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Free Outdoor Summer Concerts in San Francisco
by Jill Loeffler •
Published: June 20, 2025
I love summer in San Francisco, and one of my favorite things about it is all the free outdoor concerts. They range from the wildly popular Stern Grove Festival to free shows in Union Square.
Grab your jacket, a blanket, and picnic goodies, and head out to one of these fun shows this summer!
Jill's Fun Facts & Quick Tips About Free Concerts in SF
1. Summer of Love origins: SF's reputation as a hub for free music really kicked off in the 1960s, when bands like the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane frequently played impromptu shows in Golden Gate Park.
2. One of the oldest in the US: The Stern Grove free concert series began in 1938 in a beautiful eucalyptus grove on the southwest end of the city, and still attracts top-name performers today.
3. A reflection of San Francisco's diversity: These shows feature rock, jazz, soul, EDM, indie, bluegrass, Latin music, and more, spanning the eras and representing local groups from all backgrounds.
4. Iconic locations: All of the free outdoor summer concerts are easily accessible by public transit. You'll find them in popular areas like Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf, the Embarcadero, and downtown.
5. Rain, (fog), or shine! Famous for not-so-warm summers, SF hosts these outdoor events no matter what the weather. In most cases, you'll want to pack a hoodie along with your lawn chair.
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1. Stern Grove Festival
The Stern Grove Festival has been one of the biggest free concert series in San Francisco each year since 1938. They always have an amazing lineup of world renowned artists.
Shows are every Sunday at 2 pm from mid-June to mid-August in a beautiful amphitheater in SF's Sunset District.
Unlike the other free outdoor summer concerts below, this one requires tickets because it's wildly popular. So popular, that it can be tough to get tickets. This year, they are offering a lottery system.
Here are some of the top upcoming performances this summer.
- June 29: Sleater-Kinney
- July 27: Orville Peck
- August 10: The Pointer Sisters
- August 17: Diana Ross
Find the full schedule, along with my detailed write-up about how to get tickets.
2. Fillmore Jazz Festival
Another one of my favorites every summer is the Fillmore Jazz Festival.
This two-day event in early July offers free jazz music on multiple stages, as well as local art exhibitions and gourmet food and drink.
The 2025 event is on July 5 and 6. It's along Fillmore Street in the Pacific Heights District.
Find more details here.
3. Concerts at the Golden Gate Bandshell
You'll find a wide variety of free music at the historic bandshell in Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse, right between the de Young and California Academy of Sciences museums.
Since 1882, the Golden Gate Park Band has been performing free family-friendly concerts of big band swing, Broadway show tunes, operas, and more.
- Sundays from late April to early October, 1 pm to 2:30 pm, plus July 4th and Labor Day holidays
More recently, other genres have been gracing the same stage with free concerts, which will run through mid-November.
- Singer/Songwriter Wednesdays, 4 to 7 pm
- Friday Happy Hour, 4:30 to 7:30 pm
- Reggae Sundays, 4:20 to 7:30 pm (plus select Saturdays)
No need to register for any of these events. You can find the full schedule here.
4. Downtown SF Free Concert Series
You can't beat the summer vibes at these large free concerts put on by the city of San Francisco in the most iconic downtown public spaces.
The energy of the crowds is contagious, as they draw thousands out to dance in the streets with world-class headliners.
- June 14 at the Embarcadero Plaza: Dirtybird Records EDM
- Date TBD at the Civic Center Plaza
- Date TBD in Union Square
5. Civic Center Soundtrack Concert Series
Every Tuesday and Thursday from 12 noon to 3 pm, the heart of the city celebrates local artists playing a variety of music from rock and folk to electronic and international genres.
You'll find these low-key concerts in the Civic Center's Fulton Plaza, between the SF Main Library and the Asian Art Museum.
Visit this page for a full schedule.
6. Whale's Tale in Golden Gate Park
Every Saturday and Sunday from May to October, families come out to a nice stretch of lawn in Golden Gate Park to listen to free music, play lawn games, enjoy public art, and eat from local food trucks.
You'll find all activities on the 14th Avenue East Picnic Meadow along JFK Promenade’s "Golden Mile," just north of Blue Heron Lake between the Rose Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden.
The space is stroller, bike, and dog friendly. Adult beverages are also available for purchase.
Find the full schedule of events here.
7. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
Every year from May to October, the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents free, family-friendly performances that reflect the rich cultural diversity of the Bay Area.
Shows range from world-class music, dance, theater, and circus acts to children's programs.
- Weekend Sessions feature groups such as AfroSolo, Brazil in the Gardens, Circus Bella, the SF Mime Troupe, and many more
- Thursday Lunchtime concert series includes jazz, blues, soul, classical, world, swing, salsa, and more
- Monthly Salsa Nights on first Thursdays invite you to dance outdoors to vibrant Latin bands
- Children's Garden Series offers interactive concerts and shows on Fridays at 11 am and 12 pm
Yerba Buena Gardens is located on Mission Street between 3rd and 4th in the heart of our downtown SOMA district.
Find out more here.
8. Free Folk Festival
If you love folk music, don't miss this annual one-day festival, which has been a San Francisco tradition since the 1970s.
It features folk music performances and workshops on everything from storytelling to songs of social justice, women's history, and ocean shanties.
The 2025 event is on Saturday, July 12 at the Golden Gate Park Music Concourse.
Get more information here.
9. Free Concerts at Salesforce Park
Throughout the summer, you'll find a series of fun free programs offered at Salesforce rooftop park in the Financial District.
Here are some of the 2025 events:
- June 21 (11:30 am to 6 pm): Old Time and Bluegrass Festival
- July 20 (1 to 2 pm and 3 to 4 pm): Hoopla! by Circus Bella
- Date TBD: NoisePop anniversary concert
- August 23 (2 pm to 8 pm): open-air techno dance party featuring DJ Truncate
Discover more details on their site.
10. Pier Party at the Wharf
Pier Party at the Wharf is a free summer concert series that runs from June to September, every 2nd and 4th Saturday from 3 to 7 pm.
Head over to the Crab Wheel Plaza at Jefferson and Taylor Streets in Fisherman's Wharf to listen to live rock, soul, Latin music, and more by favorite local bands.
You'll also find a Pier Party bar offering craft cocktails for you to enjoy while dancing on the waterfront.
(Bonus) Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
While late September/early October is not considered summer in most places, you'll find that outdoor activities in San Francisco are very much in full swing, as these are our warmest months.
If you happen to be visiting around this time, you must check out Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, one of the country's largest free music festivals.
Over three days, the western part of Golden Gate Park is taken over by 80+ acts that include top international names in the genre.
See photos and read more here.
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