Home » *Top Pick*, Fairs & Festivals, In Person, Live Music, Outdoors, Weekend Events Guide - September 29-October 1, 2023

2024 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (Oct. 4-6) in Golden Gate Park

Friday, October 4, 2024 - 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE
Hellman Hollow | John F. Kennedy Drive and Transverse Drive, San Francisco, CA

Free / Learn More

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2024 in Golden Gate Park (Oct. 4-6)

One of the largest, free-est and beloved music festivals in the country. Be one of over 750,000 attendees over the three-day musical extravaganza in beautiful Golden Gate Park. Save the date as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass makes its return for 2024.

Full lineup and details typically are announced in summer with a “drip” campaign and lineup hints with a music medley.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2024

Friday- Sunday, October 4-6, 2024
Six Stages, Three Days, 80+ artists
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
FREE

  • Friday – 1-7p (gates open at 11a)
  • Saturday – 11a-7p (gates open at 9a)
  • Sunday – 11a-7p (gates open at 9a)

2024 Full Day-by-Day Schedule | Lineup | Festival Map | Food Vendors | Food Vendor Map

2024 LINEUP + SCHEDULE

The full day-by-day schedule is typically announced in mid/late September.
Just released! View the full 2024 daily schedule

2024 Highlights: 
Friday: Cat Power, Sleater-Kinney, Devandra Banhart, Jessica Pratt, Ibibio Sound Machine
Saturday: Mavis Staples, Cunningham Bird (Madison Cunningham and Andrew Bird), Robyn Hitchcock, Levitation Room, Greensky Bluegrass, Steve Earle, Jackie Greene
Sunday: Yo La Tengo, Patti Smith, Emmylou Harris

When / Where is Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

When: Fri. October 4, Sat October 5 and Sun. October 6, 2024
Where: Hellman Hollow, Lindley & Marx meadows in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Festival Map

What Time Does Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Open?

  • 11AM entry to the meadows on Friday Morning.
  • 9AM entry on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Performances end at 7pm daily

2024 Stages

  • Rooster Stage
  • Banjo Stage
  • Towers of Gold Stage
  • Swan Stage
  • Horseshoe Hill Stage
  • Arrow Stage
  • Lindley Meadow (we’re not sure if this is a stage for 2024 or not. It’s on the map, but it’s unclear)

Where are the Entrances for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2023?

There are four entrances to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass for 2024. All attendees must go through a security checkpoint with body scanners and may include a physical search of bags and belongings. SFPD, K9 and Tactical Units will be positioned inside and outside the venue.

  • JFK & Transverse Drive
  • Fulton and 30th Ave.
  • JFK and 36th Ave.
  • South Polo Field (just south of Spreckles Lake)

How to prepare for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2024:

The following items are allowed:

  • Bags, backpacks or personal items with dimensions no larger than 22″ x 15″ x 10″. (Any item over this limit must first submit to a physical search; prepare for delays at the entrance. HSB reserves the right to reject any bag/backpack/item for any reason.)
  • Small bags, fanny packs and purses smaller than 6” x 8” x 3”
  • 2.5 liter or smaller hydration bladders or packs, refillable water bottles
  • Small soft side cooler – 9” x 6” x 3”
  • Collapsible wagons
  • Blankets/tarps up to 5 ’x 7’ and short backed chairs are allowed, but will be subject to search.

The following are not allowed:

  • High-backed chairs
  • Hard-sided coolers
  • Tables
  • Tents
  • Umbrellas
  • Shade structures
  • Items with an open flame
  • Firearms or weapons or any kind
  • Drones
  • Fireworks
  • Kegs
  • Beverages for the purpose of vending or in glass containers
  • Selfie sticks
  • Flags
  • Devices for amplified sound
  • Any item/device that could cause damage or injury.
  • Camping in Golden Gate Park
  • HSB reserves the right to reject any bag/backpack/item for any reason.

In addition:

Free water refills will be available near the permanent bathrooms (between the Banjo Stage and Arrow Meadow) and McClaren Pass (between the Horseshoe Hill and Swan Stages).

Please note, the language on the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass does not state that clear bags are required, but the image on the website implies your bag must be clear. 

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE
Categories: *Top Pick*, Fairs & Festivals, In Person, Live Music, Outdoors, Weekend Events Guide - September 29-October 1, 2023
Address: John F. Kennedy Drive and Transverse Drive, San Francisco, CA

