Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

🎃👻 HALLOWEEN HOOPLA ALERT! 👻🎃

The 24th annual Halloween Hoopla is back with family-friendly frights and delights for kids under 10 and their adults! Join us for awe-inspiring performances from Circus Bella and live music from the Circus Bella All-Star Trio. Plus, the ultimate grand finale: the Halloween Costume Parade – all kids are welcome to join in their best Halloween looks! 👻

More fa-BOO-lous fun:
- Juggling, Rola Bola, Strongman & Foot Juggling
- Madam Z Palm Reading
- Craft tables from Children’s Creativity Museum, Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy & Mexican Museum

SAT NOV 2
NOON - 3PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH. WICKED FUN!

RSVP for free (encouraged but not required): 👆

Supported by Yerba Buena Partnership

¡Atención, familia! Pedrito Martinez Group returns to the Gardens with their blazing sound, led by the Afro-Cuban maestro himself, Pedrito Martinez! From collaborating with legends like Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen to being Grammy-nominated, Pedrito embodies the future of Cuban music. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience his electric energy live!

Opening the program is la fenomenal La Dame Blanche.
¡Nos vemos este Sabado en Yerba Buena!

SAT OCT 12
2-4:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. PURE FRESHNESS!

Last call for free RSVP!
Link in bio / https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pedrito-martinez-group-la-dame-blanche-at-ybgfestival-tickets-978901068447

Pedrito Martinez 📸 Credit: Brenda Kenneally
La Dame Blanche 📸 Credit: Lucia Olmos

Sharing works that delight, provoke, inspire, and rouse, Poetic Tuesdays closes out the season with this gifted group of poets and musicians! Located in Jessie Square, this series opens minds and hearts with a vibrant midday breather.

THU OCT 8
12:30-1:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

October's incredible lineup includes:
Umniya Najaer – Interdisciplinary writer and Black studies scholar exploring synergetic relations.
Maya Raveneau-Bey – Talented young poet and finalist in the Oakland Youth Poet Laureate competition.
Daniel B. Summerhill – Monterey County’s inaugural Poet Laureate and acclaimed author.
Darius Rashad Parker – Q***r Black scholar and poet dedicated to social justice through arts and education.
Jean Nangwala – Zambian singer weaving Afrocentric sound with international perspective, promoting self-love, justice, and celebration.

Curated by award-winning poet and activist Nia McAllister, Senior Public Programs Manager at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), who brings her passion for art and activism to this series.

Co-presented by @

Kicking off the double-bill with Pedrito Martinez Group, La Dame Blanche brings a unique fusion of hip-hop, cumbia, dancehall and reggae, all deeply influenced by the sacred practices of Santería. Steeped in Afro-Cuban rituals and folklore, this electric blend of global rhythms and ancestral sounds you do not want to miss!

SAT OCT 12
2-4:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

Celebrate the legacies of early 20th-century African-American women composers with Daughters of the Delta! Led by Bay Area vocalist and YBG Festival Seed Commission artist Michelle Jacques, this program brings to life the music of Blu Lou Barker, Lil Hardin Armstrong and more.

Featuring powerhouse vocalists like Rhonda Crane, Tammi Brown and Bryan Dyer, this performance explores spirituals, gospel, jazz,and blues with vintage material and original compositions. Don’t miss this tribute to unsung music innovators!

THU OCT 24
12:30-1:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

YBG Festival Home – Free outdoor performing arts in downtown San Francisco Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents FREE music, theater, dance, cultural events in downtown SF.

We gotta tell you something - this show is going to BLOW YOUR MIND!

KOKOROKO’s electrifying fusion of jazz, Nigerian highlife and Afrobeats makes for a core-memory musical experience - their shows are seriously transformative! Led by the phenomenal Sheila Maurice-Grey, KOKOROKO features kinetic, horn-driven hits like "Abusey Junction" and their critically acclaimed album We Could Be More.

Opening the show is hip-hop & R&B vocalist Jada Imani, bringing soulful vibes with her all-women band.

SAT OCT 26
1-3:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

This event is expected to be highly attended—RSVP FOR FREE to secure your spot! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kokoroko-jada-imani-at-ybgfestival-tickets-1008773347237?aff=oddtdtcreator=

Jada Imani photo credit: Dan Moore

This weekend is one for the BOOKS - lit-erally! Litquake is back on October 19 & 20, 2024! San Francisco’s largest literary festival showcases local literature and celebrates diverse voices. On Saturday, October 19, explore a vibrant selection of books from a variety of genres and authors at the Litquake Small Press Book Fair.

Plus! On Sunday, October 20, don't miss Litquake Out Loud - featuring powerful readings from BIPOC & LGBTQ+ writers.

Let’s keep elevating underrepresented voices in the Bay Area’s literary scene! We'll be celebrating Litquake’s continued elevation of diverse voices and the Bay Area’s historic, thriving arts scene.

SAT OCT 19 & SUN OCT 20
11AM - 4PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

Vendors include:

Aunt Lute Books
Center for S*x & Culture
City Lights Publishers
Collective Book Studio
Foglifter Journal & Press
Kelsey Street Press
Last Gasp Press
Mumblers Press
North Atlantic Books
Parapraxis
Pelekinesis
Philippine American Writers & Artists (PAWA)
PM Press
Sixteen Rivers Press
Somos en escrito Press
Stanford University Press
Transit Books
Two Lines Press
ZYZZYVA

Festival sponsor booths:
Alta Journal
Heyday Books

Co-presented by: Litquake

Yerba Buena Gardens Public Art Tour is COMING!

