WorldStrides Heritage Performance
Destination Presentation
San Francisco
San Francisco
The San Francisco Heritage Festival allows groups
to combine a marvelous music educational
experience with a variety of rich cultural and
historic sights.
The festival hotels and venues are located in the
suburbs south of San Francisco in the Santa
Clara area near Great America Theme Park.
(approximately 40 miles south of downtown
San Francisco) A day pass to Great America
is included in the festival package and is the
site of the Awards Ceremony on Saturday night.
The Destination Specialist will advise groups on
how best to plan their itineraries so they can
experience the sights, the sounds and the tastes
of San Francisco while the Host Festival Director
together with our team of adjudicators provide
an unparalleled musical experience.
San Francisco
Voted one the best cities in the world to visit, San Francisco has an enjoyable climate, a
beautiful bay, and one of the most distinctive cultures in the United States. San Francisco was
settled by the Spanish in 1776 where a mission was established named for Francis of Assisi.
The California Gold Rush in 1848 propelled the city into a period of rapid growth and
prominence. After being devastated by the 1906 earthquake and fire, San Francisco quickly
rebuilt and has since become a popular international tourist destination.
San Francisco
San Francisco is rich in musical history with a broad range of musical taste. From the Louise
M. Davies Symphony Hall, home of the San Francisco Symphony, to the corner of
Haight and Ashbury, one of the pillars of Rock and Roll, Heritage Festival groups make their
own musical history on their festival tour to San Francisco.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island, sometimes referred by its pop-culture name, The Rock, is a small island
located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. It served as a lighthouse, then a military
fortification, then a military prison followed by a federal prison until 1963. Alcatraz became
famous for housing such notable criminals as Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and
Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Today, the island is a historic site operated by the
National Park Service and is open to the public. Visitors can reach the island by ferry ride
from Pier 39, at Fisherman’s Wharf.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is a neighborhood and popular tourist attraction encompassing the
northern waterfront area of San Francisco. It is best known for being the location of Pier 39,
Ghiradelli Square, and restaurants and stands that serve fresh seafood, most notably
Dungeness crab and clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl. Fisherman’s Wharf
plays host to a wide variety of street performers, perhaps most notably, the World Famous
Bushman, who sits behind some branches and startles people who walk by. He never fails to
draw a crowd and has been an entertaining fixture of Fisherman’s Wharf for over 25 years.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Pier 39
Pier 39 is a shopping center on Fisherman’s Wharf popular among tourists. At Pier 39, there
are shops, restaurants, a video arcade, street performances, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual
3-D rides, and views of dozens of California sea lions sleeping and playing on the docks of the
Pier 39 marina. From the pier, one can see Angel Island, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and
the Bay Bridge. Ferry excursions for Alcatraz depart from Pier 39.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Ghiradelli Square
Ghiradelli Square is another shopping center on Fisherman’s Wharf popular among tourists. In
1893, Domingo Ghiradelli purchased the entire city block to make it the headquarters of the
Ghiradelli Chocolate Company. In the early 1960’s, the company was purchased, which
resulted in a moving of the headquarters and putting the square up for sale. The square was
purchased by a local San Franciscan in order to preserve its history. It was converted into a
shopping center and once featured over 40 specialty shops and restaurants, in addition to the
Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, known for its world famous ice cream sundaes.
Ghiradelli Square is undergoing an extensive renovation with a new selection of shops and
restaurants being added. The Chocolate Shop still remains and draws many visitors for a
sweet taste of Ghiradelli Chocolate.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, or the opening of
the San Francisco Bay onto the Pacific Ocean. It connects the city of San Francisco on the
northern tip, to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge
span in the world when it was completed in 1937 and has become an internationally recognized
symbol of San Francisco.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Bay Bridge
The Bay Bridge (legally the James “Sunny Jim” Rolph Bridge) is a multi-structure bridge
complex that links the cities of Oakland and San Francisco. Conceived as early as the gold
rush days, construction on the bridge did not begin until 1933. It opened for traffic in 1936, 6
months before the Golden Gate Bridge. The Bay Bridge consists of two major bridges
connecting each shore with Yerba Buena Island in between Oakland and San Francisco. It is a
double-decker bridge with traffic moving in one direction above and the other direction below.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is a large urban park consisting of 1017 acres of public grounds. Configured
as a rectangle, it is similar in shape, but 174 acres larger than Central Park in New York City.
