YBG Festival welcomes you to Yerba Buena Gardens. YBG Festival programs take place in the many outdoor spaces of Yerba Buena Gardens which spans three city blocks bound by 3rd, 4th, Market and Folsom streets in downtown San Francisco.
- Seats
- Performance Times
- Directions & Parking
- Accessibility
- Lost & Found
- Food & Drink
- Photography & Recording
- Museums & Shopping
- Where to Stay
- Park Hours & Rules
Admission-Free Seating
How do I get tickets to a Yerba Buena Gardens Festival program?
There is no designated seating, no ticket system, no required RSVP list. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival venues are outdoors. The majority of seating is open lawn. Patrons may sit wherever they wish. If venue chairs are available, please give priority to persons with disabilities and seniors.
Other things to know when attending YBG Festival:
- Bring your sunscreen…and your scarf. We are an all-outdoors venue. Prepare for SF weather accordingly.
- We are all-ages and family friendly.
- Low lawn chairs are welcome – as long as someone sitting behind you can see, you are welcome to bring your own seat.
- Picnic blankets (and picnics) encouraged. There are many fine restaurants nearby at the Metreon and in the surrounding neighborhood (see below).
- Clean up after yourself – “pack it in, pack it out” and help keep the Gardens beautiful.
- We love animals but please leave your pets at home, they are against park regulations
- Dancing is highly encouraged!
The outdoor programs presented by Yerba Buena Gardens Festival are admission-free thanks to our sponsors and supporters like you.
Donate. Keep us admission-free
Performance Times
What time are the shows at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival?
Our regular season runs from May through October. Most events and presentations occur at lunchtime or on the weekends. Please see our Calendar for specific dates and times.
View Calendar
Accessibility
ADA accessible. Yerba Buena Gardens is ADA accessible, including wheelchair accessible entrances to the park, restrooms, ramps, elevators and the beautiful MLK, Jr. Memorial Waterfall.
Service animals are welcome at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.
ADA and Senior seats at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival are first-come-first-serve. Wheelchairs are accommodated. If there is a designated ADA and Senior section, guests and one companion are invited to sit in the section. Please see a staff member at the YBG Festival information table for assistance locating this area. We will do our best to accommodate guests.
General Seating. We have a limited number of chairs, which are prioritized for ADA and Seniors. Guests are welcome to bring low lawn chairs or blankets to sit on the expansive lawn area.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation may be available for select YBG Festival performances and events. Visit the YBG Festival event page to learn more about available accommodations. If a guest has interpretation needs, please contact us three weeks in advance of the program so that we can do our best to accommodate the request. If a guest needs assistance getting a seat near the ASL interpreter, please ask a YBG Festival staff member.
Quiet Area. If a guest needs to step away from the crowds or concert for a while, please ask event staff at the YBG Festival Information Table which park areas might be best. Some areas may include the East Garden, Jessie Square, or the Terrace, above the Waterfall.
Groups. If a group has special accommodation needs for an event or program (e.g. reserved seating, van parking, etc), please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate the request.
Requests/Questions. Please contact us:
Email info@ybgfestival.org
Directions
Where is Yerba Buena Gardens?
Public Transit Directions
Which BART, bus or train do I take to Yerba Buena Gardens?
BART/MUNI stations for Powell and Montgomery are both 2 blocks away from Yerba Buena Gardens.
MUNI Bus lines 8X/8AX/8BX San Bruno, 14 Mission, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/ Stockton run past Yerba Buena Gardens. All Market St. routes, including Powell and Montgomery stations, are 2 blocks away.
The CalTrain Station at Fourth and Townsend Sts. is served directly by MUNI’s 30 Stockton, with stops on Third St. at Howard St. and at Mission St. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is also convenient to Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans and AC Transit downtown bus routes.
Google Directions
What is the best way to get to Yerba Buena Gardens by driving?
Driving Directions from the East Bay
Take I-80 and exit at Fremont St. Take an immediate left from Fremont onto Howard St. and get into the right lane. Go two blocks and turn right on Third St. Yerba Buena Gardens will be immediately on your left across from the SFMOMA.
Driving Directions from the Peninsula
Take Highway 101 until it connects to I-80 and exit at Fourth St. Fourth will lead onto Bryant St. Take a left from Bryant onto Third St. Yerba Buena Gardens will be on your left between Howard and Mission Sts. and across from the SF Museum of Modern Art.
Driving Directions from the North Bay
Take Highway 101 to Lombard St. From Lombard turn right onto Van Ness Ave. From Van Ness Ave. turn left onto Golden Gate Ave. Golden Gate becomes Sixth St. as it crosses Market St. Turn left from Sixth St. onto Folsom St. Turn left onto Third St. Yerba Buena Gardens will be on your left between Howard and Mission Sts. and across from the SFMoMA.
Google Directions
Parking
Is there parking around Yerba Buena Gardens?
Lost & Found
I lost stuff at Yerba Buena Gardens. Is there a Lost & Found?
Lost & Found is located at the Yerba Buena Gardens Management office. Drop in (see ★ on Gardens map) or call (415-651-3684).
Call (415-651-3684)
Food & Drink
Is there food at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival?
While there are no food vendors within the Great Lawn area of the Yerba Buena Gardens, there are plenty of food and drink options just steps away. Picnics are welcome and encouraged, but cooking and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. For a complete list of dining options, from grab-and-go eateries to formal dining, go to
visityerbabuena.org
Photography/Recording
Can I bring my camera to Yerba Buena Gardens Festival?
Professional photography or recording of performances is not permitted. Film or photo shoots in Yerba Buena Gardens require an event permit and may incur fees.
Apply for a Permit
Museums, Shopping & More
What else is there to do at Yerba Buena Gardens?
There is quite a bit to check out in and around Yerba Buena Gardens. Explore the Yerba Buena neighborhood’s culture, nightlife, recreation, and shopping at
visityerbabuena.org
Where to Stay
What hotels are in the area?
The San Francisco Marriott Marquis offers the closest accommodations to the outdoor concerts and is the Official Hotel Sponsor for the 2024 YBG Festival Season. Situated downtown, the San Francisco Marriott Marquis provides easy access to Yerba Buena Gardens, an array of Yerba Buena museums and many popular tourist destinations. Learn more on their website.
Park Hours & Rules
What am I allowed to bring to Yerba Buena Gardens Festival?
For the most accurate information on hours, rules, and park amenities, visit the Yerba Buena Gardens Facilities Management site at
yerbabuenagardens.com