Stern Grove Festival

I sadly have to report that while the music was great we sat at a table and the while time we were here while Everyone else at the table was able to order drinks somehow we were overlooked
My wife went out of our way to ask for some wine during the first act and unfortunately during the George Clinton set we were offered some water
San Francisco you are better than this
Do we actually have to be at the front of the table in order Not to be ignored or done really Need to be a lighter shade to be served?

This is for the 1%.
That’d be the 1% of City residents who aren’t already attending the annual Stern Grove Festival.
Seriously.
If it’s Sunday, summer, and San Francisco and wherever you are is deserted that’s because everyone else (and everyone they know) is at Stern Grove trying to carve out a little patch of Earth from which they can view the stage.
Free music is something that’s in abundance during Summer in SF and the Stern Grove Festival, set as it is in a spacious redwood grove, sets a high bar for exemplifying a traditional, uniquely San Francisco experience.
You get that it’s crowded, yes? For a recent season opener featuring Janelle Monae, the Grove was beyond packed, same as always. For a show beginning at 2 p.m. I arrived at 11:00 and sat on a steeply sloped section of dirt doing a balancing act until showtime. And, though the area looked full when I arrived, that was nothing compared to how full it was by showtime. People kept squeezing into spaces that looked uninhabitable, sprawling even higher into the trees… you’ve gotta get here early if you have any hope for a decent seat. While in line for a restroom I heard someone announce that they were near the stage and that they’d arrived before 7 a.m. to secure such a spot.
Why bother, you think? If I have to explain it, perhaps this isn’t for you.
Other stuff worth knowing:
* Shows are on Sundays beginning at 2 p.m.
* No smoking is allowed anywhere in Stern Grove (so bring your edibles).
* Entry points close around showtime when it’s deemed the place is stuffed to dangerous levels. People who arrive around this time usually watch while lined up single file along the pathway edges; its not «legal» but also not enforced.
* Dogs are not permitted.
* Low back chairs, blankets that aren’t excessively large, and booze? Allowed.
* Suggested –though not required — donation of $ 10.
* Street parking only
* Senior (65 & up)/Disabled seating, on benches near the stage, is first come first serve and fills up. For those with mobility issues, wheelchair accessible shuttles can take you into the Grove. (Check website for details).
There are a lot of quintessential San Francisco experiences. An afternoon of music at Stern Grove is one. If you have the opportunity and time, don’t miss it.

I saw Talib Kweli here. It was during that 84 degree day in the city when it was hotter than balls. The grove was packed and there was no shady place to sit.
Me and the Grove, we had a moment. This was my very first concert, and boy did I sure pick a good one. I was a little concerned about venturing out by myself. How would I manage the food, bathroom, chair, and «securing a selected spot» situation? As a female, would I be ok up in the trees, with all my crap in tow?
Rest assured, the people of SF are happy, friendly, and usually willing to share space.
I entered through the main gates and walked down the hill to the entrance. Not going to lie, I kept thinking ‘man, o man i’m going to need to hike up this hill to get out.” Luckily, there is shade, just keep to the right if you are slow.
I entered and was blown away by the beautiful venue. What an amazing place. Truly makes me want to volunteer my time to keep it going. What a treat we have, here in the SF.
I posted up by a gate and managed to secure a solo spot. You would be amazed how much easier it is to find shelter from the heat as one person. You can squeeze in almost anywhere. Only downfall to riding solo, who watches your stuff when you head to the bathroom or need to grab food from the vendors. It’s all relative I guess.
Either way, I love THE GROVE.
Bring: chairs, blankets, pillows, hat, food, sunblock, baby wipes, a good book, and some shades. If you plan to grab a good seat, chances are you are going to stay a while. Coolers are welcome and furniture is IFFY. I was seated to a group who was having a birthday party, and they even brought a coffee table-​GENIUS.
Don’t bring: asshole attitude and violence.
Finally, don’t forget to donate money or your time. Although the concerts are free, this stuff can’t just run on blue skies and unicorn.

Came out for the Talib Kweli show on the 16^th! It was my first time going and the last show of the season. It was SUPER crowded and I regret getting there 15 minutes before the show started. One lady I spoke with told me she got there at 11:30am, but she said some ppl got there as early as 6am! FYI– they close the street entrance to the grove at 2pm so be there on time!
Me and my friends ended up laying our picnic blanket in a field away from the stage where trees blocked our view. Brought a cooler and had a picnic! And best part is you can bring your own alcohol! There’s some food stands there but the lines were pretty long.
From time to time I walked back and forth from our spot and the stage area to watch the show. At one point I was standing on the walkway when an event volunteer kept clearing the path due to fire hazards. And they did this often.
When the concert started at 2pm it was pretty hot, but by the time it was over (4:30-ish) it got a bit windy. Overall the crowd was a mix of every group you can imagine! It’s pretty accessible by MUNI and glad we didn’t drive in — the parking options are only the neighborhood, which is very limited.
I’d definitely come back again, but can’t emphasize it enough — get there early!

