📆 The Shortlist. Issue 18 - July 7, 2026 - July 10, 2026
Welcome to The Shortlist! It’s your Tuesday snapshot of what to do with your kiddo in SF this week, plus a few highlights for the upcoming weekend. Short and sweet, every week.
Don’t forget… We’re hosting a Playday with Maker Studio Kidz on Saturday. Hope to see you there!

All summer, keep an eye out for 🪣, it means that pick counts toward our Ultimate SF Summer Bucket List. How many can you check off?
📌 On the agenda 📌
Things that we are pinning to do with our kiddos this week.
All Week
$1 weekday family movies at Stonestown Galleria.
Watch the World Cup at one of the 2026 Thrive City Soccer Watch Parties and Viewings or at Pier 39’s Soccer with Sea Lions.
Visit Noe Valley Books to join in on the Where’s Waldo Local challenge and find Waldo while you support local businesses.
Tuesday 7/7
10:00-4:00 - Spend the day exploring the Conservatory of Flowers for free.
2:30-3:30 - Learn about what makes the black sand at Ocean Beach special at a Magnetic Sand activity. (Sunset Dunes)
4:00-4:30 - Enjoy an afternoon of Dance & Creative Movement 4 Kids. (East Cut)
4:00-5:00 - Learn about composting with the San Francisco Environment Department. (Bernal Heights)
4:00-5:00 - Make kimchi and enjoy a read-aloud with June Jo Lee, Food Ethnographer and award-winning children's book author. (Presidio)
6:00-8:00 - Connect with Black moms at the Black Mama’s Wellness Group. (Dogpatch)
6:45 - Watch the Giants face off the Toronto Blue Jays at Oracle Park.
Wednesday 7/8
9:30-10:15 - Bond with families at a developmental playgroup for toddlers (13-24 months). (Inner Sunset)
10:00-11:30 - Have a magical morning with your little kiddo at Whimsy Wednesday. (Salesforce Park)
10:00-12:00 - Play and browse the Bookmobile at Presidio Tunnel Tops.
10:30-11:30 - Plant a nasturtium starter garden to take home at a Plant a Seed activity. (Presidio)
11:00-12:00 - Learn how to use a scanning electron microscope. (Pier 15)
11:30-12:15 - Attend Family Yoga with It’s Yoga Kids. (Civic Center)
11:45-12:45 - Join a playgroup for kiddos ages 0-5. (Visitacion Valley)
12:00-1:00 - Join a dance party at Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion. (Yerba Buena Gardens)
12:45 - Watch the Giants face off the Toronto Blue Jays at Oracle Park.
2:00-3:00 - Create a colorful suncatcher out of popsicle sticks that reflect and refract light into different shapes and colors. (Chinatown)
2:00-3:30 - Pedal the "Rock the Bike" blender to make fruit smoothies. (Ortega)
2:00-4:00 - Explore the art deco architecture in San Francisco on the Downtown Deco walking tour.
2:00-4:00 - Learn how to make Portrait Prints at a free art workshop. (Yerba Buena)
3:00-4:00 - Create a one-of-a-kind beaded friendship necklace or bracelet. (Sunset)
4:00-6:00 - Have a game night with family and friends. (Marina)
4:00-7:00 - Listen to free live music in Golden Gate Park.
5:30-7:00 - Explore your creativity with your kiddo at a free community craft night. (Mission)
Thursday 7/9
9:00-10:30 - Attend a playgroup for kiddos ages 12-30 months. (Excelsior)
9:30-11:00 - Attend a playgroup for kiddos ages 12-30 months. (Visitacion Valley)
9:30-11:30 - Visit the SummerMobile at Glen Canyon Park.
10:00-10:45 - Toddlers unite for outdoor musical fun with JAMaROO Kids at Toddler Thursday. (Salesforce Park)
11:00-12:00 - Gather and garden at Portola’s Community Garden.
11:00-12:00 - Learn how to use a scanning electron microscope. (Pier 15)
11:00-12:15 - Moms, take a moment to breathe at a Postpartum Yoga class. (Mission)
11:00-12:30 - Attend a playgroup for kiddos ages 30-42 months. (Excelsior)
11:00-1:00 - Create a unique dragon/box book using origami paper. (Civic Center)
11:00-1:00 - Explore 1850's SF: Paris of the Pacific on a walking tour.
11:30-12:45 - Connect with other moms at a New Moms Group. (Inner Sunset)
1:00-2:00 - Bond with newborn parents (0-6 months) at a new parent circle. (Mission)
2:00-3:00 - Learn how to build robots out of LEGOs. (Excelsior)
2:00-3:00 - Make customized lip balm with essential oils, colors and scents.
3:00 - Have a movie day with your kiddo and watch Cars at the Walt Disney Family Museum. (Presidio)
3:30-4:30 - Bond with parents of growing babies (6 months-2 years) at a new parent circle. (Mission)
4:30-6:30 - Make an ocean in a bottle at Crafternoons in Union Square.
5:00-6:00 - Make the Library more unique and beautiful with art-centered, constructive volunteerism at Summer Art Studio. (Merced)
5:00-6:00 - Play effects pedals on guitar, bass, or keyboard in The Mix's monthly guitar pedal series. (Civic Center)
5:00-7:00 - Listen to free live music at the Ferry Building.
5:00-10:00 - Enjoy community and live music at Valencia LIVE! (Mission)
5:30-7:00 - Connect with other dads at a Fatherhood Group. (Inner Sunset)
6:45 - Watch the Giants face off Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park.
Friday 7/10
10:15-11:00 - Have a morning of music with your little one at Children's Music with Toby. (Inner Sunset)
11:00 - Take a parent & child art class. (Pac Heights)
11:00 - Join the little Prince on a timeless journey of love and friendship at Le Peitit Cirque. (Yerba Buena)
11:00-11:30 - Enjoy Mariachi San Francisco’s Kids’ Show at Yerba Buena Gardens.
12:00-12:30 - Enjoy Mariachi San Francisco’s Kids’ Show at Yerba Buena Gardens.
12:00-1:00 - Explore quintessential SF on a Welcome to San Francisco walking tour. (Embarcadero)
12:00-1:00 - Play Chess on the Plaza with your kiddo. (Financial District)
2:00 - Join the little Prince on a timeless journey of love and friendship at Le Peitit Cirque. (Yerba Buena)
3:00 - Have a movie day with your kiddo and watch Cars at the Walt Disney Family Museum. (Presidio)
3:00-4:00 - Explore and taste the science of food with an experiment at Food Science Friday. (Sunset)
3:00-4:00 - Join a DIY slime workshop and learn the science behind the squish. (Anza)
3:00-4:00 - Create a colorful lava lamp and learn about chemical reactions and the concept of density. (Western Addition)
3:30 - Let your kiddo do an afternoon art class. (Pac Heights)
3:30-5:00 - Let your child’s creativity and imagination run wild at a Free Day of Play. (Mission)
4:30-7:00 - Listen to free live music in Golden Gate Park.
5:00-6:30 - Have a roller disco night with the kiddos. (Hayes Valley)
5:00-9:00 - Spend an evening enjoying community, food and more at Chinatown Night Market.
6:00-8:30 - Go to a K-Pop Demon Hunter Watch Party & Sing-Along. (Civic Center)
7:15 - 6:45 - Watch the Giants face off Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park.


