Since this is a FREE EVENT (NO TICKETS NEEDED), we do not have the resources to answer all of your questions. Frequently asked questions are below.

If you have noise complaints, neighborhood comments or issues, DURING OUR EVENT, please use the Hotline number 415-406-9014.  The hotline number is monitored from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on October 3-5, 2025. 

For general questions: questions@hardlystrictlybluegrass.org

Festival Details
  • WHEN Fri Oct 3, Sat Oct 4, and Sun Oct 5, 2025
  • WHERE Hellman Hollow, Lindley & Marx meadows in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.
  • IS THERE A LIVE WEBCAST?
    Yes, we will be streaming the Banjo, Swan, Towers of Gold, Rooster, Arrow and Horseshoe Hill Stages. Tune into HSBTV. 
  • WHAT TIME ARE WE ALLOWED IN?
    Entrances will open at 11am on Friday, and 9am Saturday & Sunday.  Performances end at 7pm daily.

1) JFK Drive and Transverse Drive

2) Fulton Street and 30th Avenue

3) JFK Drive and 36th Avenue

4) South Polo Field — Middle Drive& Metson Road

Entrances will open at 11am on Friday, 9am Saturday and Sunday.  Performances end at 7pm daily.

For the safety of all patrons, security measures in place include walking through body scanners and may include a physical search of bags and belongings. SFPD, K9 and Tactical Units will be positioned inside and outside the venue.

HSB encourages the use of public transportation or any alternative to personal vehicles.

However, due to public safety within the event, HSB does not allow any bicycles, scooters, regular skateboards, electric skateboards, Segways, Onewheels, or other types of motorized devices inside the venue.

Bicycle parking locations can be found in the event map.

As usual, fans are asked to respect the park, to clean up after themselves, and to take everything out that’s been brought in.

Print the schedule and take it with you to the park! 

Allowed Items
  • 1 Bag and 1 personal item per person
  • Clear bags no larger than 22”x15”x10”
  • Small bags, fanny packs, and purses no larger than 6”x8”x3” 
  • 2.5 L or smaller hydration packs, or refillable water bottles
  • Small soft coolers, 12-pack size or smaller
  • Tarps or blankets smaller than 6’x8’
  • Wagons
  • Strollers 
  • Short back chairs 
  • Non-clear medium-sized backpacks, totes, or soft coolers no larger than 22”x15”x10”
  • No items that can be used to disturb the peace, endanger others, and/or cause damage to people or property
  • More than 1 bag and 1 personal item 
  • Bags larger than 22”x15”x10”
  • Hard coolers or coolers larger than a 12-pack 
  • Glass, kegs, hard liquor
  • Umbrellas
  • Tables
  • Shade structures / Tents
  • Blankets or tarps larger than 6’x8’
  • Devices for amplified sound
  • High back chairs
  • Selfie sticks 
  • Firearms or weapons of any kind
  • Fireworks, smoking, open flames, grill 
  • Drones
  • Flags or poles 
  • Unauthorized vending or promotional items 
Festival Map & Entrance Locations

There will be port-a-potties on site. 

Free water refills will be available near the permanent bathrooms (between the Banjo Stage and Arrow Meadow) and McClaren Pass (between the Horseshoe Hill and Swan Stages).

An on-site medical team will be available.  The nearest hospital is Health Connection St Mary’s Hospital & Medical Center at 450 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA – (415) 750-5785

HSB composts and recycles all waste generated over the weekend. We encourage you to help us move closer to being a Zero Waste event by disposing your items in the designated receptacles or pack out what you brought in!

We will be selling HSB t-shirts and merchandise from most artists. Merch booths will be located only at Arrow Meadow, and the Foggy Bottom Cafe. 

Lost and found is located at all three Info booths (see map).

HSB is cashless, please use credit or debit cards at our merchandise & food concessions. There will be no ATMs onsite.

This year we expect the park service to run their shuttle service. 

Yes, we have bike parking available. Stay tuned for our 2025 Bike Parking Map.   

There is no bike valet service and bike parking is at your own risk. HSB is not responsible for missing or stolen property.

If you park on the street, please respect the neighborhood and DO NOT block driveways! Parking in the neighborhoods surrounding Golden Gate Park is EXTREMELY limited. We highly encourage taking public transport, ride-sharing, biking or walking instead of driving. It is very important that we all respect the neighbors around the park – do NOT block driveways, clean up after yourselves, and keep noise levels down. Remember that people live here and do not use yards as toilets or trash cans.