With 13 million visitors annually, Golden Gate Park is the third most visited city park in the
United States. (behind Central Park and Chicago’s Lincoln Park)
San Francisco Sightseeing
The Presidio
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. It
has been a fortified location since 1776 when the Spanish made it the military center of the
expansion in the area. In 1995, it was closed as a military base, ending 219 years of military
use and beginning its next phase of mixed commercial and public use. It is required to be self
supporting by 2013. The park is characterized by many wooded areas, hills and scenic vistas
overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It was
recognized by Congress as a National Historic Landmark in 1962. The Exploratorium, a
hands-on science museum, is located in the Palace of Fine Arts inside the Presidio.
San Francisco Sightseeing
The Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a public science museum, located at the Palace of Fine Arts in San
Francisco’s Presidio. It is one of San Francisco’s most popular museums, drawing over
500,000 people each year. Founded in 1969 by the physicist Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, the
Exploratorium is dedicated to teaching science through hands-on exhibits. Many of its exhibits
are created by visual and performing artists as well as scientists and educators. Exhibit
designs created at the Exploratorium are often duplicated for other science museums
worldwide.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Coit Tower
Coit Tower was built atop Telegraph Hill in 1933 at the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit to
beautify the city. Lillie bequeathed one-third of her estate to the City of San Francisco “to be
expended in an appropriate manner for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city which I
have always loved.” Contrary to popular belief, the tower was not designed to resemble a fire
hose nozzle, although Coit had a strong admiration for the San Francisco fire fighters of the
day. The tower is 210 feet of unpainted, reinforced concrete offering a breath-taking view of the
entire San Francisco Bay.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Lombard Street
Lombard Street is an east-west street in San Francisco famous for having a steep, one-block
section that consists of tight hairpin turns. This section on Russian Hill between Hyde and
Leavenworth Streets has 8 sharp turns that have earned the street the distinction of being “the
crookedest street in the world.” The crooked section , which is about ¼ mile long, is reserved
for one-way traffic and is paved with red bricks. The speed limit here is a mere 5 mph and
attracts as much pedestrian traffic as it does vehicular traffic.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest and largest Chinatown in the United States.
Established in the 1850’s, it is one of the largest and most prominent centers of Chinese
activity outside of China. It continues to be a major tourist attraction – drawing more visitors
each year than the Golden Gate Bridge. Groups enjoy shopping and experiencing an authentic
Chinese meal.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Cable Cars
The San Francisco cable car system has become an icon of the Bay Area. Cable cars operate
on two routes from downtown near Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf, and a third route along
California Street. While the cable cars are used to a certain extent by commuters, their small
service area and premium fares for single rides make them more of a tourist attraction. The
San Francisco cable cars are one of the two moving National Historic Landmarks. (along with
Mystic Seaport Museum’s steamship Sabino in Connecticut)
San Francisco Sightseeing
Union Square
San Francisco’s Union Square is a 2.6 acres plaza bordered by Geary, Powell, Post and
Stockton Streets. It also refers to the central shopping, hotel, and theater district that
surrounds the plaza for several blocks. The name “Union Square” stems from the fact that the
area was once used for rallies and support for the Union Army during the Civil War. Today,
this one-block plaza and nearby area is one of the largest collection of department stores,
upscale boutiques, art galleries and salons in the western United States, which continue to
Union Square a major tourist draw, a vital place in downtown San Francisco, and one of the
world’s premier shopping districts.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Giants Baseball
Many groups enjoy taking in a Giants baseball game at beautiful AT&T Park.
