For 25 years, a free music and cultural event series has transformed SoMa into an open-air stage.

This season's Yerba Buena Gardens Festival kicks off Saturday, May 10th with a dynamic concert featuring Grammy-winning Latin fusion band La Santa Cecilia and an opener by San Francisco’s own cumbia and reggaeton rising star, La Doña.

You'll find a mix of vibrant events at the Yerba Buena Gardens all summer long: weekend sessions light up the lawns with dance performances, cultural activities, and world-renowned musicians like the legendary king of Latin soul, Joe Bataan on Saturday, May 17; Thursday lunchtime concerts bring soulful jazz, global grooves, and local luminaries to your midday break; and dance nights invite everyone to groove to a live band—no partner or experience necessary.

La Santa Cecilia performs at the YBG Festival on May 10 (Courtesy of YBG Festival)

Families and caregivers will be delighted by the children’s garden series, which offers playful, interactive shows every Friday featuring circus, puppetry, and live music. This year’s newest addition, poetic Tuesdays, invites literary lovers to tune into the voices of local poets and spoken word artists. Each will be followed by workshops led by poet-in-residence, Nia Pearl.

Whether you're a lunchtime wanderer, a weekend explorer, or a parent looking for fun outings for the kids, you’ll find something to love at the YBG Festival. Best of all? Every event is free. Grab lunch nearby, bring a blanket, or come as you are; all performances are outdoors, ADA accessible, and all-ages with no tickets and no gates.

Stay updated on the YBG Festival’s events by RSVPing, or check out the full schedule on their website and plan your summer in the city one lovely afternoon at a time.