Official site of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Free outdoor performing arts in downtown San Francisco

  • Calendar
    • All Events
    • VIEW BY SERIES…
      • Weekend Sessions
      • Thursday Lunchtime
      • Children’s Garden Series
      • Poetic Tuesdays
      • Salsa at Jessie
    • VIEW BY GENRE…
      • Dance
      • Music
      • Theater, Circus, Spoken Word
      • Children’s
  • Projects & Commissions
  • Visitor Info
    • Admission-free Seating
    • Performance Times
    • Seniors & Disabled
    • Directions & Parking
    • Lost & Found
    • Food & Drink
    • Photography & Recording
    • Museums & Shopping
    • Park Hours & Rules
  • About
    • Mission
    • Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Team
    • Funders & Sponsors
    • History of Yerba Buena
  • Rentals
    • Rental Intro
    • Venues
    • Fees & Permits
    • Online Rental Form
    • Rental Documents
    • Recommended Vendors
    • Nearby Indoor Venues
  • Contact
    • ♥ Donate
    • eNews Sign Up
    • General Inquiry
  • ♥ Support
    • ♥ Donate
    • Get Involved
    • Audience Survey

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…

Loading view.
  • There are no upcoming programs.
  • There are no upcoming programs.

Views Navigation

Program Views Navigation

  • List
  • Month
Today

Latest Past Programs

Jan 16 2023
Singers and musicians performing outside on the YBG Festival stage.
Mon, Jan 16, 2:30pm – 5:00pm

MLK2023 Music Festival – New Location & Time

Esplanade, Yerba Buena Gardens Mission St. between 3rd & 4th Sts., San Francisco

Update 1/13/23: This event has been relocated to Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, on Monday, January 16 at 2:30pm. For more updates, to […]

Free
Oct 29 2022
Chelle! And Friends band dressed in Halloween costumes performing for a group of children at the Halloween Hoopla
Sat, Oct 29, 2022, 12:00pm – 3:00pm

Halloween Hoopla

Children's Garden, Yerba Buena Gardens 799 Howard St., San Francisco

The 22nd annual Halloween Hoopla returns featuring fun performances and activities for kids under 10 and their adults! The Hoopla grand finale is the popular Halloween Costume Parade to live […]

Free
Oct 16 2022
Litquake logo with illustration of a female figure, laying down on a blanket reading next to a stack of books
Sun, Oct 16, 2022, 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Litquake Festival

Esplanade, Yerba Buena Gardens Mission St. between 3rd & 4th Sts., San Francisco

San Francisco’s largest literary festival returns in 2022, celebrating the literary community from throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Litquake 2022 festival runs from October 6-22, with two full days […]

Free

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
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

Copyright © 2023 Official site of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. All Rights Reserved