23rd Annual “Jerry Day” Music Festival (SF)

Jerry Day in San Francisco; photo by Bob Minkin

Friends of Jerry Garcia Amphitheater present the 23rd Annual Jerry Day, San Francisco’s civic and cultural celebration of native son and one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, founding member of The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, on Saturday, August 2 at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in San Francisco’s Excelsior District. Marking several significant anniversaries – the 60th anniversary of the founding of The Grateful Dead, the 30th anniversary of Garcia’s death and the 20th anniversary of the naming of the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater – this free event draws new and long-time fans to celebrate the musician’s artistry and his indelible legacy. Featured performers include Melvin Seals and JGB, with fiddle player Mads Tolling, and Stu Allen & Mars Hotel. Doors open at 11:00am, with performances 11:30am-5:45pm. Jerry Day After Parties continue along the Excelsior Corridor. 

For over two decades Jerry Day has welcomed music lovers to enjoy venues in the Excelsior neighborhood in which Garcia was raised. Founder Tom Murphy says, “By uniting the diverse communities of San Francisco through Garcia’s music, we are creating something extraordinary for Jerry’s childhood neighborhood, the Excelsior District, McLaren Park, and the City and County of San Francisco.”   

Jerry Garcia was co-founder, lead guitarist and a vocalist with the rock band The Grateful Dead, which came to prominence during the counterculture of the 1960s. Garcia performed with The Grateful Dead for the band’s entire 30-year career (1965–1995). He also founded and participated in a variety of side projects, and was renowned for his musical and technical ability. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone‘s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” cover story in 2003.

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.