Official site of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Free outdoor performing arts in downtown San Francisco

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Weekend Sessions

Photo of people dancing at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

From May to October, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival hosts the finest artists to entertain, engage and astound in the lovely Yerba Buena Gardens.

Jump to Weekend Sessions Calendar

The Weekend Sessions is the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival’s premier program series, highlighting touring and regional artists performing to delighted audiences. Each weekend program features a diversity of world-class artists giving thrilling performances not to be missed. Crowds of arts-lovers, Bay Area locals and out-of-towners flock to Yerba Buena Gardens for outstanding entertainment in music, dance, poetry, circus, theater or large-scale cultural festivals.

Free of admission and open to the public, all are welcome to enjoy the fresh air and the truly memorable cultural experiences. Located in the cultural heart of San Francisco, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival’s Weekend Sessions make for a refreshing and inspiring weekend outing in the City.

Past Weekend Sessions artists include:

  • AfroSolo
  • Brazil in the Gardens
  • Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest
  • Circus Bella
  • Gamelan Sekar Jaya
  • Native Contemporary Arts Festival
  • San Francisco Mime Troupe
  • San Francisco Uke Jam Summer Uke-splosion
  • Tom Rigney & Flambeau
Credit: Amal Bisharat Photography

What people are saying about the Weekend Sessions…

  • Love that you are making the arts free & accessible to all!
  • All the weekend and Thursday programs are fantastic!
  • This is an impressively well curated festival. A rich gift to the city!
Credit: www.kelseyogdenfilmandphoto.com

Check out all of the incredible artists performing at upcoming Weekend Sessions listed below.

Mark your calendars and make your weekend FREE, OUTDOORS, and FRESH!

What to expect at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival…

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival occurs each year from May through October in Downtown San Francisco. As always, these excellent performances are FREE, outdoors, and ADA-accessible to be enjoyed by all. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival features open-air lawn seating. Please be dressed for San Francisco weather – chair seating is limited, but picnics and low-lawn chairs are welcome. For Park Rules and Regulations, please refer to Yerba Buena Gardens Management’s website.

Weekend Session performances begin at 1pm (unless noted otherwise), so plan ahead and arrive early! Performances are approximately 90 minutes long, located at Yerba Buena Gardens on Mission Street between Third and Fourth Streets, San Francisco. Yerba Buena Gardens is conveniently located near Montgomery & Powell BART stations, and several MUNI lines. See detailed information on the Visitor Map.

Looking for a yummy place to eat or a museum to explore? Find out more on the Visitor Information page.

Weekend Sessions Calendar…

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May 2022

Sat 21
Sat, May 21, 12:30pm – 2:30pm

CAAMFest40 Directions in Sound: Pinays on the Rise

Free
Sat 28
Dancers and musicians of Gamelan Sekar Jaya on a stage, dressed in brightly colored Indonesian wardrobe
Sat, May 28, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Gamelan Sekar Jaya: Sudamala – World Premiere

Free

June 2022

Sat 4
Diana Gameros with her band, Patrick Wolff, Thomas Edler and Aaron Kierbel, standing and smiling against a dark backdrop.
Sat, Jun 4, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Diana Gameros

Free
Fri 10
Photo collage of Reggie Workman, Richard Howell and Destiny Muhammad
Fri, Jun 10, 6:30pm – 8:00pm

A Tribute to Alice Coltrane: Jazz Legend Reggie Workman in Conversation with Richard Howell & Destiny Muhammad

Free
Sat 11
Members of Brooklyn Raga Massive sitting and playing music on a stage floor
Sat, Jun 11, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Alice Coltrane Tribute – Brooklyn Raga Massive ft. Reggie Workman

Free
Sat 18
Dancers of Na Lei Hulu dancing on a stage under a warm yellow light
Sat, Jun 18, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu: I OLA!

Free
Sun 19
Native women dressed in traditional Indigenous regalia, smiling and standing in Yerba Buena Gardens
Sun, Jun 19, 12:00pm – 3:00pm

Native Contemporary Arts Festival

Free
Sat 25
Members of the colorful Circus Bella company dancing, tumbling and twirling in the Circus Bella stage, across from Jessie Square and the St. Patrick's church
Sat, Jun 25, 12:00pm – 1:00pm Recurring

Circus Bella’s Flip * Flop * Fly

Free
Sat 25
Members of the colorful Circus Bella company dancing, tumbling and twirling in the Circus Bella stage, across from Jessie Square and the St. Patrick's church
Sat, Jun 25, 2:15pm – 3:15pm Recurring

Circus Bella’s Flip * Flop * Fly

Free

July 2022

Sat 9
SF Uke Jam leaders Cynthia Lin and Ukelenny singing and playing ukulele together on the YBG Festival stage
Sat, Jul 9, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

SF Uke Jam: Summer Ukesplosion!

Free
Sat 16
SF Mime Troupe performing on the YBG Festival Esplanade lawn in front of a large audience
Sat, Jul 16, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

San Francisco Mime Troupe

Free
Sat 23
Dancer wearing a pink wardrobe in a dance pose in front of a concrete wall in Yerba Buena Gardens
Sat, Jul 23, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day One)

Free
Sat 30
Dancer wearing a pink wardrobe in a dance pose in front of a concrete wall in Yerba Buena Gardens
Sat, Jul 30, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day Two)

Free

August 2022

Sat 6
Close up photo of singer Paula West singing passionately into a microphone, a bass played obscured behind her
Sat, Aug 6, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Paula West – Presented with AfroSolo Arts Festival

Free
Sat 13
People dressed in colonial wardrobe performing Filipino folk dances and smiling on the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival stage.
Sat, Aug 13, 11:00am – 4:00pm Recurring

Pistahan

Free
Sun 14
People dressed in colonial wardrobe performing Filipino folk dances and smiling on the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival stage.
Sun, Aug 14, 11:00am – 4:00pm Recurring

Pistahan

Free

September 2022

Sat 3
Black and white photo of Marcus Shelby leaning his left arm on a light post and holding an upright bass on under his right arm.
Sat, Sep 3, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Marcus Shelby New Orchestra: Blues in the City – World Premiere

Free
Sat 10
Joti Singh on a theater stage wearing an orange outfit with her right fist raised in the air, the words "Blood Ink" projected in red on the screen behind her
Sat, Sep 10, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Joti Singh: Ghadar Geet – World Premiere

Free

October 2022

Sat 1
Alleluia Panis outside on a beach under grey skies, wearing a black outfit, holding a red veil above her head wafting in the wind.
Sat, Oct 1, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Alleluia Panis: Nursing These Wounds – World Premiere

Free
Sat 8
Aerial view photo a dancer performing on an outdoor stage at night, surrounded by a full audience watching.
Sat, Oct 8, 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Yerba Buena Night

Free
Mon 10
Performers and audiences from Indigenous People's day part of a friendship dance, holding hands and walking through the Yerba Buena Gardens lawn
Mon, Oct 10, 12:30pm – 4:00pm

San Francisco’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Free
Sat 15
Litquake logo with illustration of a female figure, laying down on a blanket reading next to a stack of books
Sat, Oct 15, 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Litquake Festival

Free
Sun 16
Litquake logo with illustration of a female figure, laying down on a blanket reading next to a stack of books
Sun, Oct 16, 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Litquake Festival

Free
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A guest on traditional, unceded Ramaytush Ohlone Land.
VENUE: Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission St. between 3rd and 4th Sts., San Francisco
OFFICE: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, 760 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103
PHONE: (415) 543-1718

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