Waterfront Walkabout will pair monumental public art with live music, food and drink, and art activities on the third Thursday of the month: September 17, October 15, and November 19.
The Port of San Francisco, in partnership with Big Art Loop, Building 180, Downtown SF Partnership, Street Plans, and the Ferry Building, today announced the launch of Waterfront Walkabout, a free evening stroll series activating the sculptures along the Big Art Loop – Portside waterfront art trail along the Embarcadero. The inaugural series debuts this fall on the third Thursday of the month — September 17, October 15, and November 19, from 5 to 8pm.
Each Waterfront Walkabout will activate the Embarcadero between Pier 14 (Mission Street) and the Exploratorium. The Ferry Building's front plaza hosts live music and food and signature drinks, while four Big Art Loop sculptures come to life with activities:
- Corpus by Michael Christian (Pier 14): Step up to the glowing Shrimp Boat Art Car for beats by the bay.
- Echoes by Mathias Gmachl (Ferry Terminal Plaza): Grab a paintbrush for outdoor Paint & Sip or play giant lawn games with Playful SF, and join clubs with Chamber of Connection.
- Coralee by Dana Albany (Pier 1/2): Dive into mermaid crafts and enchanting water spirit storytelling with En2Action.
- Got Framed by El NiNo (Pier 7): Strike a pose on the pier for free, high-res professional portraits.
Choose your own route or join a free guided art tour at 5:30pm or 6:30pm from Pier 14 (RSVP required, ticket option available on Eventbrite).
Not ready for the night to end? Extend your evening with the Exploratorium After Dark, an adult-only experience featuring craft cocktails, immersive art, and 650+ interactive exhibits (6–10 PM; tickets required).
“San Francisco’s waterfront brings people together, sparks curiosity, and gives people a reason to come back again and again,” said Port of San Francisco Executive Director Michael Martin. “The Waterfront Walkabout does all of that in a fun and whimsical way, connecting people to the Ferry Building and to the incredible public art that is transforming the waterfront through the Big Art Loop-Portside. The Port loves events that invite people to slow down, explore, make memories, and experience our waterfront together as a community.”
Big Art Loop – Portside is a walkable, bikeable trail of monumental temporary sculptures that transforms San Francisco's waterfront — from Fisherman's Wharf to India Basin Waterfront Park— into a vibrant open-air gallery. It is a partnership between the Port of San Francisco, Big Art Loop, Building 180, Ferry Building, Downtown SF Partnership (DSFP), Street Plans, and a growing list of community organizations.
“By bringing together public art, live music, food and community along the Embarcadero, Waterfront Walkabout gives the community a new way to experience the Ferry Building and its surrounding waterfront after work and into the evening,” said Lillian Chesser, Director, Events and Programming, Ferry Building. “We’re proud to partner with the Port and our neighbors to create more opportunities for people to come together and enjoy everything this iconic part of San Francisco has to offer.”
“Waterfront Walkabout showcases the power of partnerships to transform public spaces into places of connection and community," said Robbie Silver, President and CEO of the Downtown SF Partnership. "The growing partnership between DSFP and the Port, especially following our recent renewal and expansion, reflects a shared commitment to creating vibrant experiences that bring people together and strengthen the ties between downtown and the waterfront. We're eager to help bring Waterfront Walkabout to life and look forward to building on this collaboration in the years ahead."
“Public art has this incredible ability to turn an ordinary walk through the city into a moment of discovery and wonder. Waterfront Walkabout brings that idea to life - inviting people to follow the art, experience the waterfront in a new way, support local businesses, and connect with one another along the way. We want Big Art Loop to create more reasons to get outside, explore San Francisco, and feel inspired by the city we share,” said Shannon Riley, Co-Founding Partner, Big Art Loop & CEO, Building 180 Waterfront Walkabout is free and open to the public, we ask that you sign up if you plan to attend at this link.
- Waterfront Walkabout — Debut Fall 2026 Series
- Third Thursdays, 5–8pm: September 17 | October 15 | November 19
- The Embarcadero, from Pier 14 to the Exploratorium, including the Ferry Building front plaza
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About the Port of San Francisco
The Port of San Francisco manages 7.5 miles of waterfront that is home to popular destinations and attractions, historic districts, small businesses and robust maritime opportunities. The Port works to advance environmentally and financially sustainable maritime, recreational, and economic opportunities for the City, Bay Area, and California.
About Big Art Loop
Big Art Loop is a 34-mile urban sculpture trail bringing bold, large-scale art into parks, plazas, waterfronts, and neighborhoods across San Francisco, free for everyone to experience. The organization envisions a future where public art is woven into daily life—creating curiosity, deepening connection, and turning everyday moments into wonder. With up to 100 sculptures planned citywide and 40 in place by the end of 2026, Big Art Loop creates paid opportunities for artists, expands access to world-class public art, activates shared spaces, and invests in San Francisco’s creative economy.
Launched with seed funding from the Sijbrandij Foundation, Big Art Loop is fiscally sponsored by Five Ton Crane, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and is growing with the support of philanthropic partners who believe creativity is essential civic infrastructure.
Production and operations are led by co-founding partner Building 180, a women-led San Francisco art production company, in collaboration with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, the Port of San Francisco, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and community partners across the city. For more information, visit BigArtLoop.org or follow @bigartloop.
About Downtown SF Partnership
The Downtown SF Partnership is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization driven by a mission to create a more vibrant, active downtown that directly supports San Francisco's economic development. Created by a coalition of property and business owners, The Downtown SF Partnership is a community benefit district leading a transformation in the Financial District and Jackson Square, working across the intersection of economic development and programming to revitalize 43-blocks in two of the oldest continuous business districts in San Francisco. These services include activating downtown’s public spaces, promoting the district’s identity and offering cleaning and safety services. To learn more, visit www.downtownsf.org or follow along on Instagram (@sf_downtown).