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Stern Grove Festival

A Free concert in the park with legendary Preservation Jazz Hall Band | Sunday at 2pm
By - posted 6/27/2012 No Comment

Stern Grove is back for 2012!

If you like live music, a gorgeous park setting, picnics and arriving super early, then the Stern Grove Fesitval – celebrating its 75th season of free concerts in the park – is surely one of the highlights of your summer.
>> Enter the Picnic Table Lottery
>> Volunteer at Stern Grove. 

Stern Grove Festival 2012
 Sunday Concerts at 2pm
June 24 – August 26, 2012
Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd., SF
FREE
Since 1938, Stern Grove Festival has been the Bay Area’s home for outstanding performing arts in a beautiful outdoor setting, completely admission-free.

2012 Concert Schedule:
June 24 – The Big Picnic Starring Anita Baker Featuring The Family Stone & Glide Ensemble
July 1 – Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Stone Foxes
July 8 – San Francisco Symphony
July 15 – Nitin Sawhney, Meshell Ndegeocello
July 22 – The E Family
July 29 – San Francisco Ballet, Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director
August 5 – Ozomatli, SMOD
August 12 –  Al Jarreau and The George Duke Trio, Mara Hruby
August 19 – San Francisco Opera
August 26  –  OK GO, The Family Crest

Seating
Concerts begin Sunday at 2pm. 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, to bike valet to stage set up. These slots fill up quickly, so reserve your volunteer slot at least 1 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 10:00 a.m. 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.