Official site of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Free outdoor performing arts in downtown San Francisco

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Weekend Sessions

KOKOROKO performing on the YBG Festival stage outdoors in front of a large, vibrant audience

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 2pm (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…

19 programs found.

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July 2025

Sat 12
Five members of Orchestra Gold, front facing, smiling, standing in green field in front of a tree, some holding musical instruments.
Sat, Jul 12, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Orchestra Gold

Free
Sat 19
Collage of performance and headshot photos of different dancers.
Sat, Jul 19, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day One)

Free
Sun 20
An instructor joyfully leading a dance class behind him in an outdoor court
Sun, Jul 20, 10:00am – 3:00pm

YBG Dance Day

Free
Sat 26
Collage of performance and headshot photos of different dancers.
Sat, Jul 26, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day Two)

Free

August 2025

Sat 2
Musicians and dancers of Blood Moon Orchestra performing on a dimly lit stage
Sat, Aug 2, 1:30pm – 4:00pm

Viet Day feat. Vân-Ánh Võ’s Blood Moon Orchestra

Free
Sun 3
Cynthia Lin and Ukulenny leaning on each other back-to-back, wearing orange sunglasses and joyfully playing ukuleles in front of a color YBG Festival banner.
Sun, Aug 3, 12:00pm – 4:00pm

SF Uke Jam’s Summer Uke-splosion

Free
Sat 9
4 people on a stage taking a selfie photo with a large crowd of audiences behind them off-stage
Sat, Aug 9, 11:00am – 5:00pm

Pistahan

Free
Sun 10
4 people on a stage taking a selfie photo with a large crowd of audiences behind them off-stage
Sun, Aug 10, 11:00am – 5:00pm

Pistahan

Free
Sat 16
Marcus Shelby smiling, playing the upright bass with the sunny outdoors behind him
Sat, Aug 16, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Marcus Shelby Orchestra: Blues and the Pursuit of Freedom

Free
Sat 23
Sammay Dizon front-facing, in a dance position with. hands stretched on a. concrete ground and leg stretched out above her. Dancers in similar white and blue denim outfits standing in front of a concrete waterfall behind her.
Sat, Aug 23, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

SAMMAY: the way home is an upwards spiral – World Premiere

Free
Sun 24
Sammay Dizon front-facing, in a dance position with. hands stretched on a. concrete ground and leg stretched out above her. Dancers in similar white and blue denim outfits standing in front of a concrete waterfall behind her.
Sun, Aug 24, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

SAMMAY: the way home is an upwards spiral – World Premiere

Free
Sat 30
Saul Sierra smiling, looking down and playing the upright bass in front of a black backdrop
Sat, Aug 30, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

The Saúl Sierra Quintet: Caminos

Free

September 2025

Sat 6
Band members of Orquesta Akokán wearing black and white suites, standing outside of a small white, weathered building with rusty signs on the side.
Sat, Sep 6, 2:00pm – 4:30pm

Orquesta Akokán

Free
Sat 20
Samora Pinderhughes front facing, wearing a pink and lavender jacket
Sat, Sep 20, 2:00pm – 4:30pm

Samora Pinderhughes + SOL Development

Free
Sun 21
Actors of Mornings in Jenin, wearing all black, performing on a stage in front of a screen with a projected image
Sun, Sep 21, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Mornings in Jenin Musical: A Playlist

Free
Sat 27
Collage of photos of different members of Movement Immigrant Orchestra playing instruments and performing on stage
Sat, Sep 27, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Movement Immigrant Orchestra

Free
Sun 28
Litquake logo
Sun, Sep 28, 11:00am – 4:00pm

Litquake Out Loud + Book Fair

Free

October 2025

Sat 4
Dancers dressed in traditional Filipino regalia performing on stage with a coloful stage curtain behind them
Sat, Oct 4, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Parangal Dance Company: Adhika

Free

November 2025

Sat 1
Top view of a large crowd of kids and families dressed in costumes walking outside across the Children's Garden with tents and pumpkins and other Halloween decoration set up
Sat, Nov 1, 12:00pm – 3:00pm

Halloween Hoopla

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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