Similar to last year, we expect paid parking, run by local PTAs, to be available on a first come first serve basis at a few lots on Saturday and Sunday.  Last year those lots included:

    • George Washington High School – 600 32nd Ave. [enter at 30th Ave. between Geary & Anza]
    • Argonne – 680 18th Ave. [enter at Cabrillo between 17th Ave. and 18th Ave.]
    • Lawton Alternative School – 1570 31st Ave. [Enter 30th Ave. between Kirkham and Lawton]
    • Lafayette Elementary – 4545 Anza St.[Enter 36th between Anza and Balboa]
    • SFUSD Admin Campus – 750 25th Avenue [Enter 25th Ave. between Cabrillo and Balboa] 

Please note: the above lots are independently owned and operated – HSB cannot guarantee access to parking on the dates / times specified.

GETTING TO HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT?
Muni serves the north side of Golden Gate Park with the 5 Fulton, 5R Fulton Rapid, 31 Balboa, 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid buses; the south side of the park is served by the N Judah train and the 7 Haight/Noriega bus; the 29 Sunset runs through the park on Crossover Drive.
There will be extra Muni service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Regular fares apply.
Please check back closer to the event for information about which routes are running extra buses.

Avoid long lines and save money on transit using Clipper Mobile. https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/pay-with-phone
MuniMobile is another resource that helps you buy your tickets for any Muni service before you ride. 

Additional resources:

Muni – website

BART – website

511.org – website

Caltrain – website

Taxi stands will be located at:
Fulton from 22nd to 24th


Ride-sharing drop-off and pick-up locations:
Pickups and Drop Offs around Washington High School on both 30th Ave between Anza and Balboa and on Balboa between 30th and 31st.


Pickups on Irving between 25th and 27th Ave
Please note: Due to the large amounts of traffic coming to and from the park, Ride-Sharing apps will only allow pin drops from the designated pick-up area, so you should make your way to the drop-off/pick-up location before calling for your ride.

As you head to the park, stop by a local shop for your favorite snacks and drinks, or continue the celebration post-festival with dinner at a nearby restaurant or bar. Shop local in the merchant corridors on Balboa Street, Clement Street,  and in the Inner Sunset

 

Please call the Chamber of Commerce, use a travel site or contact the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau for assistance. Visitors can book rooms directly on www.sfvisitor.org or request assistance from the Visitor Information Center – 415-391-2000 (toll free at 888-782-9673 (STAY-N-SF)).

Sorry, there is no camping allowed in Golden Gate Park. There is a campground in The Presidio – Rob Hill Campground: http://www.presidio.gov/explore/Pages/rob-hill-campground.aspx and an RV park by Candlestick park: http://sanfranciscorvpark.com/

You can expect the following streets to be closed in the lead up to and during the event.

  • JFK Dr. between Transverse Dr. and Bernice Rogers Dr.
  • 36th Ave. between Fulton and JFK Dr.
  • 30th Ave. between Fulton and JFK Dr.
  • Transverse Dr. between Crossover Dr. (25th Ave.) and MLK Dr. Overlook Dr. between Transverse and Middle Drive West
  • Middle Drive West between Transverse and Martin Luther King Jr.   Drive
  • Metson Drive between Middle Drive West and MLK
  • Parking area at Polo Fields at North Stables and on Metson drive (south side of Polo fields)
  • MLK Westbound Between 25th Ave. and Chain of Lakes
Accessibility at HSB

Our event takes place in a large area within Golden Gate Park.  It covers a lot of space and encompasses many types of terrain, including grassy fields, sandy pathways, paved walkways, potholes etc. Please come prepared to enjoy your day in the park and understand it will take time to get around.

Print the Map

  • Parking for vehicles with disability placards, license plates or other demarcation is along JFK, west of Chain of Lakes, available on a first come, first served basis.
  • Shuttle stops are:
    • JFK & Bernice Rodgers Way
    • JFK & Chain of Lakes
    • JFK near Gate 3 entry
    • GGP Senior Center- 6101 Fulton Street.
  • If you arrive at the bus stop, please make your way to the Senior Center pick up point
    • Hours of operation are Fri Oct 4, 10:30am-7:30pm, and Sat Oct 5 and Sun Oct 6, 8:30am to 7:30pm.

There is a Fulton Bus Stop at 36th and Fulton.  When you If you arrive at the bus stop, please make your way to the Senior Center pick up point. 6101 Fulton at 36th.

Hours of operation are Fri Oct 3, 10:30am-7:30pm, and Sat Oct 4 and Sun Oct 5, 8:30am to 7:30pm.

