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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June 2023

Sat 3
Melissa Cruz in a flamenco dance pose, dress skirt lifted in the wind, on the pier of the Oakland bay.
Sat, Jun 3, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Melissa Cruz Flamenco

Free
Sat 10
Abe Lagrimas Jr, Cynthia Lin and Ukulenny each playing a ukulele, sitting on bench with lush green mountains behind them.
Sat, Jun 10, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

SF Uke Jam’s Summer Uke-Splosion

Free
Sat 17
4 members of La Mezcla standing on a square tap dance board, outside in front of a vintage car.
Sat, Jun 17, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

La Mezcla + Laura Rebolloso

Free
Sun 18
A few dozen Native artists and performers dressed in traditional regalia, standing outside on a green lawn.
Sun, Jun 18, 12:00pm – 3:00pm

Native Contemporary Arts Festival

Free
Fri 23
Circus Bella performers wearing colorful costumes on a rooftop, skies and cityscape behind them.
Fri, Jun 23, 12:00pm – 1:00pm Recurring

Circus Bella’s Bananas

Free
Sat 24
Circus Bella performers wearing colorful costumes on a rooftop, skies and cityscape behind them.
Sat, Jun 24, 12:00pm – 1:00pm Recurring

Circus Bella’s Bananas

Free
Sat 24
Circus Bella performers wearing colorful costumes on a rooftop, skies and cityscape behind them.
Sat, Jun 24, 2:15pm – 3:15pm Recurring

Circus Bella’s Bananas

Free

July 2023

Sat 1
Headshots of Yosvany Terry, Gema Corredera and the Arun Ramamurthy Trio
Sat, Jul 1, 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Yosvany Terry & Gema Corredera + Arun Ramamurthy Trio

Free
Sat 8
Two people staring at each other in the middle of a dance battle, a person on a microphone far behind them
Sat, Jul 8, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Get Free Festival: Timing Is Synchronicity

Free
Sat 15
Joe Bataan singing into a microphone.
Sat, Jul 15, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Joe Bataan + La Doña

Free
Sat 22
Frida Kahlo wearing a flower crown with the text "Fiestas Fridas San Francisco"
Sat, Jul 22, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Fiestas Fridas

Free
Sat 29
Sat, Jul 29, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

San Francisco Mime Troupe

Free

August 2023

Sat 5
Martin Luther McCoy looking down while holding a guitar, in front of a black background
Sat, Aug 5, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

AfroSolo Arts Festival presents Martin Luther McCoy

Free
Sat 12
4 people on a stage taking a selfie photo with a large crowd of audiences behind them off-stage
Sat, Aug 12, 11:00am – 4:00pm Recurring

Pistahan 30th Anniversary

Free
Sun 13
4 people on a stage taking a selfie photo with a large crowd of audiences behind them off-stage
Sun, Aug 13, 11:00am – 4:00pm Recurring

Pistahan 30th Anniversary

Free
Sat 19
A group of the Dance Outdoors with Rhythm & Motion class smiling and posting in front of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival stage banner.
Sat, Aug 19, 10:00am – 3:00pm

YBG Dance Day

Free

September 2023

Sat 23
Female dance wearing red in an outstretched stance, in the middle of a lush green spot of grass and audiences sitting nearby
Sat, Sep 23, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day One)

Free
Sat 30
Female dance wearing red in an outstretched stance, in the middle of a lush green spot of grass and audiences sitting nearby
Sat, Sep 30, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day Two)

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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