Discover Yerba Buena Gardens, a beloved public space and open-air art gallery. This free walking tour encourages you to explore artworks honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and San Francisco’s maritime history. It is a truly immersive experience!

THU SEPT 26
1:30-2:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

RSVP encouraged, drop-ins are welcome! The tour is ADA accessible and stair-free. Meet at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and Waterfall, and immerse yourself in a green urban oasis.

Meet Amihan (they/she) - Filipina emcee, vocalist and self-taught musician whose sound blends neo-soul, jazz and hip-hop with live instruments, boom-bap drums and hyphy 808s. Inspired by Tagalog folklore, Amihan delivers powerful messages for their community, supporting the fight for land and livelihood. Performing at Bay Area events and rallies since 2018, they also produce fundraisers for grassroots causes.

Check out Amihan’s unique flow as they fuse hip-hop and R&B to breathe life into collective chants!

THU OCT 17
12:30-1:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

Co-presented with

YBG Festival Home – Free outdoor performing arts in downtown San Francisco Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents FREE music, theater, dance, cultural events in downtown SF.

Join us in celebration of San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens! Immerse yourself in Native American art, music and vendors as we highlight the diverse and talented community of Indigenous artists from the Bay Area, California and beyond.

Presented on Yelamu, Ramaytush Ohlone Territory in partnership with the International Indian Treaty Council, with generous support from the San Francisco Arts Commission. The program at Yerba Buena Gardens follows the Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz – please check the IITC website for updates. More program details coming soon.

MON OCT 14
NOON - 3:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

Photo credit Jim Watkins Photography

🎉 Let’s make this salsa night one for the books! 🎉

Join us for an unforgettable evening with Agua Pura, an all-femme salsa combo that’s taking the Bay Area by storm! Led by conguera and vocalist Rebecca Rodríguez, this powerhouse group was born out of a desire to spotlight the incredible female talent in our community. Agua Pura brings a percussion and brass-driven sound that’s pure energy and celebration. As Rodríguez says, it's the “party music you might hear from someone’s radio while walking through the Mission District.”

Don’t miss this chance to dance the night away and witness these talented women stretch their improvisational wings.

THU OCT 3
6-7:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

In the East Garden (on Third St across from SFMOMA)

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents FREE music, theater, dance, cultural events in downtown SF.

Pedrito Martinez Group returns to the Gardens with their blazing sound, led by the Afro-Cuban master himself, Pedrito Martinez. From collaborating with legends like Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen to being a Grammy-nominated sensation, Pedrito embodies the future of Cuban music. Don’t miss this chance to experience their electric performance live!

Opening the program is the phenomenal La Dame Blanche!

SAT OCT 12
2-4:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

This event is expected to be highly attended, so make sure to RSVP now for FREE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pedrito-martinez-group-la-dame-blanche-at-ybgfestival-tickets-978901068447

Photo credit Brenda Kenneally

Pedrito Martinez Group + La Dame Blanche at YBGFestival Afro-Cuban music stars Pedrito Martinez and La Dame Blanche perform a FREE show in San Francisco, only at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Get ready to groove with Rojai & The Pocket!

Best known as the powerhouse vocalist for the Latin-reggae sensation Bayonics, Rojai (aka Jairo Vargas) brings his soulful, gritty vibe to every performance. Now leading The Pocket, he delivers original tracks that blend passionate crooning, funky electro-soul and old-school hip-hop. With a band featuring some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians—including members of the Bayonics rhythm section who've played with legends like Eric Roberson and Anthony David—make your afternoon a memorable one!

THU OCT 10
12:30-1:30PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

YBG Festival Home – Free outdoor performing arts in downtown San Francisco Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents FREE music, theater, dance, cultural events in downtown SF.

Be enchanted by the rising star Ouida (pronounced “wee-duh”), a Filipino and Irish-American singer-songwriter making waves on the Bay Area music scene and beyond!

Last October, with support from San Francisco-based nonprofit and Filipinx arts incubator Balay Kreative, Ouida released her debut EP Come Rain, Come Shine. This collection of songs has solidified her as a generational voice, capturing the deep emotions of loss, vulnerability and the longing for connection that defined the pandemic era.

Opening the double bill is Hayward-raised Ian Santillano, a guitarist and singer/songwriter with a singular blend of soul, folk, rock and funk driving his introspective lyrics. Like Ouida, he’s part of Bolo Music Group, a new Filipino-centric label launched by Filipina American rapper and producer Ruby Ibarra.

Come and witness these incredble rising Bay Area talents only at YBG Festival!

SAT OCT 5
1-3PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

This program is supported by
Co-presented with

This Sunday - let’s dance in joy and remembrance together! Join us for a free celebration of Japanese culture and heritage at the Gardens! American Bon Dancing, a joyous tribute to departed ancestors, returns to with an incredible lineup:

Ensohza – Traditional Japanese folk music and dance
Taiko Peace – Performing P.J. Hirabayashi’s “Ei Ja Nai Ka”
San Jose Taiko – Legendary taiko drummers

Plus, experience two newly commissioned works celebrating the Buddhist Churches of America’s 125th anniversary: “Kangie” by Nobuko Miyamoto & “Lantern Song” by Bonbu Stories!

Meet the Guest Artists at

SUN SEP 8
1-3PM
FREE. OUTDOORS. FRESH.

**Be sure to visit the exhibit: "American Bon Odori: Dancing in Joy and Remembrance" at the NJAHS Peace Gallery in Japantown, open through 9/30/24.

Learn more: https://ybgfestival.org/event/american-bon-dancing-2024/

Photo credit: Mark Shigenaga