Yerba Buena Gardens Festival | Programs by Type

Programs by Type

The 2009 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival features nearly 100 events, including classical and jazz concerts, opera, international music events, theater, dance, children's and family programs, visual art exhibits, educational programs and cultural events.  All events in Yerba Buena Gardens are FREE to the public!

Please click on the event title for additional information.

Weekend Sessions

Patrick Makuakane’s
Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu + Special Guests

Saturday, May 2 Sunday, September 27, 1–2:30pm

The Glories of Arab Music

Saturday, May 9, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

Artists Guild

Saturday, May 9, 9am–5pm, East Garden

Direct from Taiwan!
O-Kai A Cappella Singers + Hsieh Yuwei Ensemble

Sunday, May 10, 1pm–3pm

ShadowLight Theater Wayang Bali

Saturday, May 16, 8–9pm

The Sephardic Music Project

Saturday, May 23, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

Circus Bella

Saturday, May 30, Noon & 2:15pm
meet the artists following 2nd show

Israel in the Gardens Festival

Sunday, June 7, 11am–5pm

Realistic Orchestra

Saturday, June 13, 1–2:30pm

Direct from Venezuela!
Maestros of the Joropo Oriental + Venezuelan Music Project

Saturday, June 20, 1–3pm

Native Contemporary Arts Festival

Sunday, June 21, Noon–3pm

Merola's Schwabacher Summer Concert

Sunday, July 12, 2–4pm

KulArts’ Ibig: Pulse of Desire

Saturday & Sunday, July 18 & 19, 1–2pm

San Francisco Theater Festival

Sunday, July 26, 11am–5pm

Afro Solo’s Jazz in the Gardens

Saturday, August 1, 1–4pm

Pistahan

Saturday & Sunday, August 8 & 9, 11am–5pm

Rio de Janeiro, Pagode to Jazz

Saturday, August 15, 1–3pm

50^th Anniversary!
San Francisco Mime Troupe

Sunday, August 16, 2pm
pre-show music at 1:30pm

Patrick Ball’s
Legendary Music: Tales of the Celtic Harp

Saturday, August 22, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra

Saturday, August 29, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

Gamelan Sekar Jaya + Pusaka Sunda

Saturday, September 5, 1–3pm

Yosvany Terry

Saturday, September 12, 1–2:30pm

Artists Guild

Saturday, September 12, 9am–5pm, East Garden

Queens of New Orleans

Saturday, September 19, 1–3pm
(Narrated program.)

Linda Tillery & the Cultural Heritage Choir

Saturday, September 26, 1–2:30pm

Patrick Makuakane’s
Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu + Special Guests

Sunday, September 27, 1–2:30pm

Francisco Aguabella Latin Jazz Ensemble
+ Bay Area Latin Jazz All-Stars

Sunday, October 4, 12:30–3:30pm

Target Family Day

Sunday, October 18, 11am–4pm

Gardens Halloween Costume Walk

Saturday, October 31, Noon–2pm

 

Thursday Lunchtime Concerts

Mads Tolling Quartet (Jazz)

Thursday, June 4, 12:30–1:30pm

Consulate of Sweden Presents
Eva-Lotta Ohlsson & Linda Dahl-Laursen (Classical)

Thursday, June 18, 12:30–1:30pm

Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble (Jazz)

Thursday, June 25, 12:30–1:30pm

Hafez Modir's Sound Come-Unity! (Jazz)

Thursday, July 2, 12:30–1:30pm

Nefasha Ayer (World)

Thursday, July 9, 12:30–1:30pm

France: Eric John Kaiser (World)

Thursday, July 16, 12:30–1:30pm

Tango No. 9 (Tango)

Thursday, July 23, 12:30–1:30pm

John Worley & WorlView (Jazz)

Thursday, July 30, 12:30–1:30pm

Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble (Jazz)

Thursday, August 6, 12:30–1:30pm

Tom Rigney & Flambeau (Cajun)

Thursday, August 13, 12:30–1:30pm

Nader DeAik (World)

Thursday, August 20, 12:30–1:30pm

Mexico: Los Soneros de la Bahía

Thursday, August 27, 12:30–1:30pm

Akira Tana & Sound Circle (Jazz)

Thursday, September 10, 12:30–1:30pm

Japan: TBA

Thursday, September 17, 12:30–1:30pm

Nice Guy Trio (Jazz)

Thursday, September 24, 12:30–1:30pm

Maria Volonte (Tango)

Thursday, October 1, 12:30–1:30pm

 

Children’s Garden Series

Caterpillar Puppets

11am & 12:15pm
Fridays, June 5, July 31, August 28
Saturdays, June 27, July 25, August 22

The Unique Derique

11am & 12:15pm
Fridays, June 12, July 10, August 7
Saturdays, June 13, July 18, August 15

Charlie Chin’s California Sing-Along

11am & 12:15pm
Fridays, June 19, July 17, August 14

Chelle! & Friends

11am & 12:15pm
Fridays, June 26, July 24, August 21

Venezuelan Music Project

11am & 12:15pm
Friday, July 3
Saturdays June 6, August 1

Balamcoatl: Mesoamerican Music & Dance

Noon—1pm
Saturdays, June 20, July 11, August 29
(Narrated program.)

