SAN FRANCISCO — Yerba Buena Gardens is hosting a free city-center Diwali celebration Sunday, Nov. 8 with a lineup spanning classical and contemporary South Asian music and dance.
The San Francisco Diwali Festival is presented by Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy in partnership with Creative Collective SF and is listed as free and all ages.
Who is performing?
The announced lineup features Alam Khan, a two-time Grammy-nominated artist, along with Raaga School of Music, Rang De Bollywood Dance Company, DJ Mumbai Rani and The Dhol King.
Yerba Buena Gardens says performances will run through the day. The event also includes a curated group of local makers and artisan vendors plus food.
Do you need tickets?
The organizer describes the event as a free outdoor celebration. No general-admission ticket requirement is listed on the official event announcement.
Where is the festival?
The festival is at Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco. The location is within walking distance of several Market Street and SoMa transit options, including nearby BART/Muni Metro stations.
If you are combining this event with another downtown stop, check Muni and BART conditions shortly before leaving; weekend service changes can alter the fastest route even when the event itself does not require a street closure.
How is this different from the Nov. 13 Diwali night market?
San Francisco has multiple Diwali-related events this season. This Nov. 8 festival is a daytime-style cultural celebration centered on performances, makers and food at Yerba Buena Gardens. Bhangra & Beats is a separate free night market scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13 across the Yerba Buena area.