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San Francisco Music Festivals: 20 Best Live Music Events in the SF Bay Area
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: February 28, 2025 • Published: November 7, 2015
Enjoy live bands all day or weekend long at these top 20 Bay Area and San Francisco music festivals.
These popular annual events enhance SF's amazingly rich live music scene across all genres, from rock to pop to electronic to jazz.
You'll find some in the streets, others in Golden Gate Park, and others spread across local venues.
The hottest San Francisco festivals include Noise Pop, Outside Lands, and Stern Grove. Read on to learn more.
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1. Noise Pop
Noise Pop began in 1993 with just five bands on one night at what is now The Independent.
The event has since grown to be one of the San Francisco music festivals that features several days of entertainment across multiple venues.
Noise Pop is a can't-miss celebration of indie culture that offers a variety of musical styles from jazz to electronic.
In addition to the more than 160 bands featured at over 25 venues around the city, this event offers art shows, film scores, happy hours, talks, and more.
If you miss the large event in the spring, you can catch the one-day 20th Street Block Party hosted by the same organization in October, featuring the same lively atmosphere and the best of local food and music.
Date: February/March
Learn More: Visit the February calendar to discover details on this year's event
2. North Beach Festival
There's no better way to experience this vibrant neighborhood than at the North Beach Festival, one of the best local street fairs in San Francisco.
This classic San Francisco festival offers food, drink, music, and local artists displaying arts and crafts.
The tradition goes back more than two-thirds of a century, bringing people from all walks of life together to celebrate the rich history and culture of San Francisco's Little Italy.
Walk or dance the streets that were home to Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg of the Beat Generation. This event is casual and free, and most of the bands are local Bay Area favorites.
Date: June
Learn More: Find out more about the North Beach Festival
3. Union Street Festival
Similar to the North Beach Festival, this event in the Marina District is another one of the decades-old street fairs in San Francisco.
For two days, you can listen to 30 bands on two stages, relax with a drink in the wine or beer garden, taste the best of the local fare, and bring the kids along for amusement rides, arts and crafts, and more.
More than 100 art displays span six city blocks for you to explore as you get to know the community.
The event has evolved over the years to include something for everyone, including a fashion show and a pavilion focused on health and wellness.
Date: June
Learn More: Discover additional info for this year's event
4. SF Jazz Festival
Each year, jazz lovers kick off the summer with the chance to enjoy a variety of performances at venues all over the city through the annual SF Jazz Festival.
The event takes place over several weeks, bringing together top jazz musicians from around the world.
Between the classic and avant-garde, international giants and rising local artists, the breadth of styles at this jazz festival is unparalleled.
Date: June
Learn More: Visit the SF Jazz site for more information
5. Fillmore Jazz Festival
Unlike the SF Jazz Festival, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is completely free—in fact, it is the largest free jazz event on the West Coast.
For two days, tens of thousands of visitors enjoy several stages of live jazz music that span 12 blocks of Fillmore Street in the Pacific Heights and Western Addition districts.
You will find great eats, beverages, and wonderful pieces of art from local and national artists. This event is always the first weekend in July.
Date: July
Learn More: Find additional info on this year's event
6. Outside Lands
By far the largest and most anticipated of the San Francisco music festivals is Outside Lands.
Named for the area of San Francisco that used to be just sand dunes and considered uninhabitable, the event practically takes over what is now Golden Gate Park for three days.
The huge lineup of around 70 bands on several different stages features big names as well as local favorites.
In the past, headliners of this Golden Gate Park music festival have included Lizzo, the Strokes, the Black Keys, Elton John, Billy Idol, Mumford & Sons, and Wilco.
While you're grooving, the event invites you to taste "Wine Lands," "Beer Lands," and "Cheese Lands."
Date: August
Learn More: Visit my Outside Lands page to learn more
7. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Another large, popular music festival in San Francisco each year is Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.
Thanks to the late founder, Warren Hellman, the event is totally free and draws some of the biggest names in the genre.
Previous performers at this San Francisco music festival in Golden Gate Park include Indigo Girls, Los Lobos, Emmylou Harris, and the Lumineers.
Since it's free to get in, I recommend arriving very early to get a great spot for the shows, which take place on various stages in the park.
Date: October
Learn More: Additional details for this year's event
8. Stern Grove
The Stern Grove Concert Series is another free and uniquely SF music festival that lasts all summer.
From mid-June to mid-August, you will find free shows in Stern Grove Park every Sunday at 2 pm.
The Stern Grove festival has been a local favorite for over 80 years, in part because of the artists who come, and in part because of the beautiful outdoor setting.
The "grove" is just that: a peaceful, grassy spot surrounded by trees, a great place for families or groups of friends to gather around their picnic blanket.
The music spans all genres, from classical to rock. Previous performers include Boz Scaggs, Morris Day and the Time, and the Doobie Brothers.
The Stern Grove music festival in San Francisco has become so popular that you must reserve your free entrance tickets online well in advance.
Date: Mid-June to mid-August
Learn More: Discover the full schedule for Stern Grove this year
9. Portola Music Festival
Founded in 2022, the Portola Music Festival is one of the newest and hottest music festivals in San Francisco.
For two days, 42,000 electronic music fans flock to Pier 80 to rock out in a 60-acre indoor/outdoor space that usually serves as the city's largest cargo terminal and shipping port.
This 21+ SF music festival attracts an incredible lineup of DJs like Rufus Du Sol, Disclosure, Justice, and many more.
Feeling the music right on the water during SF's warmest month of the year is a winning combination that has made this SF EDM festival a huge success. Therefore, tickets sell out quickly!
