Between the basketball games, face painting, and LEGO building, there was plenty to keep the kids busy at Phoenix Day. On Sunday, October 18, we spent the afternoon outside GLIDE with our Tenderloin neighbors, filling Ellis Street between Taylor and Jones with food, music, and room to play.
Our sponsor, the Civic Joy Fund, helped make this free celebration possible. The event ran from noon to 4 p.m., with Dr. Gina Fromer officially welcomed everyone at 12:30 p.m. “Welcome to Phoenix Day 2026!” Dr. Gina also introduced the raffle for California Academy of Sciences tickets, with another family day out up for grabs.
There was no need to rush from one activity to the next. Kids could settle in with building blocks, stop to watch the juggler, or pick up a creation from the balloon artist. Face painters added to the fun, while the SF Zoo and Bay Area Discovery Museum brought activities for curious kids to try.
For a little friendly competition, there were basketball games and hammer strikes. And then there was the dunk tank. San Francisco Assessor Joaquín Torres took a turn in the seat, putting himself at the mercy of his neighbors’ aim.
The San Francisco Fire Department brought a fire truck for kids to climb inside and explore. They got a closer look at the truck and a chance to meet the firefighters who serve their neighborhood.
Of course, an afternoon of playing calls for a food break. Youth With A Mission (YWAM) served pulled pork sandwiches, while the Chick N’ Bros food truck offered chicken sandwiches. Curry Up Now was there, too, serving Indian street food with a California twist.
Music and dance gave families another reason to gather around the stage. Danza Xitlalli, a cultural, spiritual, and ceremonial group dedicated to preserving the Indigenous traditions of Danza Mexica, shared those traditions through dance. Our Glidettes, a group of extremely talented Asian women elders, brought their own music and dance to the celebration, showing that the stage belonged to every generation. The Glide Memorial Church Ensemble, led by Zoe Ellis, kept the music going with spiritual songs, including “God’s Got a Blessing.”
There was also time to catch up with staff from across GLIDE and visit our neighborhood partners’ booths. Our Center for Social Justice (CSJ) team talked with residents about voting rights, shared our voter guide, and discussed policies affecting the community. Neighbors could ask questions about our services while spending the day with their families.
A heartfelt thank-you to our sponsors: Civic Joy Fund, Youth With a Mission (YWAM), The Healing Well, Dollhouse Day, Chloe Jackman Photography, and Tenderloin Community Benefit District. Your support helped fill Ellis Street with food, games, music, and a day of fun for Tenderloin kids and their families. Thank you to our vendors, performers, volunteers, and GLIDE staff for bringing it all together.
And to our families and neighbors: we’re glad you spent it with us.