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…

18 programs found.

Programs

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  • July 2026

  • Sun 19
    Photo of two soccer/football players jumping in the air with ball between their chests, in large, brightly lit soccer/football stadium
    Sun, Jul 19, 11:00am – 4:00pm

    Finals Watch Party @ Yerba Buena! / ¡Fiesta Futbolera en Yerba Buena Gardens!

    Fri 24
    Fri, Jul 24, 4:00pm – 9:00pm

    Bhangra & Beats Night Market

    Sat 25
    Two dancers in satin red and green costume, dancing outdoors on a brick path on a lawn, a brick building behind them
    Sat, Jul 25, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

    Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day One)

  • August 2026

  • Sat 1
    Two dancers in satin red and green costume, dancing outdoors on a brick path on a lawn, a brick building behind them
    Sat, Aug 1, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

    Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (Day Two)

    Sun 2
    Collage photo of Sruti Sarathy, Siddique Ahmed, Suhail Yusuf Khan
    Sun, Aug 2, 12:00pm – 5:00pm

    Color Your Mind

    Sat 8
    4 people on a stage taking a selfie photo with a large crowd of audiences behind them off-stage
    Sat, Aug 8, 11:00am – 5:00pm

    Pistahan

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

    Pistahan

    Sat 15
    Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical facing up, arms raised up and partially obscuring their faces, in front of a bright blue backdrop
    Sat, Aug 15, 2:00pm – 4:30pm

    Helado Tropical

  • September 2026

  • Sat 5
    A large audience seated on an outdoor lawn in the dark evening light, watching a movie projected on a large screen, a brightly lit cityscape behind the screen and a line of trees.
    Sat, Sep 5, 7:00pm – 9:30pm

    Yerba Buena Movie Night: Black Panther

  • October 2026

  • Sat 3
    Drummers in colorful African regalia, smiling and performing on an outdoor stage
    Sat, Oct 3, 11:00am – 4:00pm

    African Arts Festival

    Sun 4
    Litquake logo with illustration of a female figure, laying down on a blanket reading next to a stack of books
    Sun, Oct 4, 11:00am – 4:00pm

    Litquake Out Loud + Book Fair

    Sat 10
    Members of Oakland Rising performing on dark stage under magenta colored lights.
    Sat, Oct 10, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

    Follow the Music

    Sun 11
    An instructor leading a dance class behind them in an outdoor court
    Sun, Oct 11, 10:00am – 3:00pm

    YBG Dance Day

    Mon 12
    A large group of people dancing in a friendship circle in the middle of the Yerba Buena Gardens esplanade lawn.
    Mon, Oct 12, 12:00pm – 4:00pm

    San Francisco Indigenous Peoples Day with special performance by Jeremy Dutcher

    Sat 17
    Joe Bataan wearing a black hat and white shirt, smiling
    Sat, Oct 17, 2:00pm – 4:30pm

    Joe Bataan

    Sat 24
    Collage of headshot photos from members of the Afro-Filipino Jazz Project
    Sat, Oct 24, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

    Afro-Filipino Jazz Project

    Sat 31
    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, Oct 31, 12:00pm – 3:00pm

    Halloween Hoopla

  • November 2026

  • Fri 13
    Fri, Nov 13, 4:00pm – 9:00pm

    Bhangra & Beats Night Market

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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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