sweet treat, Presidio Pop Up food trucks are a delicious way to fuel up during your park day. Trucks are located steps from Outpost Meadow and also up at the historic Main Post, with shaded seating and open space to sprawl.

This is the perfect moment to cover the Presidio as a must-visit destination. We’d love to connect you with images, spokespeople, or a guided visit so please reach out.

Best,

David Perry
(415) 676-7007 | news@davidperry.com

Irish Community Rallies Behind LGBTQ+ Hero
Roger Casement with New Plaque for the Rainbow Honor Walk

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

18 August 2025 San Francisco, CA: In a powerful show of unity and remembrance, members of the Irish community in San Francisco and beyond have come together to honor Irish humanitarian and LGBTQ+ icon Roger Casement with a dedicated bronze plaque on the Rainbow Honor Walk (www.rainbowhonorwalk.org)

The Roger Casement plaque will be installed this fall on the sidewalk near 501 Castro St. The Rainbow Honor Walk is partnering with the Consulate General of Ireland, along with Tourism Ireland, the United Irish Societies, and the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Grand Marshal, Mark Gorman.

“Roger Casement was a champion of human rights, and a fearless voice for Ireland,” said Micheál Smith, Consul General of Ireland to the Western United States. “This project has been ten years in the making, and we are delighted to partner with the Rainbow Honor Walk and our community including the United Irish Societies and Matthew Rothschild, to bring it to completion. With the installation of this plaque, we celebrate Casement’s legacy as a patriot and as a deeply compassionate individual who was never less than courageous and principled in his pursuit of justice.”

Roger Casement is widely remembered for his moral courage and fierce commitment to human rights. As a British diplomat, Casement exposed atrocities committed in the Belgian Congo under King Leopold II’s brutal colonial regime. His 1904 report revealed widespread exploitation, forced labor, and violence against the Congolese people—helping to galvanize international outrage and pressure for reform. Casement later became a champion for Irish independence and was executed by the British government in 1916 for his role in the Easter Rising. Today, he is also honored as a historical figure whose private life became a flashpoint in the British campaign to discredit his legacy, and to hang him for treason.  

“This plaque is about more than one man,” said Donna Sachet, Rainbow Honor Walk President. “It’s about remembering how one voice—driven by truth and compassion—can change the world. And with respect to Casements plaque, it’s about people coming together to honor that legacy.”

This collective effort is especially meaningful in today’s challenging fundraising landscape. “With budget cuts, fewer grant opportunities, and corporations shying away from DEI giving, it’s become more difficult than ever for small nonprofits like the Rainbow Honor Walk to raise funds,” said Charlotte Ruffner, Rainbow Honor Walk Vice President who has been spearheading the fundraising effort. “That’s why this outpouring of support around Roger Casement is so inspiring.”

To date, the Irish Consulate has donated $5,000, the United Irish Societies has pledged $1,000, and more than 80 individual donors have contributed over $9,000 to the Rainbow Honor Walk’s general fund to help cover fabrication and installation costs for plaques. Mark Gorman, CEO of Gorman Pipeline, Inc.,  who is on the City of San Francisco’s list of approved contractors, has generously volunteered to install the Casement plaque at no cost.

“We are honored to take part in this historic moment,” said Gorman. “It makes us proud as San Franciscans, and as a business with Irish roots.”

For more information about the plaque and the community efforts behind it, please contact Elizabeth Creely at the San Francisco Irish Consulate at (415) 494-1487 or via email at Elizabeth.Creely@dfa.ie

About the Rainbow Honor Walk:
The Rainbow Honor Walk is a nonprofit organization that celebrates LGBTQ+ pioneers and trailblazers with bronze sidewalk plaques in San Francisco’s Castro District. Each plaque honors a historic figure who made a significant impact on history and culture.