The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival programs free outdoor performances on the Great Lawn at Yerba Buena Gardens, in SoMa between Third and Fourth Streets off Mission. The 2026 season runs from spring through November, and every program is admission free.
What Is Programmed
The festival runs several recurring series. Thursday Lunchtime brings a midday concert from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Children’s Garden shows run Friday mornings at 11am and noon. Dance Outdoors with Rhythm and Motion runs Wednesdays from noon to 1pm. Weekend Sessions carry the larger afternoon events, and Poetic Tuesdays cover spoken word.
August 2026 Schedule
Saturday, August 1: Poetry Workshop with Nia Pearl, noon to 1pm, then ChoreoFest day two, 2 to 4pm.
Sunday, August 2: Color Your Mind, noon to 5pm.
Wednesday, August 5: Dance Outdoors with Rhythm and Motion, noon to 1pm.
Thursday, August 6: AfroSolo presents Fely Tchaco, 12:30 to 1:30pm, and Edgardo Cambon’s 40th anniversary show, 6 to 7:30pm.
Friday, August 7: Eddie Madril, kids’ show, 11am and noon.
Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9: Pistahan, the Filipino cultural festival, 11am to 5pm both days.
Tuesday, August 11: Poetic Tuesday, 12:30 to 1:30pm.
Wednesday, August 12: Dance Outdoors, noon to 1pm.
Thursday, August 13: Brazil in the Gardens with Alexandre Ribeiro and Alessandro Penezzi, 12:30 to 1:30pm.
Friday, August 14: Caterpillar Puppets, kids’ show, 11am and noon.
Saturday, August 15: Helado Tropical, 2 to 4:30pm.
Wednesday, August 19: Dance Outdoors, noon to 1pm.
See our Pistahan guide for the parade route and pavilions.
After August
The season continues with Dance Outdoors on September 2 and September 23, Los Calderones on September 3 at 6pm, and a Yerba Buena Movie Night screening of Black Panther on September 5 at 7pm. October brings the African Arts Festival on October 3, Litquake Out Loud on October 4, San Francisco Indigenous Peoples Day with Jeremy Dutcher on October 12, and Halloween Hoopla on October 31. The Bhangra and Beats Night Market closes the season on November 13.
Visiting
Where: Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission Street between Third and Fourth Streets
Cost: Free. Seating on the lawn is first come, first served, and most people bring a blanket. Times are listed on the festival calendar, which changes as acts are added.
More Free Music in San Francisco
Yerba Buena Gardens is one of several free outdoor series running through the summer. See our guide to free outdoor summer concerts in San Francisco for the Stern Grove Festival, the Golden Gate Park Band, and Sunday Streets, including how the free ticket lotteries work.
Getting There
Yerba Buena Gardens is two blocks from the Powell Street and Montgomery Street stations, served by BART and Muni Metro. Market Street bus lines stop within a few blocks. Several garages serve the area, including the Fifth and Mission garage. Check SFMTA for current routes.
