Frequently Asked Questions About Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
• Where is Yerba Buena Gardens located?
• Do I need a ticket or
reservations?
• When are concerts held?
• How do I get there?
• Is there parking?
• What seating is available?
• What services are provided
for seniors and disabled patrons?
• Are food and drink available?
Can I bring my own?
• Is alcohol permitted?
• Are there restrooms,
public phones, first aid, ATM’s and water?
• Are pets allowed?
• Where is the lost and
found?
• What else do I need to
know?
• What if it looks like rain?
• I have more questions—who
can I call?
• How can my band/group
perform at the Festival?
• How do I rent the Esplanade
or other spaces at Yerba Buena Gardens?
• Do I need a permit to
hold a film or photo shoot in the Gardens?
• What is the relationship between the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and other arts organizations in the Yerba Buena district, such as the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), and Zeum?
• Why are the concerts at 12:30 when most people have lunch breaks at noon?
Where is Yerba Buena Gardens located?
Yerba Buena Gardens is a two-block complex bordered by Mission, Folsom, 3rd and 4th Streets in San Francisco. This unique outdoor venue includes a 5.5 acre lawn, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Waterfall, the Sister City Garden, and several striking sculptures.
Unless otherwise indicated, all programs of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival are FREE of admission and take place on the Yerba Buena Gardens Esplanade, at Mission between 3rd and 4th Streets.
The Children’s Garden is at Howard and 4th Streets, near the historic Looff Carousel.
See Getting Here for Yerba Buena Gardens area maps.
Do I need a ticket or reservations?
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival programs taking place in Yerba Buena Gardens are FREE of admission and no reservations are needed.
When are concerts held?
Our regular season runs from May through October. Please see our Calendar for dates and times.
How do I get there?
We encourage the use of public transportation.
Yerba Buena Gardens is a short distance of approximately 2 blocks from the BART/MUNI Powell and Montgomery Street Stations. Convenient MUNI bus lines include the 14-Mission, 15-3rd, 30-Stockton, 45-Union and all Market Street routes. The CalTrain Station at 4th and Townsend is served directly by MUNI's 30 Stockton which stops on 3rd Street at Howard and at Mission. Yerba Buena Gardens is also convenient to Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans and AC Transit downtown bus routes.
All venues are fully ADA accessible.
Getting to
From the East Bay: Take Interstate 80 and exit at Fremont Street. Take an immediate left from Fremont onto Howard Street and get into the right lane. Go two blocks and turn right on 3rd Street Yerba Buena Gardens will be on your left immediately across 3rd Street from SFMOMA.
From the Peninsula: Take Highway 101 until it connects to Interstate 80 and exit at 4th Street; 4th Street immediately leads onto Bryant Street. Take a left from Bryant onto 3rd Street Yerba Buena Gardens will be on your left between Howard and Mission Streets and immediately across 3rd Street from SFMOMA.
From the North Bay: Take Highway 101 to Lombard Street. Follow Lombard to Van Ness Avenue and turn right; follow Van Ness until you reach Golden Gate Avenue and turn left. Follow Golden Gate as it crosses Market Street onto 6th Street. Turn left from 6th Street onto Folsom Street and follow Folsom up to 3rd Street; turn left onto 3rd Yerba Buena Gardens will be on your left between Howard and Mission Streets and immediately across 3rd Street from SFMOMA. See Getting Here for Yerba Buena Gardens area maps.
See Getting Here for Yerba Buena Gardens area maps.
Is there parking?
There are a number of parking garages in the area; however, visitors are encouraged to use public transportation. The closest and largest garage is the 5th and Mission Garage (415-982-8522). Parking is also available at the Jessie Square Garage on Stevenson Street (415-978-9634) between 3rd and 4th Streets. Please note that parking availability in this busy downtown area can vary widely due to conventions, holidays, etc.
What seating is available?
Most events are designed for comfortable picnic style lawn seating. We have very limited chair seating, provided primarily for seniors and individuals who have a physical need for a chair. You may bring your own seating but please be considerate by bringing low folding chairs.
What services are provided for seniors and disabled patrons?
