Sunday, August 16 marks the 13th birthday of one of Golden Gate Park’s most unique events: Lindy in the Park. Every Sunday, dancers, tourists, residents and passerbys stop by to hit the dance floor along John F. Kennedy Drive.
Lindy in the Park was founded by Lindy Hoppers Chad Kubo and Ken Watanabe in August of 1996, and is the original free swing dance party. Held every Sunday from 11am to 2pm in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Lindy in the Park is the longest-running, free swing dance “venue†in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is open to dancers of all ages and levels.
I stopped by for the first time last weekend and had a smile on my face the entire time. From 12-12:30 they hold a free lesson for the newcomers, or those that just want to brush up on their swing moves. During my visit, the large group was learning the Charleston and making a good go of it.
As the lesson progresses, partners rotate among the group so Lindy becomes not just about dancing, but also about meeting other people. Even if only for a brief dance, it’s a unusual chance to mix with neighbors, visitors and dance enthusiasts.
The more skilled dancers continue hopping at the other end of the dance area while the lesson progresses. They execute spins, jump up and down, dip each other – this is no mellow day on the dance floor, folks!
While there, I met Dave who has been driving in from Park Merced every Sunday for four years. “There’s something about the music and the way it affects people. It’s just good for you” he tells me.
Another woman was attending for the second time after driving in from the East Bay with a friend. “Isn’t this just so much fun!” she beamed. Another man was jogging through the park and decided that the dancing looked like just as much exercise and even more fun.
Even if you’re not into public displays of dancing, it’s a wonderful place to just hang out and people watch. Tourists gawk (and often jump in), kids egg their parents onto the dance floor, and others just watch from the sidelines, dancing in place or tapping their toes to the music.
To see what Lindy in the Park is all about, watch the short video I put together below or visit their website. To check it out in person, head out to Golden Gate Park on any Sunday from 12-2; enter in at Fulton and 10th Avenue. You’ll see the crowd bopping along the edge of the bridge on JFK Drive.
On Sunday, August 16, in honor of their 13th birthday, they’ll hold a special edition of Lindy in the Park with a potluck picnic and extended music and dancing hours until at least 3:00pm. More info
Happy Birthday, Lindy in the Park. You’re a real San Francisco classic!
Sarah B.