  • Accessibility Ambassadors are to be found in a tent along JFK and 36th Ave, adjacent to Gate 3.
  • The Ambassadors can answer questions and will distribute wristbands to guests with mobility issues. Wristbands provide golf cart access up and down JFK. Wristbands are limited to the attendee with disability and one companion.

To request a golf cart ride inside the event, attendees will text their name, location and destination to the phone number provided by the HSB Accessibility Ambassador.

This service is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. If you are unable to text, please make sure you have a wristband and wait at one of the assigned stops on JFK. 

DO NOT TRY TO FLAG DOWN GOLF CARTS, THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.  We will have one wheelchair accessible and three standard golf carts dedicated to assist those with disabilities, these will be clearly labeled for your convenience. Hours of operation for cart service is from the opening of doors until approximately 6:15pm when all vehicle and golf cart access on JFK is halted for crowd safety due to heavy public congestion, resuming again approximately 45 minutes later, and ending golf cart service at 7:30pm.

Note that some performances continue until 7pm.  While we cannot accept requests after 6:15, once golf cart service resumes at approximately 7:15 we will bring any remaining concertgoers WITH ADA WRISTBANDS from the cart stops on JFK to the shuttle stop at Gate 3. The shuttle will return attendees to ADA placard parking.

Accessible golf cart stops are all on JFK. They consist of:

1) Lloyd Lake (pedestrian path) for Banjo and Arrow,

2) Marx Meadow for Rooster,

3) 30th Ave for Swan and Towers of Gold

4) 36th and JFK – Event Entrance

 

 

Blankets & Low Chairs

You may bring blankets and low chairs. Blanket/groundcover size is limited to 5 x 7 feet due to space restrictions. Blankets and groundcovers left unoccupied for more than an hour will be subject to removal.

It is ok to bring more than one bag, please be reasonable to keep lines moving at entries.

Local Food & Beverage vendors are on hand in four locations:

  • Arrow Food Meadow
  • JFK Food Trucks
  • JFK Flats
  • Porch Stage Area

See all vendors

Please respect the people around you by keeping your talking volume reasonable so that everyone can hear the music.

Unauthorized sales, solicitation, and distribution are prohibited.

Please do not sell alcohol, drugs, or any sort of wares – only HSB-approved vendors will be allowed.

Please respect our neighbors in the Richmond and Sunset districts – don’t block driveways, don’t litter, don’t use front or backyards as bathrooms, etc. The happiness of our neighbors is VITAL to the continued success of HSB!

Please pack out anything you bring into the park. Recycling and composting will be available – please make sure to use these services!

Please do not lock bikes to trees or fences. Self bike parking will be available – see the bike parking and entry map.

 

There will be a sweep of the park by waste management each evening (which means no saving spaces for the following day). Do NOT leave items behind. 

There will be a sweep of the park by waste management each evening (which means no saving spaces for the following day). Do NOT leave items behind. 

The safety and health of our staff, patrons and artists are of utmost importance, and we will continue to update our policies to provide a safe concert experience for everyone. As health department directives are updated, we will continue to revise our policies.

Cameras are ok (no tripods or intrusive equipment please).

No alcohol will be for sale in the park, however, alcohol is allowed as per park rules: no hard alcohol or glass is allowed; beer and wine in non-glass containers ONLY. Any hard alcohol brought to the gathering will be confiscated by SFPD and violators may be subject to fine. 

There will also be vendors on-site selling food and non-alcoholic beverages.

A City-wide ordinance (Health Code Section 1009.81) went into effect in 2005, prohibiting smoking in all public parks. Smoking is not allowed in any area in Golden Gate Park.

Dogs are allowed as per park rules (on leash, etc.) Dogs should be comfortable with large crowds and loud music. Please clean up after your dogs!

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is family-friendly. Make sure you have the appropriate ear protectoin for very young children. There will be large crowds and loud music, so be prepared for that.

Sorry, Golden Gate Park is a No Drone Zone, as per official park rules & regulations.

Aisles and walkways must be kept clear at all times.

Dress comfortably and remember to be prepared for sun or fog!

Please be aware of personal items. HSB cannot assume responsibility for lost or stolen items.

More info is here:  http://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/

We do not issue press passes. Photography is fine, but no professional video shooting is allowed due to artist requests.
For press inquiries please contact Jim Merlis at jim@bighassle.com.

We do not issue press passes. Photography is fine, but no professional video shooting is allowed due to artist requests.
For press inquiries please contact Jim Merlis at jim@bighassle.com.

Need more info? Email questions@hardlystrictlybluegrass.org


If you have neighborhood comments or complaints during the festival, please contact our Community Hotline 415-406-9014.