Jerry Day

Love this FREE Day of music! Jerry Day is a must with or without kids. Definitely kid friendly. Bathrooms are easily accessible and fairly clean each year. There’s good trucks if you’re hungry. All around awesome time! Oh… and the music experience is great. Great way to celebrate Jerry!

Living only 2 blocks away from McClaren Park and being a huge Deadhead, this annual event is so inspiring, so peaceful, musical and always a fun time in the sun… I’ve volunteered for the past few years and I’ve never felt so good asking folks for donations!-Stu, Melvin and the rest of the musicians really put on a show that sticks to your ribs! If you’ve not attended one yet, I strongly encourage you to come to it in 2016…“strangers stopping strangers just to shake their hands’…

I’ve been twice now and if you are a fan or want to get a glimpse of what a 1980s dead show was like, head on over for the free concert. It’s crowded but there’s still plenty of room to find you space, in the sun, shade, in the Phil Zone, in front, on the «Jerry side» etc. Stu Allen and Mars Hotel often headline and other guests include Melvin Seals and JGB. It’s always a good vibe here, but parking can be a tad tough, just park further away and walk, ultimately will save time. Be sure and bring a blanket to sit, water, food, and anything else you may want to consume or share. Be kind.

One of the coolest free festivals around! Great bands, good vibe, great location (which I had never been to). The producer, Tom Murphy, does an excellent job!

Been organizing this festival for close to 13 years. The musical icon it honors and the community he built makes it one of the best festivals in San Francisco…

When it comes to outdoor venues in San Francisco, this is one of the most intimate and effective spaces. Jerry Garcia Day was wonderful with fantastic music from so many wonderful musicians. The crowd is like always so very mellow. The one downside is that there was only one booth offering food and nothing vegan/​vegetarian.

I helped BF knock off a «bucket list» event for him… even though he says he doesn’t have a «bucket list».
Even better than the good vibes and contact high– the people watching. I think there are very few people, let alone bands, that attract such a wide range of fans other than Jerry Garcia. From the hipster noe valley couple who were dressed in their best «1969» gap apparel, to the one spinner guy near the stage that looks like he has been at that same spot SINCE 1969.
A couple observations, perhaps enhanced from the contact high:
1. Yuppie mom encouraging her daughter (age, 1.5−2 y/​o) to «kiss kiss» the scariest looking dog I’ve ever seen in MY LIFE. I totally understand wanting to be «urban and open» but come on. She didn’t even inquire with the dogs owner if the spawn from Satan was actually «friendly» or if she could pet it.
2. Hippies fighting. Unimaginable I know. Not sure how or why it started but some old dudes were a pushin’ and shoven’ each other something fierce.
Great music, beautiful park and wonderful event.

Jerry Day is a civic and cultural event that celebrates one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time and San Francisco native son — Jerry Garcia. This event captures the true spirit of Jerry Garcia as we celebrate his legacy, the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, and recognize his Excelsior roots. By uniting the diverse communities of San Francisco through Jerry’s music, we are creating something extraordinary for Jerry’s childhood neighborhood — the Excelsior District, McLaren Park, and the City and County of San Francisco.”
«Happy Jerry Day to all!» — San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
BIG THANK YOU to: Mr Tom Murphy for creating this. One of San Francisco BEST outside concert.

I attended this event yesterday to celebrate a friend’s birthday and of course Jerry’s as well. The surrounding area and park is great, and the amphitheater has surprisingly good sound. It felt like a small extension of Golden Gate Park and the Haight, which I am sure is not surprising for an event dedicated to Jerry Garcia. The major downfalls are the loads of underage kids trying to find free booze and drugs to the point that it’s obnoxious and the hippie adults with no understanding of watching your children as they climb in trees and fall on top of me.
I would keep this on my radar for next year for some good tunes. Perhaps the weather will not be quite as bad next year.