The first rain of the fall has swept through the Bay Area, but it looks like we have one last gasp of warm weather before we settle into the cold, meaning the timing couldn’t be more perfect for Steeplechase on Sunday, October 19th!

We’ve had a flurry of announcements the last couple of weeks, so here’s an overview if you’re planning to join us.

Steeplechase, Sunday October 19th

For the uninitiated, Steeplechase is when we ride the carousels of San Francisco in group. It’s a wildly whimsical time and a favorite amongst Explorers. We’re really excited for this one as the Steeplechase has been a summer staple and we’re excited to have it as the bookend as we say goodbye to the warmer weather.

This year’s Steeplechase is looking at all the various stories and whimsical wonders that have come from this event. Last week we mentioned there will be prizes for jauntiest hat. This week we’re harkening back to 2023 when Steeplechase served as a wedding ceremony for two Explorers. To honor this moment, we’re giving any and all Explorers the opportunity to exchange vows with one another. This could be between friends, family, creative partners, lovers, Explorer to carousel horse, etc etc. If someone can’t be there in person, perhaps you can consider a creative way to summon them to the event. We’re looking for declarations of appreciation and love and I know the Explorers Guild is full of it.

Both jauntiest hat and the exchanging of vows isn’t required, but a way for us touring more joy to our event.

Here’s the reminder of the details:

When: Sunday, October 19th - 10:30am

Where: Meet at Pier 39 Topiary Sculpture (Note this is at the entrance to Pier 39 and different from years past)

Don’t forget: $15 cash (for all 3 carousels), clipper card (or a way to pay for muni), jaunty hat, water, snacks and a lunch.

Route: We’ll start at Pier 39, then head to Yerba Buena for carousel number 2 and lunch, then wrap in Golden Gate Park. All this finishing around 2:30pm.

Lunch: We’ll stop for lunch at Yerba Buena Gardens where you can either purchase from a nearby spot or bring your own.

Connect: Join us on our Slack channel #1019-steeplechase for updates, questions, and shared excitement.

More dates of note!

Board of directors election is coming soon, and this year we have three spots that are up for you to decide on. Our election process is open to members and will be completed as follows:

• October 20th - November 3rd, Nominations will be taken. Nominees must be official Explorers Guild Members.

• November 4 - 14th, Voting happens, with members getting an email directly from the board about the process.

• November 15 - 17th, the existing board will reach out to winners and offer them the role.

• November 20th we’ll announce the newly elected board of directors via our dispatch.

On October 25th, I’ll be going to Wylding Woods, an immersive show aimed at a young at heart audience. If this is something of interest to you, you’ll find a discount code for tickets in the link.

October 30th is Driveway Follies. We go to the late show, arriving around 9pm, which allows for little ones to enjoy the early shows. I love this event and this year I’m hoping to provide a field guide to go along with it.

Our next event will be Saturday, November 8th at the Rosicrucian Museum. This is something Explorers have been asking about for years, and we’ll be excited to explore it together. We’ll be meeting at 12:30pm, with more information coming in the weeks ahead.

Lastly, though it’s not an Explorers Guild event there are many Explorers helping to make it happen. I highly suggest checking out Raining Chainsaw’s Puppet Death Match event and not to delay getting tickets as this will sell out. Event dates are October 25th and 26th.