San Francisco has a joyful new reason to spend an evening in the Presidio. As part of the Presidio’s fall performing arts season, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is being staged in the park, bringing faeries, lovers and comic mix-ups to one of the most beautiful outdoor settings in the city.
The timing could not be better. With its lawns, Monterey pines and sweeping views toward the bay, the Presidio turns a beloved comedy into a true night in nature. Audiences can arrive early, spread a picnic blanket and watch the light fade over the Main Post before the mischief begins on stage. Few theaters anywhere can match a backdrop like that.
The production also continues the park’s growing role as a home for live performance, joining a fall calendar that has included circus arts with the 7 Fingers and other outdoor shows. For visitors, it is an easy pairing with a daytime stroll through Presidio Tunnel Tops, a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum or dinner in the neighborhood before the show.
Best of all, the Presidio is free to enter and open every day of the year. Whether you are a lifelong Shakespeare fan or simply looking for a magical night out, a comedy under the trees is San Francisco at its happiest.
Photo: National Park Service via Wikimedia Commons