Stern Grove Festival is one of these amazing, one-​of-​a-​kind events that just doesn’t happen outside of SF. Seeing bands like tUnE-​yArDs and Morris Day for free on a Sunday afternoon? In a eucalyptus grove? I’m down for that.
Venue: ⁴⁄₅. Stern Grove is beautiful. I love that unless you are looking for it, you could ostensibly walk right past it and never know that there’s a gorge filled with day-​drinking music lovers and eucalyptus. The reason I take a star away here is because of the seating. Specifically, I’m referring to the seating on the hill. It IS true that being up-​close-​and-​personal with the eucalyptus is a fragrant and surreal concert experience. But this auditory and aromatic affair is dampened somewhat by the fact that you probably can’t see the stage.
Food and Drink: ⁵⁄₅. Confession: I didn’t even know what a knish was until I went to Stern Grove. The situation has been rectified. Also, bring your own! There’s nothing like showing up at Whole Foods in your SF Sunday Best and loading up on the wine, cheese, and finger foods. You get to be gluttonous without the guilt – because, hey, it’s organic. Plus, you can feel superior to the shoppers who are simply gathering their weekly rations of kale and dates. You are no mere date gatherer. You’ve got places to be. And soon, because those seats fill up.
Music: ⁵⁄₅. What originally drew me to Stern Grove was tUnE-​yArDs. But I’ve since been back twice, and I love all the acts the festival brings in!
Ambiance: 3.5÷5. Okay so the weather can’t be helped. It’s the Sunset. We all know what that means. The crowd can occasionally be irksome, and entitled. Blame it on the free admission, and Whole Foods. Get there early. Do not expect people to move over so that you can squeeze in. Do not ask to borrow a wine opener. If you do, expect some sass. Know that it isn’t you. Blame it on the alcohol. Or something.
Overall: Do you, Stern Grove, do you.

Awesome!
We had a great time — the performance (ballet) was fantastic and the venue is amazing. We had great weather and a great time.
Key to having fun — getting there a solid 3 hours before it starts and brining wine!

What’s there not to love about the Stern Grove Festival? Seriously, free outdoor shows, performances, and concerts weekly in the San Francisco summer as you set up blankets and picnic beneath the trees in the large amphitheatre.
I love catching the SF Ballet shows each year, and we always come 2 – 3 hours early to snag a good spot with food and drinks. Fun!
On another note, restrooms are accessible too, so don’t worry, you won’t have to go in the trees in front of all the families and children.

Another one for the «can’t believe I’ve never been here before now» file!
My honey and I went for the DakhaBrakha and Tune-​Yards show. We chipped in $ 20 to support the cause.
We got there 90 minutes before the show. The lower lawn area was packed but we found a lovely spot among the trees. Although we didn’t have the best view, we were in the shade (it was a particularly warm day so this was very nice), and the sound was just fine.
We loaded up our Camelback with ice water, screw top white wine, and tasty snacks such as salami, cheese, crackers, and veggies.
Delightful.

Great free Sunday performances during the summer! Bring food, drinks, hat, blankets to sit on, wear in layers and put on sunscreen.
Can’t stress this enough: get here as early as you can to get good spots. Or else you’ll have to hike into the woods area, risk sliding down the hill. Also, don’t be that rude person that track dirt and sand walking over other people’s blankets.

Free concerts on Sunday!
I’ve gone a couple times now and have yet to have a bad experience. The vibe there is awesome — very family/​friends sort of environment. Entrance is free w/​a suggested $ 10 donation. Don’t forget to bring a blanket (or something to sit on) and some snacks as well! They also have a few food vendors outside, but I have yet to try.
The talent is amazing, most recently I watched the SF ballet and they were amazing. So grab a couple of friends/​family members and hike your way down the hill!

