Friday is the start of the 18th annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, a 3 day, free music festival that takes place in Golden Gate Park’s Hellman Hollow (formerly Speedway Meadows), Lindley & Marx meadows (12pm-7pm on Friday, 11am-7pm on Saturday and Sunday). Attendance is open to all and admission is free all three days.
Noteworthy performers, who will appear on 7 different stages, include Ani Difranco, Mavis Staples, Los Lobos, Alison Krauss, Booker T. Jones, and dozens more. The SF Chronicle has assembled their picks for the “must-see” acts at the festival. And Lindsey Buckingham (formerly of Fleetwood Mac) will perform with Live From Here with Chris Tile on Friday night from 4pm-7pm. View the full festival schedule
The event also features over 50 food purveyors with many options (no alcohol will be sold on site).
The festival offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android as well that lets you create a custom schedule for yourself.
There will be street closures inside Golden Gate Park leading up the event and afterwards during cleanup:
As in years past, schools will open their lots for event parking fundraisers. Below is the list of parking locations that have opened in past years with notations of ones we have confirmed for 2018:
- George Washington High School – 600 32nd Ave.
- CONFIRMED: Argonne Elementary – 680 18th Ave. Open Sat & Sun 10am-8pm $30
- Lafayette (Sat & Sun ONLY) – 4545 Anza Street @ 36th Avenue [enter on 36th between Anza and Balboa]
- Jefferson Elementary School (Sat & Sun ONLY) – 1725 Irving St. [Enter on 18th Ave. between Irving and Judah]
- CONFIRMED: Lawton Alternative School – 1570 31st Ave. Open Sat & Sun 10am-8pm. $20 cash only
If you can’t make it to Golden Gate Park, check out the webcasts available on moonalice.com (not all acts, but some!). Day 2 | Day 3
If you live in the neighborhood and experience any issues due to the festival, use the Hotline number at 415-406-9014.
Enjoy!
Sarah B.