Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2012: Saturday | Golden Gate Park

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026 in Golden Gate Park (Oct. 2-4)

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is 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 2026.

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

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026

October 2-4, 2026
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
FREE

2026 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Lineup

Full Lineup TBA

2026 Lineup Reveal

The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass lineup is revealed in a series of medleys that are released throughout the summer with snippets of 10 artists at a time.

• Medley #1 – July 21, 2026 – Announced first on app – iOS | Android

INITIAL LINEUP

• AJ Lee and Blue Summit
• Buddy Miller
• El Khat
• Elizabeth Cook
• Emmylou Harris
• Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
• Hiss Golden Messenger
• Hot Tuna (acoustic)
• John Craigie with the Coffis Brothers
• Kathleen Edwards
• Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
• Molly Tuttle
• My Morning Jacket
• Old Crow Medicine Show
• Reckless Kelly
• Shawn Camp
• Stacey Earle
• Steve Earle & the Hardly Strictly Dukes
• Tyler Ballgame
• Yasmin Williams and William Tyler

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2026 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Information

When: Fri Oct 2, Sat Oct 3, and Sun Oct 4, 2026
Where: Hellman Hollow, Lindley & Marx meadows in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA

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2026 Full Details TBA

Please note, this info below is from 2025; we will update this guide as 2026 details become available.

What Time Does Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Open?

Entrances will open at 11am on Friday, and 9am Saturday & Sunday. Performances end at 7pm daily.

• Friday – 1-7 pm (gates open at 11 am)
• Saturday – 11 am-7 pm (gates open at 9 am)
• Sunday – 1 am-7 pm (gates open at 9 am)

2025 Full Day-by-Day Schedule | Lineup 2025 | Festival Map 2025 | Food Vendors 2025 | Food Vendor Map 2025

2025 LINEUP + SCHEDULE

The full day-by-day schedule is typically announced in mid/late September.
Just released! View the full 2025 daily schedule

2025 Highlights

Friday, October 3

• Amos Lee: Banjo Stage, 5:50 – 7:00pm
• The Devil Makes Three: Rooster Stage, 6:00 – 7:00pm
• Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats: Towers of Gold Stage, 5:50 – 7:00pm

Saturday, October 4

• Courtney Barnett: Swan Stage, 5:55 – 7:00pm
• Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band: Swan Stage, 12:25 – 1:15pm
• Patty Griffin: Towers of Gold Stage, 2:55 – 3:50pm
• Robert Earl Keen: Rooster Stage, 6:00 – 7:00pm
• Samara Joy: Towers of Gold Stage, 1:15 – 2:05pm

Sunday, October 5

• Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles: Swan Stage, 5:55 – 7:00pm
• Dengue Fever: Arrow Stage, 4:45 – 5:30pm
• I’m With Her: Rooster Stage, 2:10 – 3:05pm
• Lucinda Williams: Banjo Stage, 3:45 – 4:45pm
• Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets: Swan Stage, 2:05 – 2:55pm
• Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman (Old & In the Way & More): Swan Stage, 3:50 – 4:45pm
• The String Cheese Incident: Towers of Gold Stage, 4:45 – 5:55pm
• Watchhouse: Rooster Stage, 5:35 – 6:50pm

When / Where is Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

When: Fri Oct 3, Sat Oct 4, and Sun Oct 5, 2025
Where: Hellman Hollow, Lindley & Marx meadows in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Festival Map 2025

What Time Does Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Open?

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

2025 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 2025 or not. It’s on the map, but it’s unclear)

Where are the Entrances for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025?

There are four entrances to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass for 2025. 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 Drive and Transverse Drive
• Fulton Street and 30th Avenue
• JFK Drive and 36th Avenue
• South Polo Field — Middle Drive& Metson Road

Entrances will open at 11am on Friday, 9am Saturday and Sunday. Performances end at 7pm daily.

HSB encourages the use of public transportation or any alternative to personal vehicles.However, due to public safety within the event, HSB does not allow any bicycles, scooters, regular skateboards, electric skateboards, Segways, Onewheels, or other types of motorized devices inside the venue. Bicycle parking locations can be found in the event map.

How to prepare for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025:

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 8” x 6”
• Collapsible wagons
• Blankets/tarps up to 6 ’x 78 and short backed chairs are allowed, but will be subject to search.

The following are not allowed:

• No items that can be used to disturb the peace, endanger others, and/or cause damage to people or property
• More than 1 bag and 1 personal item
• Bags larger than 22”x15”x10”
• Hard coolers or coolers larger than a 12-pack
• Glass, kegs, hard liquor
• Umbrellas
• Tables
• Shade structures / Tents
• Blankets or tarps larger than 6’x8’
• Devices for amplified sound
• High back chairs
• Selfie sticks
• Firearms or weapons of any kind
• Fireworks, smoking, open flames, grill
• Drones
• Flags or poles
• Unauthorized vending or promotional items

HSB reserves the right to reject any bag/backpack/item for any reason.
FAQ: What’s allowed / Not allowed for 2025

In addition:

In 2025, the free water refill stations will be available near the Rooster Stage, Banjo Stage by the bathrooms, Swan Stage, and the Horseshoe Hill Stage. See map.

Saturday, October 6, 2012
The Chieftains, Patty Griffin, Les Claypool and more | Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026 in Golden Gate Park (Oct. 2-4)

Saturday, October 6, 2012
Hellman Hollow, Marx & Lindley Meadows

Banjo Stage

• 11:00am World Famous Headliners (Big Al Anderson, Shawn Camp, Pat McLaughlin, Michael Rhodes & Greg Morrow)
• 12:10pm Alison Brown Quartet with Stuart Duncan
• 1:25pm Buddy Miller
• 2:45pm Tribute to the Founding Fathers: Warren Hellman, Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson featuring Alison Brown, Stuart Duncan, Tim O’Brien and Bryan Sutton, with special guests Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris with Heidi Clare & Colleen Browne (from the Wronglers), Peter Rowan, Nick Lowe & more!
• 4:25pm The Chieftains
• 5:45pm Steve Earle & the Dukes (& Duchesses)

Rooster Stage

• 11:00am The Go to Hell Man Clan with Special Guests the Wronglers featuring Jimmie Dale Gilmore
• 12:00pm Lloyd Cole
• 1:10pm Guy Clark & Verlon Thompson
• 2:30pm The Lumineers
• 3:50pm Patty Griffin
• 5:30pm Robert Earl Keen

Star Stage

• 11:00am Roger Knox and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts
• 12:30pm Dirty Three
• 2:10pm Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones
• 3:45pm Cowboy Junkies
• 5:45pm Chris Robinson Brotherhood

Towers of Gold Stage

• 11:40am Red Baraat
• 1:20pm Justin Townes Earle
• 3:00pm Les Claypool’s Duo De Twang
• 4:45pm The Head & the Heart

Arrow Stage

• 11:00am The Trishas
• 12:05pm Reckless Kelly
• 1:30pm Bill Kirchen and Texicalli
• 2:45pm Heartless Bastards
• 4:05pm Jerry Jeff Walker
• 5:35pm The Flatlanders feat. Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock

Porch Stage

• 11:00am Joe Pug
• 12:10pm Sara Watkins
• 1:25pm Little Green Cars
• 2:40pm Allison Moorer
• 3:50pm Robyn Hitchcock
• 4:50pm Sierra Hull
• 6:05pm Seasick Steve

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.