Gardens Halloween Costume Walk

Noon—2pm
Saturday, October 31

 

Latin Jazz Series

Kat Parra’s Sephardic Music Project

Saturday, May 23, 1–2:30pm

Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble

Thursday, June 25, 12:30–1:30pm

Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble

Thursday, August 6, 12:30–1:30pm

Yosvany Terry

Saturday, September 12, 1–2:30pm

Maria Volonte

Thursday, October 1, 12:30–1:30pm

Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band
+ Bay Area Latin Jazz All-Stars

Sunday, October 4, 12:30–3:30pm

 

Music in the Gardens 101

The Glories of Arab Music

Saturday, May 9, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

The Sephardic Music Project

Saturday, May 23, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

Patrick Ball’s
Legendary Music: Tales of the Celtic Harp

Saturday, August 22, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra

Saturday, August 29, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

Queens of New Orleans

Saturday, September 19, 1–3pm
(Narrated program.)

Balamcoatl: Mesoamerican Music & Dance

Saturdays, June 20, July 11, August 29, 12–1pm
(Narrated program.)

 

Theater / Poetry / Spoken Word

ShadowLight Theater Wayang Bali

Saturday, May 16, 8–9pm

Circus Bella

Saturday, May 30, Noon & 2:15pm
meet the artists following 2nd show

TODCO Poets

Tuesday, July 21, 12:30–1:30pm

San Francisco Theater Festival

Sunday, July 26, 11am–5pm

50^th Anniversary!
San Francisco Mime Troupe

Sunday, August 16, 2pm
pre-show music at 1:30pm

Patrick Ball’s
Legendary Music: Tales of the Celtic Harp

Saturday, August 22, 1–2:30pm
(Narrated program.)

TODCO Poets

Tuesday, August 25, 12:30–1:30pm

 

Dance

Patrick Makuakane’s
Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu + Special Guests

Saturday, May 2, 1–2:30pm

Kugelplex (Klezmer)

Thursday, May 7, 6—7:30pm
Part of the new Let's Go Dance @ Jessie! Series

The Stairwell Sisters (Square Dance)

Thursday, June 4, 6—7:30pm
Part of the new Let's Go Dance @ Jessie! Series

Lavay Smith & the Red Hot Skillet Lickers (Swing)

Thursday, July 2, 6—7:30pm
Part of the new Let's Go Dance @ Jessie! Series

KulArts’ Ibig: Pulse of Desire

Saturday & Sunday, July 18 & 19, 1–2pm

Jesús Díaz & QBA (Salsa)

Thursday, August 6, 6—7:30pm
Part of the new Let's Go Dance @ Jessie! Series

Rio de Janeiro, Pagode to Jazz

Saturday, August 15, 1–3pm

Big Lou’s Polka Casserole (Polka)

Thursday, September 3, 6—7:30pm
Part of the new Let's Go Dance @ Jessie! Series

Gamelan Sekar Jaya + Pusaka Sunda

Saturday, September 5, 1–3pm

BhangraFest (Bhangra)

Thursday, October 1, 6—7:30pm
Part of the new Let's Go Dance @ Jessie! Series

 

Family Festivals & Events

Israel in the Gardens Festival

Sunday, June 7, 11am–5pm

Native Contemporary Arts Festival

Sunday, June 21, Noon–3pm

San Francisco Theater Festival

Sunday, July 26, 11am–5pm

Pistahan

Saturday & Sunday, August 8 & 9, 11am–5pm

Target Family Day

Sunday, October 18, 11am–4pm

 

Let's Go Dance@Jessie

Kugelplex (Klezmer)

Thursday, May 7, 6—7:30pm

The Stairwell Sisters (Square Dance)

Thursday, June 4, 6—7:30pm

Lavay Smith & the Red Hot Skillet Lickers (Swing)

Thursday, July 2, 6—7:30pm

Jesús Díaz & QBA (Salsa)

Thursday, August 6, 6—7:30pm

Big Lou’s Polka Casserole (Polka)

Thursday, September 3, 6—7:30pm

BhangraFest (Bhangra)

Thursday, October 1, 6—7:30pm

 

Special Projects

John Santos’ La Rumba No Es Como Ayer

Taught by John Santos, and presented in partnership with SFJAZZ and MoAD, this low-cost lecture series delves into the evolution, anatomy, and relevance of the Cuban rumba.

YBGF e-News subscribers: For ticket discounts, please call YBGF office, 415-543-1718, for Promotion Code and instructions.

Co-Presented by Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, SFJAZZ and MoAD.

Friday Night @ the deYoung Series

Look for more YBGF & deYoung collaborations in 2009.

Jewels in the Square, Union Square

We will continue to collaborate on marketing and exchange of program ideas with neighboring Jewels in the Square, a free performing arts series at Union Square in downtown San Francisco.

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival | 760 Howard St | San Francisco, CA 94103 | Phone: 415 543 1718 | Fax: 415 543 1755 | info@ybgf.org
produced by Yerba Buena Arts & Events | Festival Photos: John Spicer | ©2010 YBGF