Perfect for the whole family, Le Petit Cirque pokes fun at the world of adults. Join the little Prince on a timeless journey of love and friendship. Inspired by the beloved novella The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Le Petit Cirque follows the Prince as she leaves her tiny home in search of adventure. Along the way she meets a wild assortment of characters: acrobatic sheep, juggling businessmen, hoop diving tipplers, aerialist animals, and more! Take a step back from the serious world of grown-ups, and discover with the little Prince that the most important things in life are invisible to the eye.
These pre-professional performers, ages 12-16, collaborate to create a unique performance in PCT’s signature style combining circus, dance, and storytelling. Under the guidance of local pros, these rising stars bring an unforgettable summer show!
Children's Creativity Museum (221 4th St.) in Yerba Buena Gardens
All ages (recommended for ages 3+), Running time ~75 minutes
Friday, July 10 at 11am & 2pm - Previews
Saturday, July 11 at 11am & 2pm
Sunday, July 12 at 11am & 2pm
📆 Plan Ahead 📆
Things that we’re looking forward to this weekend. More to come in our weekend guide!
All Weekend
Join the little Prince on a timeless journey of love and friendship at Le Peitit Cirque.
Saturday 7/11
Join us and Maker Studio Kidz for a morning of creativity, play, and connection.
Celebrate SFPL Mission Bay’s 20th anniversary with storytime, face painting and cake.
Celebrate Library Day at the New Farm.
Join renowned storyteller Kirk Waller as he shares African and African American folktales, legends and history, bringing them alive with music, movement, singing and the spoken word.
Participate in a community service project for Once City Day.
Sunday 7/12
Explore Circus Animals as part of the SFMoMA Family Studio.🪣
Spend a morning hanging out with friends while your kiddo engages in sensory play at Oogubi Hangouts.
Enjoy live music along the waterfront at Ferry Fest.
Spend the afternoon watching Finding Nemo with your kiddo.

👀 On Our Feed 👀
Posts, threads, and content that made us stop scrolling.

@hushlittledarlingsleep

@cw_622

Byee! See you on Friday!
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