Friday, October 4, 2024

6:30 am   Take the Scenic Route w/ San Francisco Bay Ferry (As Low As $1)  $4.70*
*Riders can purchase tickets using their Clipper Card or in the SF Bay Ferry app. One-way transbay ferries start at $4.70. "Short Hops" like SF Ferry Building to SF Pier 41, or Main Street Alameda to Oakland Jack London Square start just $1.
8:00 am   SF’s Morning Coffee Cleanup w/ Free Coffee for Volunteers (Inner Richmond)  FREE*
*Sign up on this TogetherSF Mobilize page: https://www.mobilize.us/togethersf/event/513212/
9:00 am   “Viva Italia: A Showcase of Iconic Italian Design” in Palo Alto (Oct. 4-19)  FREE*
*Floor stock is readily available for purchase
9:00 am   Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Free from 9-10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; otherwise non-resident admission is $12 - $16 depending on the season. San Francisco residents are always free with valid ID
10:00 am   Sausalito Boat Show  $25*
*General Admission: USD 25.00, Kids 12 and under free all show days: USD 0.00, Three-day pass: USD 50.00, VIP Meet and Greet with Bravos's Below Deck Starts Fraser and Daisy: USD 145.00
All Day   History Museum: Free First Fridays (Redwood City)  FREE
11:00 am   Contemporary Jewish Museum Free Admission Day (First Fridays)  FREE
11:00 am   “Pay-What-You-Can” Taco Day at SF’s Tato (Every Friday)  FREE*
*Every Friday pay anywhere from $0 up to $10. When a customer pays the full price of $10, TATO will give a free meal to someone in need in The City. Please note promotion might end at any time
12:00 pm   Delicious Taco Tour at SF’s Mission District (National Taco Day)  $15*
*$15 for 5 taco tickets and tour map. $50 for a walking guided tour and 5 taco tickets.
4:00 pm   Oktoberfest 2024 Happy Hour: Rare Fall Beers on Tap (Oct. 1-4)  FREE
5:00 pm   “Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid” Block Party + DJs (Oakland)  FREE*
*Most outdoor activities and entertainment is free and open to the public from 5-9pm. Regular Museum applies to enter the galleries
5:00 pm   North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl (SF)  FREE
5:00 pm   South First Fridays Art Walk (San Jose)  FREE
5:00 pm   “Oakland First Fridays” Street Festival  FREE
5:00 pm   MexiPino Fest: A Fusion of Cultures (San Jose)  FREE*
*Free admission, $5 parking
5:00 pm   SF’s Castro Art Walk 2024 (Every First Friday)  FREE*
*Free self-guided tour
5:00 pm   $1 Drink Fridays: “Battle of the Decades” DJ Party (North Beach)  FREE*
*Free admission with RSVP on Eventbrite
5:30 pm   The Human Circus: An Interactive Art Thingy by Mona Chiang  FREE
5:30 pm   The Vibrant Hong Kong Table  FREE
6:00 pm   Fall Outdoor Bingo Night  FREE
6:00 pm   “Oakland Art Murmur” 2024 (First Fridays Art Walk)  FREE
6:00 pm   38th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition Opening Night Gala  FREE*
*FREE - donations encouraged
6:00 pm   SF’s Free Outdoor Movie Night: “The Princess and the Frog”  FREE
7:00 pm   SF’s HellaSecret “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (7p + 8:45p)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $15 adv / $20 door tickets also available
7:00 pm   “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (The Function)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $15 adv / $20 door tickets also available
7:00 pm   Laugh GPT: SF’s First AI-Powered Stand-up Comedy Show (2024)  FREE*
*Use secret code HUMAN for comp tickets, otherwise, $10 off with secret code FUNCHEAP
7:00 pm   Music City SF: Pop-Up Comedy Takeover 2024 (Every First Friday)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 100 people
7:00 pm   “Rush Hour Comedy Night” w/ SFs Best Black & Asian Comedians (The Function)  FREE*
*RSVP Required
7:00 pm   FREE: Oakland’s HellaSecret Comedy & Cocktail Night 2024 (7p + 9p Shows)  FREE*
*Limited free tickets with code FUNCHEAP (donations appreciated). Otherwise use code FUNCHEAP5 for $5 off early bird and general admission tickets
7:45 pm   SF’s Free Fall 2024 Outdoor Film Fest at Proxy “Here”  FREE*
*all events are free and open to the public - come as you are and bring you'r friends! food and beverages will be available onsite for purchase
8:00 pm   $5 Off: “The Confessional” SF’s Wild “Sins & Secrets” Improv Comedy Show  $11.94*
*$5 off with secret code FUNCHEAP (normally $17.12) No added ticketing fees. No Drink Minimum
8:00 pm   SF’s 17-Year Run “Secret Improv Society” (Fridays & Saturdays)  $20*
*Normally $25, use secret code FUNCHEAP for $5 off tickets
8:00 pm   $5 Off Tix: The Olivier Award-Winning Comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” at SF Playhouse (Sept. 21-Nov. 9)  $15*
*Tickets normally start at $20, but you can get $5 off with code FUNCHEAP. Not valid for past purchases. Subject to availability.
8:00 pm   30% Off Tix: Cult-Hit Musical “Ride the Cyclone” Playing at NCTC (Sept. 20 – Oct. 27)  $30*
*Get 30% off tickets w/ secret code FUN30 at nctcsf.org - Promo code is valid on all tickets except already-discounted tickets for students/educators/seniors/veterans.
8:00 pm   “The Stoner Comedy Jam” Friday Nights (SF)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP (21+ with Valid ID) - One item minimum purchase per person required
8:00 pm   San Francisco Bike Party (First Fridays)  FREE
8:45 pm   SF’s HellaDesi Comedy Night (Every Friday & Saturday)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 100 people. $10 advanced tickets or $20 at door without RSVP
9:00 pm   $5 Off: “Your Fucked Up Relationship” Live in SF (Every Friday & Saturday)  $16.37*
*$5 off with secret code FUNCHEAP (normally $21.49) No added ticketing fees. No Drink Minimum
10:00 pm   SF’s Free Late Night “Crazy Funny Asians” 10pm Comedy Show (Fri & Sat)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $15 adv / $20 door tickets also available
< Thursday, October 3 Saturday, October 5 >