Date: September
Learn More: Check out the September calendar of SF events for more info
10. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
The long-running Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is one of the few music festivals in San Francisco that take place in the heart of downtown.
Every year, they offer six months of completely free artistic, community, and cultural programs on their outdoor stage. Musical genres range from classical to world and jazz.
In addition to the music, dance, and theater performances each weekend, you'll find Thursday lunchtime concerts by local Bay Area bands, salsa nights with live Latin bands, and children's shows.
This all takes place in SF's SoMa district.
Date: April to October
Learn More: View the schedule for this year's festival performances
11. Golden Gate Bandshell Concert Series
The Golden Gate Park Band is astonishingly as old as the beautifully architected Golden Gate Bandshell itself, performing on this historic stage since 1882!
The band's repertoire spans from operas and Broadway show tunes to big band swing and folk music.
Enjoy the free 90-minute concerts of this San Francisco music festival in Golden Gate Park every Sunday afternoon throughout the summer.
The Bandshell, also known as the Spreckels Temple of Music, is located in the Music Concourse, just steps from the California Academy of Sciences and de Young museums.
In addition, the organization Illuminate LIVE now hosts a free Golden Gate Park music festival here every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, featuring a wide range of genres, including reggae, salsa, indie, and electronic music.
Date: April to October
Learn More: Get more details on the Recreation and Parks website
More Music Festivals in the SF Bay Area
12. BottleRock Napa Valley
BottleRock is by far one of the most popular Bay Area music festivals each year.
The Napa Valley Expo hosts three days of summer fun in the wine country with huge names in popular music from rock to hip hop.
Recently, they hosted Metallica, Twenty One Pilots, P!nk, Pitbull, Vance Joy, and many others.
Since Napa is one of the gourmet capitals of the world, you can expect nothing less than a variety of top local wines, beer, and food to enjoy with your live music.
Date: May
Learn More: View more details about this wine country music festival
13. Berkeley Bluegrass Festival
Head over to the East Bay city of Berkeley for three days of concerts by a range of musicians in the bluegrass genre, from Grammy winners to up-and-coming artists.
The Berkeley Bluegrass Festival is fun for music fans but even better for musicians, as they also offer a selection of workshops on topics like how to build a walking base line or different styles of guitar and fiddle playing.
You'll find these events at the historic Freight music venue in Berkeley's Arts District.
Date: May
Learn More: Find tickets for this intimate Bay Area music festival in Berkeley
14. Mill Valley Music Festival
This two-day outdoor arts and culture event takes place in beautiful Marin County, just north of San Francisco.
Past lineups have included big names like Ben Harper as well as more local musicians covering a range of musical genres, from rock to Latin to funk and more.
In addition to great music, you'll find kids' activities, art installations, and tasty food.
Date: May
Learn More: Get the details about this outdoor SF music festival
15. Monterey Jazz Festival
Founded in 1958, this beloved Bay Area music festival is one of the world's longest continuously running jazz festivals.
It brings in legendary international artists as well as young rising stars on the jazz scene.
You will find this three-day event at the County Fairgrounds in the beautiful coastal city of Monterey, about two hours south of San Francisco.
Date: September
Learn More: See what else is happening in Monterey in September
16. Country Summer Music Festival
Northern California's largest country music festival brings great music to two different stages.
On the main stage, headline performers have included Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, and many more big names. On the smaller stage, you'll find rising country musicians from the area.
You can buy a three-day pass or single-day tickets. At the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa (about 1.5 hours north of SF), there's also an option for RV camping if you want the full experience.
Date: June
Learn More: Visit this Bay Area music festival's website for more details
17. Mosswood Meltdown
If you are looking for a San Francisco rock festival, consider spending two days in the East Bay city of Oakland rocking out to punk and alternative bands at the outdoor stage in Mosswood Park.
This festival is a makeover of the previous "Burger Boogaloo" event, now featuring more queer and feminist groups and artists.
At times, this Bay Area music festival will blast you back to the past with performances by artists like Bikini Kill and Kim Gordon.
Come and have some fun with great music, drinks in the beer garden, and some of the best vegan-friendly food around.
Date: July
Learn More: Get more information about this Bay Area music festival in Oakland
18. Petaluma Music Festival
This fun one-day outdoor festival features 14 bands on three stages, where a variety of musical genres are represented, from folk to funk to Latin, and everything in between.
This is a great place to sit back and enjoy the local specialty food and beer from Lagunitas Brewing Company and Old Caz Beer.
Proceeds from this annual nonprofit event at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds fund music programs in Petaluma public schools.
Date: July/August
Learn More: See the full lineup for this cool Bay Area music festival
19. San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
Each summer for more than 35 years, the Summer Fest has been taking over downtown San Jose—a thriving city about an hour southeast of SF—with its main stage in the Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park.
With 12 stages and three days of concerts, the event brings in nearly 1000 musicians playing jazz, Latin jazz, blues, R&B, salsa, New Orleans, and more.
The festival has featured popular artists ranging from Common to Morris Day and the Time, Dianne Reeves to Kool & the Gang.
Date: August
Learn More: Find more details on the Bay Area music festival's website
20. California Roots Festival
This Bay Area music festival at the Monterey County Fairgrounds puts reggae rock and conscious hip-hop center stage.
You'll find the top names in the roots musical genre performing here. Past performers include The Roots, Ben Harper, Tash Sultana, Ziggy Marley, and many more.
This is a truly 'California,' eclectic, green event that also raises money for local nonprofits. Kids are welcome at this family-friendly festival, where you'll find activities like yoga and painting.
Date: May
Learn More: Get more details and tickets to this unique Bay Area music festival
More SF Festivals
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