Summer is around the corner and venues across the Bay Area are gearing up for warm weather fests highlighting all kinds of music, comedy, technology, pop culture, and more.
Consider this your summer to-do list.
Bay Area Festivals in May
Look out for stars (like former guest Ayesha Curry) on the culinary stage.
(Courtesy of BottleRock)
BottleRock Napa Valley
May 24-26, 2019
Napa Valley Expo, 575 3rd St. (Napa)
Kick off summer with all the festival vibes at the seventh annual BottleRock Napa Valley, with headliners Neil Young, Mumford & Sons, Imagine Dragons, Pharrell Williams, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. As usual, the event is also promises culinary street food feast, silent disco, spa, and more. // 1-day GA tickets ($159) are still available atbottlerocknapavalley.com.
Bay Area Festivals in June
Clusterfest takes over Civic Center Plaza.
(Misha Vladimrsky)
Berkeley World Music Festival
Noon to 8pm, June 1-2, 2019
Various venues in Berkeley, berkeleyworldmusic.org
This weekend of free concerts will feature rhythm and music from the world, with performances ranging from French gypsy to bluegrass to Bollywood. The festival concludes with a Spanish rumba party.
37th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival
June 11-23, 2019
Various venues in SF
With 41 shows across four Hayes Valley venues, the two-week fest brings both big names and fresh faces of jazz. Look out for appearances from Roy Ayers, Eric Alexander, Eric Reed, Chris Potter, Kenny Garrett, Sarah Mckenzie, and more. // Tickets ($35 and up) are available at sfjazz.org.
Country Summer Music Festival
June 14-16, 2019
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennet Valley Rd. (Santa Rosa), countrysummer.com
One of California's largest country music festivals invites you to boot, scoot, boogie to the likes of Jake Owen, Aaron Watton, Tim McGraw, and the young Carly Pearce on the five-acre Carnival field. // Tickets ($89- $249) are available online.
Porter Robinson's Second Sky
June 15-16, 2019
2777 Middle Harbor Rd. (Oakland), secondskyfest.com
Artist Porter Robinson and Goldenvoice are behind this vibrant electronica festival formerly known as Multiverse. The lineup includes Wednesday Campanella, Madeon, Cashmere Cat, G Jones, Chrome Sparks, Kero Kero Bonito, Anamanaguchi,, Nina Las Vegas, and Porter Robinson of course. // This show is sold out, though tix may still be available through the official ticket exchange, lyte.com/SecondSky.
Stern Grove Festival
June 16th through August 18th, 2019
Stern Grove, 19th Ave. at Sloat Blvd. (Parkside)
Galactic, Pink Martini, and the Isley Brothers headline this year's summertime concert series in the grove, also featuring performances by Grammy-winning jazz-rap fusion group Digable Planets; Oakland's Bang Data; Japanese-American indie rock artist Mitski; and of course the SF Symphony and Ballet. // Free admission; see the full schedule at sterngrove.org.
Clusterfest
June 21-23, 2019
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St. (Civic Center)
Prepare to ROFL at this acclaimed three-day comedy festival presented by Comedy Central and Another Planet with a lineup of stupid-funny guests—think Amy Poehler & Friends, Patton Oswalt, or the Emmy winner John Mulaney, Leslie Jones, and Fred Armisen as well as a bunch of emerging talents, podcasts, live reads, and concerts. // Tickets ($260 and up) are available at clusterfest.com.
San Francisco Pride
June 29-30, 2019
Market Street, Civic Center, and Castro
This year's theme: Generations of Resistance. Bring. It. On. Don't miss special guest star Brazilian drag queen Pabllo Vittar, who will perform on the main stage. // For more information and schedule, go to sfpride.org.
Bay Area Festivals in July
(Courtesy of Audiotistic)
Flower Piano
July 11-22, 2019
Sf Botanical Garden, 1999 9th Ave. (Golden Gate Park), sfbg.org
Twelve pianos plus the blooming gardens of the SF Botanical Garden equal an absolutely lovely festival moment. Pop by to play your best Chopsticks, and catch performances from the pros. Don't miss Flower Piano at Night events ($55) July 18-20. // For more info and tickets, go to sfbg.org/flowerpiano.
Burger Boogaloo
July 6-7, 2019
Mosswood Park, 3612 Webster St. (Oakland)
Celebrate 10 years of weirdness and music with host John Waters at Burger Boogaloo, starring The Jesus and Mary Chian, Australian punk-grunge band The Scientists, Shannon and the Clams, Sheer Mags, and more. // Tickets ($13 and up) are available at burgerboogaloo.com.
Art + Soul Oakland
July 27-28, 2019
Downtown Oakland, near 12th Street Bart Station
Some folks you may have heard of—think Jazz Mafia, Alphabet Rockers, Netta Brielle, and the Pointer Sisters—will take to the outdoor stages for this free concert series celebrating gospel, jazz, and dance. Also look out for food, craft beer, and more at the artisan marketplace. // For all the details, go to artandsouloakland.com.
Audiotistic
July 13-14, 2019
Shoreline Amphitheatre & Grounds (Mountain View)
Video installation, digital art, and a lot of music—ranging rom rap and hip hop to electronica, drum & bass, and dubstep—are the highlight of this Silicon Valley jam sesh. It's probably the only place where you can catch in two days Alison Wonderland, Ganja White Night, and Valentino Khan. // Tickets ($90-$150) are available at audiotisticfestival.com.
Island Reggae Fest
July 14, 2019
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (San Jose)
What could be more fun than a day of live reggae music and carnival rides? Throw in a tattoo expo, a rugby tournament, island food, dance performances, and arts and crafts and it's a hell of a free day at the fair. // For more info, go to islandreggaefest.com.
Festival Napa Valley
July 10-21, 2019
Various venues in Napa Valley
One word: Seal! The singer/songwriter is the big headliner at this year's Wine Country celebration of music and culinary delights. Plan on attending free chamber concerts, and reserve your spot for such special events as the Hess Collection dinner among the family's famous art collection of works by Francis Bacon, Andy Goldsworthy, and more. // For the schedule and tickets, go to festivalnapavalley.org.
Bay Area Festivals in August
(Courtesy of Outside Lands)
Outside Lands
August 9-11, 2019
Get ready for another kick-ass lineup: This year's Outside Lands stars Childish Gambino, Paul Simon, Leon Bridges, and more. That is, of course, not to mention all that food and the newish Grass Lands, the curated cannabis experience open for sampling. // See the full lineup and get tickets (starting at $385 for three-day passes) at sfoutsidelands.com.
Silicon Valley Comic Con
August 16-18, 2019
San Jose Convention Center, 150 West Carlos St. (San Jose)
Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak hosts this annual event that combines technology and pop culture. The line-up is still a secret, but there will be comics, independent artists, cosplay, video games, music, apps, and more. // Tickets ($50-$115) are available at svcomiccon.com.
Polk Street Blues Festival
August 17-18, 2019
Polk Street, from California to Sutter
No cars, just blues (the good kind) at this annual music and street fest. Concerts start at 10am and play all day. Fuel up at various food trucks. // Free admission; for more info, go to sresproductions.com.