Some have been able to perform the national anthem. (The Oakland A’s also play across the
bay and typically have an alternating travel schedule with the Giants, meaning that one of the
two teams is usually always in town.)
San Francisco Popular Culture
Food
There are a number of foods that have become associated with San Francisco over the years.
Though it has nothing to do with the culture, and everything to do with the location of original
company headquarters, Rice A Roni has become known as “the San Francisco treat.”
However, the real treats of San Francisco are found in its sourdough, its clam chowder, its
Dungeness crabs, and its Ghiradelli Chocolate.
San Francisco Popular Culture
Television
Due to its unique culture and landscape, San Francisco has been chosen for the setting of
several films and television programs that have become a part of American pop culture. Some
of the more popular programs over the years have been:
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Charmed
Crazy Like a Fox
Dharma & Greg
The Doris Day Show
Eli Stone
Falcon Crest
Full House
Ironside
McMillan and Wife
Monk
Party of Five
The Streets of San Francisco
Suddenly Susan
Too Close for Comfort
San Francisco Popular Culture
Movies
Among the notable films set in San Francisco are:
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48 Hours
The Birds
Birdman of Alcatraz
Big Trouble in Little China
Bullitt
Dirty Harry
Escape from Alcatraz
Foul Play
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
The Joy Luck Club
Jagged Edge
The Maltese Falcon
Mrs. Doubtfire
The Presidio
The Princess Diaries
The Pursuit of Happiness
The Rock
Sneakers
The Towering Inferno
Vertigo
The Wedding Planner
San Francisco
California’s Great America
Included in the festival package, is a day pass to California’s Great America Theme Park in
Santa Clara. The park pass is valid for Saturday or Sunday on most festival weekends. Great
America is also the location of our Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening.
(The first, and sometimes the second weekend of each festival season occurs prior to the official opening of the theme park. On
those weekends, the package price is reduced to reflect the deduction of the park and the awards ceremony dinner/dance is held in a
hotel ballroom.)
Your Personal Team
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A knowledgeable and friendly Festival Selection Advisor is
your first point of contact, helping you select the ideal
performance opportunity and location for your group.
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A helpful Destination Specialist focuses on the logistical
details of your festival – from making hotel reservations to
arranging additional activities – so you are free to concentrate
on your group’s performance.
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Once your festival day arrives, a courteous Host Festival
Director welcomes you to the event. This person is also
available in the months preceding the festival to answer any
questions you may have regarding your festival, equipment
needs, or performance schedule.
Lynall Pitts
Festival Selection Advisor
Kerri Ewing
Destination Specialist
Kyle Naylor
Host Festival Director
*For the specific individuals who will work with you, please contact WorldStrides Heritage Performance.
San Francisco Festival Venues
Instrumental Site
Foothill College’s Smithwick Theater
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
(650) 949-7252
*Venues are subject to change.
San Francisco Festival Venues
Choral Site
Cubberley Theater
4000 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-0572
*Venues are subject to change.
Festival of Gold
• Ensembles are invited to perform at
Festival of Gold after they have proven
their musical talents. They do so by
achieving a Gold or Superior rating at a
Heritage Festival or state venue.
• At FOG, students showcase their talents
on some of the nation’s finest stages.
Festival of Gold
Performance Venue
St. Ignatius Church
650 Parker Ave.
San Francisco, CA
*Venues are subject to change.
Inclusions
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Performance in a national music festival
Positive, constructive adjudication with taped and written comments
On-stage mini clinic
Awards dinner and presentation
Quality hotel accommodations
Gift and group photo for the director
Commemorative gift for each student
Professional performance recording
Liability, health, and accident insurance for all travelers
One free participant for every 25 packages purchased
Free professional development for directors
Opportunity for directors to earn graduate credit
Free high school academic credit for students
*Inclusions for Festival of Gold may vary and are subject to change.