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Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2024
by Jill Loeffler •
Discover free music, artistic performances, and other cultural programs at the 2024 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.
This annual event offers free programming every week from April to October.
Enjoy classical, jazz, and world music, learn more about traditional and contemporary dance, watch local theater companies perform their craft, and uncover a variety of programs specifically for children and families.
During these months, you will find several performances each week around the Buena Vista Gardens. Many are on the weekends, although some are also scheduled during the week. They also feature special Thursday lunchtime shows for those working nearby.
This is a fun event every year. It's relaxing to sit in the gardens around Yerba Buena Park catching free, live performances of both up-and-coming local artists as well as some who are recognized around the world.
Here are some additional details on what you can expect to find during this festival.
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Schedule
Here are some of the top performances this year.
April 2025
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion: 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23 & 4/30 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Guest Presentation - Easter Egg Hunt: 4/12 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Guest Presentation - Earth Day: 4/19 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Guest Presentation - Sunset Sound System Spring Picnic: 4/27 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
May
2025
La Santa Cecilia + La Doña: 5/10 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion: 5/14, 5/21 & 5/28 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
CMC Older Adults Choirs: 5/15 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Joe Bataan + Tall Tee: 5/17 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Guest Presentation - 826 Valencia Student Showcase: 5/18 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Aguidavi do Jeje x Batuki: 5/22 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Madison McFerrin + The Seshen: 5/24 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
VEN Trio (Vinicius Gomes, Elé Howell, Noah Garabedian): 5/29 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
June 2025
Red Panda Acrobats (Kids' Show): 6/6 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Sundown Cinema Presents: Wicked: 6/7 from 4:00 pm to 10:30 pm
RhythmALLogy (Kids' Show): 6/13 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu: Aloha ‘Aina: 6/14 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Native Contemporary Arts Festival: 6/15 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion: 6/18 & 6/25 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Sundra Manning: 6/19 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Circus Bella: Hoopla (All Ages Show): 6/20 & 6/21 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Circus Bella: Hoopla (All Ages Show): 6/21 from 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm
Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat: 6/26 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Eddie Madril (Kids' Show): 6/27 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Pride in Yerba Buena!:
6/28 from
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
July 2025
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion: 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23 & 7/30 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Thursday Lunchtime - TBA: 7/3 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers: 7/3 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Gamelan Sekar Jaya: 7/5 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
San Francisco Mime Troupe: 7/6 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto: 7/10 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Ka-Hon (Kids' Show): 7/11 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Weekend Session - TBA: 7/12 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Arun Ramamurthy Trio: 7/17 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Unique Derique (Kids' Show): 7/18 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day One): 7/19 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
YBG Dance Day: 7/20 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Poetic Tuesday: 7/22 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Dani Offline: 7/24 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Manilatown Ancestral Ensemble (Kids' Show): 7/25 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Poetry Workshop with Nia Pearl: 7/26 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day Two): 7/26 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Thursday Lunchtime - TBA: 7/31 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
August 2025
Dholrhythms Dance Company (Kids' Show): 8/1 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Viet Day feat. Vân-Ánh Võ's Blood Moon Orchestra: 8/2 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
SF Uke Jam’s Summer Uke-splosion: 8/3 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion: 8/6, 8/13, 8/20 & 8/27 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
AfroSolo Presents: Lady Bianca & the West Coast Caravan of Allstars: 8/7 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Combo Chimbita: 8/7 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Calvin Kai Ku (Kids' Show):
8/8 from
11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to
12:30 pm
Pistahan: 8/9 & 8/10 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Brazil in the Gardens: 8/14 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Caterpillar Puppets (Kids' Show): 8/15 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am & 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm
Poetry Workshop with Nia Pearl: 8/16 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Marcus Shelby Orchestra: Blues and the Pursuit of Freedom: 8/16 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Poetic Tuesday: 8/19 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
WAM Local Sirens Presents: B. DeVeaux + Mare: 8/21 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
SAMMAY: the way home is an upwards spiral - World Premiere: 8/23 & 8/24 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Trío Guadalevín: 8/28 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
The Saúl Sierra Quintet: Caminos:
8/30 from
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
September 2025
Weekend Session - TBA: 9/6 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion: 9/10 & 9/24 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Thursday Lunchtime - TBA: 9/11 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Samora Pinderhughes + SOL Development: 9/20 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Mornings in Jenin Musical: A Playlist: 9/21 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Bia Ferreira: 9/25 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Movement Immigrant Orchestra: 9/27 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Litquake Out Loud + Book Fair:
9/28 from
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
October 2025
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion: 10/1 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Lucía: 10/2 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Parangal Dance Company: Adhika: 10/4 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
November 2025
Halloween Hoopla: 11/1 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Places to Stay Nearby
If you plan on spending quite a bit of time in or near Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, then I recommend looking at hotels in the Union Square District.
This area is centrally located and the most convenient place to stay in San Francisco for those exploring this area (or the entire city!). It's just a few blocks away from the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and an easy bus ride to other popular attractions in SF.
Click here for my top recommendations in Union Square.
You can also find great deals for other locations when you Click here to find the perfect hotel for your stay in SF.
How to Get to the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival performances are all in and around the Yerba Buena Gardens at 750 Howard Street. You can also enter the gardens from Mission or 3rd Streets.
The great thing about the location of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is that it is easy to reach from everywhere in SF and the Bay Area.
BART: If you are coming from the south or east bay, you can take BART to the Powell Street Station. Head south on 4th Street one block and make a left onto Mission. You will find the gardens about one block down on your right.
Muni Buses: All of these buses drop within a block or two of the festival: 5, 6, 8, 14, 21 30, 38, 41, 45, 54, 72, 91, 92, 93. You can also take the light rail trains to the Powell Street Station and walk two blocks to the festival.
Caltrain: If you take Caltrain from the south bay, you can either walk to the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival or take the 30 or 45 bus from the corner of Townsend and 4th Streets.
Golden Gate Transit: If you are coming from the north bay, it's an easy bus ride on Golden Gate Transit. Take the 70, 80 or 101 bus to the stop at Mission and 4th Streets.
Other Popular Annual Festivals & Events
Wine Tasting Festivals: Some of my favorite events are SF's wine tasting festivals. The largest is the Chronicle Wine Tasting Event every February. You will also find other annual tastings such as Pinot Noir Days, the TAPAS Wine Tasting Event, and the Rhone Rangers Festival. Learn more here.
Street Fairs: Almost every weekend in the summer in SF, you will find a fun street fair or festival. They range from the two-day Pride Festival & Parade to the popular Haight Street Fair. Find the full list of this year's festivals.
Hi, I'm Jill!
Dreaming of a San Francisco vacation? As a proud local, I'm here to share my insider tips and personal experiences to help you make the most of this iconic city!
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