I am not sure why Unilocal has the hours for this festival as Mondays as the concerts are on Sundays. During the summer months, they have free performances in the park on Sundays. For those with mobility problems, they do have shuttles to take you from the top of Sloat down to the grove and back up. For the rest of us, it is a short ¼−1/3 mile walk.
We always try to come for the Hawaiian performers with the Makaha Sons, Kaukahi, and Hapa being some of the past performances we had seen here. There had been about a 3 year hiatus in the Hawaiian music so when I saw that it was back and with Amy Hanaiali‘i, I cleared my schedule to spend a day here.
Biggest tip is arrive early. We arrived at 11 and was able to secure a space on the lawn towards the front and middle of the stage. They do have benches for seniors off to the side of the stage and also separate areas towards the middle (behind the lawn area) to park wheelchairs at so you do not block the view of those sitting on the grass.
You can bring outside food, coolers, drinks (including alcohol), low back chairs or cushions, blankets, etc. so being here early isn’t that much of a hardship, just make a picnic out of it. The weather is unpredictable in SF so be prepared for layers in case it is cloudy and chilly but yesterday’s Hawaiian performance brought the Hawai‘i weather with it so it was quite hot and an umbrella came in handy for a little shade. Just make sure to put it away before the performance itself.
Suggested donations are $ 10 but they will take any amount.
Although we were already a week late for the SF Symphony, the rest of the 2015 schedule is as follows:
⁷⁄₁₉ — Tune Yards
⁷⁄₂₆ — SF Ballet
⁸⁄₂ — Mary Carpenter
⁸⁄₉ — Morris Day and the Tim
⁸⁄₁₆ — Talib Kewli

I love this place, just this place in general the trees. The smell of the sap, even the grass smells great.
Then you got wine too go with it that just tops it off perfectly ha.
I’ve seen some great shows here and guess what every concert here is FREE!!!
How can you complain about free right not only that but its free and amazing at the same time.
Pretty cool right? Yep, I love it.
I usually bring a huge sandwich to share and some wine when I am here.
The vendor food and drinks are pretty good too.
I remember enjoying the organic coffee.
The bathrooms are real nice too.

This year marks the third year in a row I’ve attended the Stern Grove Festival. Summed up into a few words: awesome summer family fun free music
Every weekend during the summer months features a different type of artistic talent, from jazz to ballet. I’ve always enjoyed the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Ballet weekends. And did I mention it’s free?
Tip and tricks:
— Get there at least 3 hours ahead of time if you want to sit on the concrete steps and not have to squat behind the sequoia trees up on the steep hill. Also, if the park has reached maximum occupancy, they won’t let people in. This is a super popular event!
— Bring snacks and lunch, such as wine, cheese, cold cuts, hummus and chips, fruit, salad, and hot chocolate. They sell some food there but its expensive and lines are long.
— Bring something to sit on, like a blanket or low lying chairs, something you don’t mind getting dirty.
— Prepare for all kinds of weather. It’s San Francisco after all. It’s most likely cold and foggy but it could clear up and be very warm very quickly. So dress in layers and comfortable clothing. Doesn’t hurt to also bring a scarf, blanket, hat, and to wear sunscreen.
— Getting there by public transportation is so so so so easy. Ditch the car and difficult parking situation and go by metro.
— Donate! Your donation helps the event stay free! The ever-​present volunteers will come around asking for donations so you can’t miss them!
There are handicapped reserved spots so that’s pretty awesome.
Picnic tables are reserved for members of Stern Grove. You can sign up to reserve one on their website.
If you get there really really early, there are events for the kids.

I went to Stern Grove to see Sergio Mendes, who was the only performer I wanted to see this season. It was such a fun, lively concert. And afterwards, many people stayed and had a drum circle to continue the dancing.
There’s more food options than the last time I went here. But it’s still best to bring your own food and drink.

Today was my third Stern Grove Festival concert and I must say this series of musical events is truly a local gem.
First off, not sure how one could give a free event anything less than 5-​stars. Don’t like it? Ask for your money back. Kidding, of course, but if it’s truly terrible you can certainly leave and find something else to do with your Sunday afternoon.
I’ve heard grumblings about finding a place to sit and enjoy the show. If you arrive early, this shouldn’t be an issue. Whether you’re up for climbing up the steep hill and perching on a giant tree log like an Ewok or just hanging out on the lawn, get there around 1 pm and there should be plenty of room. Showing up ten minutes before any GA concert and expecting there to be a seat front row center is just silly.
Pack a picnic and some wine as well as plenty of layers and it should be a lovely afternoon in Stern Grove Park! Have some cash on-​hand because the volunteers will seriously ask for a donation, which is a small price to pay for such a wonderful community event. I have no problem donating $ 10 for such a great cause.

