SAN FRANCISCO — Hardly Strictly Bluegrass returns to Golden Gate Park Oct. 2–4 with six stages of free music across Hellman Hollow, Lindley Meadow and Marx Meadow.
The 2026 schedule is live, so festivalgoers can now plan around exact set times as well as entrances, transportation and event rules. No ticket is required. Entrances open at 11 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with performances ending at 7 p.m. each day.
Which days are My Morning Jacket, Rilo Kiley and Robert Plant playing?
The current festival schedule places My Morning Jacket on Friday, Oct. 2, Rilo Kiley on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian on Sunday, Oct. 4. All three are scheduled for the Towers of Gold Stage.
Set times can still be adjusted, so anyone planning a trip around one artist should check the organizer’s live schedule again on the day of the performance rather than relying on a saved screenshot.
Where are the festival entrances?
HSB lists four main entrances: JFK Drive and Transverse Drive; Fulton Street and 30th Avenue; JFK Drive and 36th Avenue; and the South Polo Field entrance at Middle Drive and Metson Road.
HSB says security measures include body scanners and bags may be searched.
What is the easiest way to get to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass?
Transit is more predictable than trying to park close to the festival. SFMTA plans additional N Judah service from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, extra 5 Fulton buses Saturday and Sunday, extra outbound 5R Fulton Rapid service all three days and extra 28 19th Avenue service Saturday and Sunday.
From 6 to 8:30 p.m. each night, extra inbound 5R buses will carry riders from Fulton and 30th Avenue toward Civic Center/UN Plaza. Regular routes near the festival — including the N, 5, 5R, 7, 18, 28, 29 and 44 — are also likely to be busy.
For ride-hail passengers, SFMTA identifies pickup and drop-off areas around Washington High School near 30th Avenue and Balboa Street, plus another pickup area on Irving between 25th and 27th avenues.
Where are the taxi stand and bike parking?
SFMTA is setting up a temporary taxi stand on Fulton Street from 22nd to 24th avenues. Lyft will operate a bike valet at JFK Drive and Transverse Drive, and SFMTA lists a temporary virtual e-bike station on Middle Drive near the south entrance.
Can you drive and park near HSB?
You can, but the organizer describes parking in the Richmond and Sunset neighborhoods around Golden Gate Park as extremely limited and encourages public transportation, walking, biking or rideshare instead.
Drivers approaching San Francisco from the south should also know that Caltrans has expanded this weekend’s I-280 work: both directions near the US-101 interchange are scheduled to drop to one lane beginning Friday night.
Which roads inside Golden Gate Park will be closed?
SFMTA lists closures affecting portions of JFK Drive, 36th Avenue, 30th Avenue, Transverse Drive, Overlook Drive, Middle Drive West and Metson Drive, along with the Polo Fields parking area at the North Stables and the south side of Metson Drive.
What can you bring into Hardly Strictly Bluegrass?
HSB allows one bag and one personal item per person. Large clear bags can be up to 22 by 15 by 10 inches; small purses and fanny packs can be up to 6 by 8 by 3 inches. Refillable water bottles, small soft coolers and small blankets or ground coverings are also permitted within the organizer’s rules.
One detail is inconsistent on HSB’s own current FAQ: its allowed-items section gives one blanket-size limit while a later blanket section gives a smaller limit. If you plan to bring a larger blanket or groundcover, check the live permitted-items page before leaving rather than relying on a saved copy of the rule.
Hard coolers, glass, hard liquor, umbrellas, tents, high-back chairs, personal instruments, drones and several other items are prohibited. Low chairs may be brought but are subject to additional screening.
What food is available at Hardly Strictly?
HSB says nearly 50 local food and beverage vendors are scheduled across the park in 2026, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options among the listings. Festival food and merchandise concessions are cashless.
Is there a Hardly Strictly Bluegrass livestream?
Yes. HSB says HSBTV will livestream every act on all six main stages every day. The stages listed by the festival are Banjo, Swan, Towers of Gold, Rooster, Arrow and Horseshoe Hill.
What could still change before festival weekend?
SFMTA says transportation information remains subject to change as the event approaches. Visitors should recheck live transit alerts, the organizer’s schedule and permitted-items page before leaving for Golden Gate Park.