A limited number of chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each senior or disabled patron may be accompanied by one other person. All unoccupied seats become available for general seating. Wheelchairs are accommodated.
Are food and drink available? Can I bring my own?
Picnics are welcome and encouraged, but cooking and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. There is an abundance of food service providers in the vicinity ranging from fast food to high-end dining. Visit our Links page for a list of local restaurants.
Is alcohol permitted?
No.
Are there restrooms, public phones, first aid, ATM's, and water?
Yes. Please see Site Map or ask Yerba Buena Gardens personnel for directions. For first aid, contact the Yerba Buena Gardens Management Office at (415) 820-3550.
Are pets allowed?
No. Service animals are welcome.
Where is the Lost & Found?
Lost & Found is located at the Yerba Buena Gardens Management office, on the Terrace Level above the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Waterfall. Come by or call (415) 820-3550.
What else do I need to know?
- Dress comfortably and remember to be prepared for both sun and fog - San Francisco is a place where one may experience all four seasons in a single afternoon!
- Blankets and tarps will be limited in size to 8' x 8'. Unoccupied blankets will be subject to removal and can be collected at Lost & Found.
- Please turn off cell phones during performances and move out of the audience area while using a mobile device.
- Please do not bring pets, bicycles, rollerblades, or beach umbrellas. Professional photo or video camera gear, telephoto lenses, tape recorders and flash photography are not allowed without advance permission by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, Gardens Management and the artists.
- Please be aware of personal items. The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival or Yerba Buena Gardens Management cannot assume responsibility for lost or stolen items.
- Backstage areas are restricted to authorized personnel.
- Unauthorized sales, solicitation, and distribution of printed materials and products are prohibited.
- By attending the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, each person consents that the Festival may photograph, film, videotape, record, or otherwise reproduce the image and/or voice of such person and use the same for any purpose whatsoever without any payment or liability to such person. Recording/photography of performers is strictly prohibited.
- Gardens Management reserves the right to revoke admission.
- Yerba Buena Gardens is managed in accordance with the San Francisco Parks Code.
- Smoking is not allowed in Yerba Buena Gardens.
What if it looks like rain?
Please call Yerba Buena Arts & Events at (415) 543-1718 on the day of the program to receive updated information.
I have more questions—who can I call?
Please call Yerba Buena Arts & Events at (415) 543-1718 or send an email to info@ybgf.org.
How can my band/group perform at the Festival?
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival accepts unsolicited materials from artists. We are always interested in hearing from artists who perform in outdoor venues, especially those composing their own music or creating site-specific theater or dance.
Send electronic press kits to info@ybae.org.
Please do not mail a press kit unless an electronic press kit is unavailable. Press kits can be mailed to:
Artistic Director
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
760 Howard,
San Francisco, CA 94103
Materials will be returned only if accompanied by a postage-paid self-addressed envelope.
The Festival reviews all materials received; however, due to the high volume, we cannot guarantee someone will respond personally to your submission.
How do I rent the Esplanade or other spaces at Yerba Buena Gardens?
Do I need a permit to hold a film or photo shoot in the Gardens?
Yes, please contact our office at (415) 543-1718 for details.
What is the relationship between the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and other arts organizations in the Yerba Buena district, such as the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, YBCA, and Zeum?
We often partner with our neighbors on specific projects or events; however, we are all independent non-profit arts organizations. Please see the Links page for contact information for our neighbors.
Why are the concerts at 12:30 when most people have lunch breaks at noon?
The bells at St. Patrick's Church directly across the street from the Esplanade ring at 12:15 every day. Our concerts start afterwards as to not be interrupted.
Additional Information Links
Festival Calendar
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
3
Rupa and the April Fishes |
4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 |
8
Public Notice |
9
Larry Vuckovich Quartet |
10
Los Vasallos del Sol |
11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
17
Artists Guild Unbound Chinatown |
18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
24
Gamelan Sekar Jaya |
25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 |
29
Mo’Rockin Project |
30 | 31 |
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
produced by Yerba Buena Arts & Events
760 Howard Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Phone: 415 543 1718
Fax: 415 543 1755
info@ybgf.org
www.myspace.com/ybgfestival