Omg omg omg! I found my new outdoor music fest! Oh, and it’s free! Oh, and you can BYOB! I have been known to get a touch of anxiety at wild and rowdy concerts, which is why I still haven’t attended Outside Lands after all my years on the California coast, but this was mellow and relaxed, which put me right at ease as I sipped red wine and bopped my head to the tunes of Rufus Wainright and the SF Quartet.
Located around 23^rd Ave and Wawona in the Sunset, nestled amongst the Redwoods, Pines, and Eucalyptus trees of Stern Grove lies an oasis for music lovers, day drinkers, and nature loungers. My pals and I sat up on a log and surveyed the land as we took in the lovely live piano samplings and vocals. Great people watching to be had, though some get a tad wastey, which just gets weird, so pace yourselves, people!
You can donate $ 150 to become a member of Stern Grove, which comes with such perks as having a picnic table to sit at while you enjoy the festivites. If you’re a peasant like myself, you can enter the picnic table raffle and cross your fingers that you get chosen. I don’t really mind sitting in the dirt and leaves though, and if you don’t mind either, I recommend wearing some kind of closed toed shoes and bringing a light jacket. My only wish is that summer lasted longer, as the free concerts end in late August, and I only just learned about how awesome they are.

TIP: Get there at like 10am and picnic or something!
I got there at 1230pm and it was packed and impossible to find a spot. We ended up just sitting behind a tree. Sound and acoustics are still good. And there is food for sale and it’s pretty quick.

If you can, take public transportation.
Get there early (like before noon, if possible).
Bring your own wine, food, picnic blanket.
If it says «this is not seating,» don’t be a jerk and sit there.
Enjoy the natural beauty of the area and the smell of the eucalyptus trees.
Enjoy!

So lovely, tons of people, get there early.
Parking is scarce. Bring a blanket. Bring a jacket.
SF Symphony was absolutely phenomenal today. TOTALLY worth going to check out if you haven’t been
Best part: First Sunday of every month… ITS FREE!

Awesome free concerts during the summer open to everyone of all ages! and BYOB!
I came to see Yuna and Allen Stone this past Sunday. Depending on the popularity of the artist, it’s always safe to come early enough to find reasonably close parking and to call dibs on a spot in the lawn areas. I arrived a little before 12 pm and scored parking maybe 2 blocks away.
Once you begin walking downhill into the venue from the entrance on 19^th and Sloat, you almost forget that you’re in the city because you’re surrounded by trees and nature, pretty awesome. Unless you’re willing to pay for overpriced fries and hot dogs, come prepared with your whole picnic spread including food and drinks!
I think that’s the best part of this — you’re allowed to bring your own bottles of wine, champagne for mimosas and/​or beer. I wouldn’t recommend any hard liquor unless it’s used for mixed drinks. Everyone seemed to be chill and it’s not exactly the place to get hammered with families around still. Any open spot is pretty fair game for a good view of the stage and the sound system is pretty good too. Enjoy!

This is an awesome venue! The stage is tucked inside Stern Grove which really makes you feel like you’re not in the city anymore — almost like you’re camping. Tons of trees and trails — it was a nice escape from the city noise. The venue is set up in what looks like a bowl within the grove. Great idea because it probably helps with the acoustic and sound quality. It’s pretty much stadium seating, each level being made of either stones or long tree trunks.
I didn’t enjoy the bands playing but the atmosphere was great. There’s nothing better than kicking back with your friends outdoors, throwing back some beers and chatting it up while you’re people watching. Trust me, there were some weirdos at this music festival. I saw some of the worst dancing in my life which isn’t a bad thing because it provided amazing entertainment.
The festival allowed you to bring your own beer and wine. Big plus. We stocked up a cooler full of beers and brought some snacks which worked out great because they didn’t serve any alcohol at the event. They had some snacks like garlic fries, sausage dogs, chicken skewers and stuff but just make sure you bring your own food. Doesn’t make sense to drop $ 7 on a sausage dog or $ 5 on a pinner size order of garlic fries.
I’m not sure if every concert at Stern Grove will be setup like this so be sure to look up the event information online before going.

This past Father’s Day was the opening day of the 2013 season at the Stern Grove Festival with Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. What a great performance from each of the artists!
(
)
(
)
(
)
We found parking on 24^th and Sloat and with about a two block walk, we reached the side entrance on 22^nd and Sloat and made our way down the path into the grove. Depending on the popularity of the artist (s) performing that day will dictate on how early you need to get there to claim a good spot. Once you’ve staked out your spot, layout a blanket, unpack your picnic lunch and enjoy the great music that starts at 2pm.
By 1:15pm, they closed the admission into venue since it had reached its capacity. Remember to have your hand stamped so that you can reenter should you go out for food or to the restrooms.
After coming to the Festival for the first time last year for George Duke and Al Jarreau’s performances and the gray and cool weather that day, we were prepared this time with layered clothing. But lo and behold, it was partially sunny and was not windy, cold or foggy which made the festival even more enjoyable.
What’s not to like about the Festival at Stern Grove? Free concerts at a nice outdoor venue (renovated in 2005). Check out the schedule, bring a picnic lunch and enjoy with your significant other and/​or friends. Also, make a donation at the gate or to one of the volunteers that roam the venue to keep this great event going.