Let’s go fly a kite: Celebrate the 21st birthday of Crissy Field, SF’s fun-filled front yard

Before it was transformed into the expanse of grassy lawns and sandy beaches that locals and tourists love, Crissy Field was a rundown airstrip. It took 3,000 volunteers and $34.4 million in private donations to transform the Presidio’s 100-acre landing field into one of the most picturesque urban waterfronts in the U.S.

To mark Crissy Field’s 21st birthday—or, as marketing materials put it, “the end of Crissy Field’s 20th birthday”—the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is inviting the public to come fly a kite and take in the park’s epic view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Don’t have a kite? No problem. Show up at the Roving Ranger van—on the field between Mason St. and the bay—to claim one of the 1,500 free flyers from Chinatown Kites. While you’re there, take a moment to say hello to Albert Chang, owner of Chinatown Kites.

The official event runs for two hours, but the fun doesn’t have to begin at 1 p.m. or end at 3 p.m. Arrive early and stay after to experience the ethereal sounds of the nearby Wave Organ or to take in the views at the recently opened Battery Bluff.

Saturday, May 7, 1 p.m. | Free