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Symphony at Stern Grove

Pack a picnic for the SF Symphony’s annual free concert in the park
By - posted 7/7/2013 No Comment

An annual favorite, the San Francisco Symphony performs a free concert  on July 7, 2013 with conductor Edwin Outwater in a program featuring Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Ravel’s Bolero, and traditional French and American songs with soprano Measha Brueggergosman.

A Pre-Concert Troc Talk takes place at noon in the Trocadero Clubhouse at Stern Grove.

Stern Grove Festival 2013
 Sunday Concerts at 2 pm
June 16 – August 18, 2013
Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd., SF

2013 Concert Schedule:
June 16 – The Big Picnic Starring Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs
June 23 – Ramsey Lewis and Dee Dee Bridgewater Quadron
June 30 – Deltron 3030 Featuring Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien and Kid Koala
>> July 7 – San Francisco Symphony
July 14 – Kronos Quartet, Geographer with Magik*Magik Quartet, Real Vocal String Quartet
July 21 – Red Baraat and Fanfare Ciocărlia
July 28 – San Francisco Ballet
August 4 – Shuggie Otis, The Relatives
August 11 – Pink Martini, La Santa Cecilia
August 18 – San Francisco Opera

Seating
Concerts begin Sunday at 2 pm. Bring a picnic and arrive early as the main Concert Meadow (and hillside) often fills up early and is closed to admittance once capacity is reached.

What if the Concert Meadow is filled up? There is overflow seating in the West Meadow. Although there is no direct view of the stage from the west meadow, there are speakers set up for you to still be able to enjoy the concert and enjoy a nice picnic.

Free Picnic Table Lottery: Households can enter to receive free reservations to six picnic table seats in the concert meadow at one concert per season. Entries will be chosen at random and notified the week before the concert.  Entries must be received by the Monday before the concert you want to attend. Households may submit one entry per concert or indicate multiple concert dates on one entry. Enter the Picnic Table Lottery.

  • Are You Mr. Moneybags? Why risk losing the lottery? Instead, donate $100+ to the Friends of Stern Grove Festival and receive two picnic table seats to one concert per season [details]

Volunteer For Free Reserved Seating: Want to help out the festival and in return get free reserved seating, free parking and free snacks and drinks? Just volunteer to help out to do jobs ranging from usher, bike valet or stage set up. These slots fill up quickly, so reserve your volunteer slot at least one week in advance. Volunteer at Stern Grove.

Getting to Stern Grove:

Public Transportation:
Muni buses: 23 and 28, exit at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard
Muni Metro: K or M, exit at St. Francis Circle

Bike Valet Service
Bikes can be stored with the festival’s new free bike valet at the main entrance to the park at 19th and Sloat Boulevard. The valet service will open at 10 am and close one hour after the concert ends. Bikes are not allowed in the Concert Meadow or Esplanade area of Stern Grove.

Driving / Parking:

  • From the North Bay: Golden Gate Bridge to 19th Avenue/Park Presidio exit. Continue on 19th Avenue. Turn right at Sloat Boulevard.
  • From the South Bay: 280-North to 19th Avenue exit. At the first stoplight, bear right onto Junipero Serra. Turn left at Sloat Boulevard.
  • From the East Bay: Bay Bridge to 101-South to 280-South. Exit at Ocean Avenue and turn right. Bear right onto Junipero Serra. Turn left at Sloat Boulevard.

There is no public parking at Stern Grove and street parking is extremely limited.