The Stern Grove Festival — Stern Grove happens every year and typically marks the beginning of summer.

How to Experience Stern Grove's 2025 Summer Concert Series

By Tyler Cohn

It's a singular San Francisco summer tradition: the Stern Grove concert series. Amazing artists, beautiful scenery, and best of all, it's free!

Stern Grove is a San Francisco summer tradition. Celebrating its 88th season, visitors and locals alike have seen legendary performances in one of the city's most beautiful spots for free. Yes, you read that right—FREE!

The Stern Grove Festival has released its lineup for the upcoming Sunday concert season, which will run from June 15 to Aug. 17, 2025.

Here’s everything you need to know, as well as a few updates to the ticketing system.

The History of Stern Grove

Today, Stern Grove, a natural amphitheater surrounded by giant eucalyptus, redwood, and fir trees, is one of Northern California’s favorite concert sites. But it wasn't always like this. Back in the 1840s, it was just a wild stretch of sand dunes and marshes. George Greene and his family are the first known San Franciscans to tame this patch of land.

Decades later, in 1931, the land was purchased by Rosalie M. Stern, who gifted it to the city in memory of her husband, Sigmund. Mrs. Stern declared that the site must be preserved as a park in which the public could enjoy free music, dance, and theater performances. Nearly 90 years later, her promise has been upheld!

All proceeds of Stern Grove Festival concerts benefit the continuation of this special tradition.

New This Year

Stern Grove Festival is switching things up — no more racing to snag tickets online. Instead, it's all about the lottery system (plus new in-person options!). It's a fairer, less stressful way to score your spot in the Grove.

ENTER THE LOTTERY
The ticket lottery opens 6 weeks before each show at 10 a.m. and stays open for 2 weeks. Winners are chosen randomly and notified within a week after the lottery closes. Get an email that says “You won tickets!”? Congrats! Didn’t win? You’ve still got options
GRAB 'EM IN PERSON
Missed out online? A limited number of tickets will be available in person the day before each concert at Community Box Offices around SF. First-come, first-served!
OR VOLUNTEER!
Help out at a show and you’ll get in for free (plus snacks and good vibes).

Learn More

2025 Concert Dates & Performers

Every year, a star-studded lineup is announced, and if we haven't mentioned it yet, all these shows are FREE! Shows start at 2 p.m. each Sunday, rain or shine, and are subject to change.

What is Big Picnic Weekend?

The Big Picnic Weekend is the grand finale of the Stern Grove Festival, a two-day celebration that brings together music, community, and generosity. This highly anticipated weekend features iconic performances by legendary artists, including Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley & Stephen Marley on Saturday, August 16, and Diana Ross on Sunday, August 17. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy world-class music while supporting the festival's mission to keep live music free for all.

With big-name artists and an electric atmosphere, the Big Picnic draws huge crowds, making it a can’t-miss event to close out the season in style.

Additional Stern Grove Tips

Want to make the most of your Stern Grove experience? Here are a few insider tips:

While the main entrance at the corner of 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard is easy to find, there are additional entrances along Wawona Street to the north. These less crowded entrances may allow you to get in quicker and find a seat.
You'll want to be on your best early bird game since seating at Stern Grove is general admission. All entrances open at noon on concert days.
Did you know Stern Grove has a bike valet? They do! Forget the hassle of parking your car and take your bike there instead. Plus, when the concert is over, you can take a scenic ride along the nearby Great Highway.
Parking in the neighborhood will be tough on concert days. We encourage you to use public transit or ride shares. However, if getting there with your vehicle is the only way, make things easy on yourself by using SpotHero to reserve parking ahead of time.
If you'd rather not sit on a blanket or low-profile lawn chair, there are picnic tables that can be reserved. Picnic table seating is available, starting at $200 per person for a communal table all the way up to $10,000 for VIP stage-side seating. These can be booked online while availability lasts.

Tyler Cohn

Tyler is the Sr. Manager of Global Content & Communications at San Francisco Travel. He has lived in San Francisco since 2015 and has been part of the San Francisco Travel team for just as long. He enjoys splashy production numbers and outdoor sporting events equally, which means you can usually find him at one of San Francisco’s many great theaters or at Oracle Park, cheering on the Giants.