Summer in The City: San Francisco’s Free Outdoor Concert, Film, and Theater Series

July 2, 2007

Summertime and the livin’ is easy–and free, thanks to more than 300 al fresco performances and film screenings in parks around the city. Join the locals and head outdoors for live music under the San Francisco sun, and screenings under the stars.

Del Monte Square Film Festival
See movies made in and about San Francisco through the decades at free outdoor screenings at The Cannery at Del Monte Square, every Sunday in August at 8 p.m. The line-up includes Bullitt (Aug. 5), Escape from Alcatraz (Aug. 12), The Presidio (Aug. 19), and The Joy Luck Club (Aug. 26). More Info: delmontesquare.com

Film Night in the Park
Every summer, Film Night in the Park draws more than 15,000 film-goers to some of San Francisco’s most beloved parks, including Dolores Park, Washington Square Park, and Union Square. Films are presented free of charge on a giant outdoor screen. Upcoming flicks include Sixteen Candles (July 21), Annie Hall (Aug. 4), 8 1/2 (Aug. 25), Rebel Without a Cause (Sept. 15), and Sunset Boulevard (Oct. 6). More Info: sfneighborhoodtheater.org

Free Shakespeare in the Park
This September, the parade grounds at the Presidio of San Francisco are the setting for Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, a delightful tale of fairies, romantic pursuits, and a triple wedding. One of the major free Shakespeare programs in the U.S., Free Shakespeare in the Park began in 1983. The 25th season runs Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day, September 1-23. More info: sfshakes.org

Golden Gate Park Band Concerts
Regular band concerts have been a tradition in Golden Gate Park since 1882. This summer, the Golden Gate Park Band performs every Sunday and occasional holidays at 1 p.m. in the Spreckles Temple of Music, on the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. History comes alive at the many performances that feature music from specific nationalities and cultures with traditional dancers, singers, and speakers. The grand finale on October 14 is an all-request concert. More Info: goldengateparkband.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe
It’s not THAT kind of mime troupe–this is mime as in the exaggeration of everyday life through story and song. This group has a lot to say and they’ve been doing so since 1959. Winners of a special Tony Award in 1987 for Excellence in Regional Theater, the San Francisco Mime Troupe specializes in shows that, in their words, debunk the official story. Their new play, Making a Killing, follows two army newspaper reporters assigned to write a puff piece on the construction of an American-funded hospital in Iraq. Shows begin on July 4 in San Francisco and travel to parks (and a few indoor locations) all over the Bay Area, Central Valley, and Santa Cruz until September 23; most performances are free. More info: sfmt.org

SFJAZZ Summerfest
SFJAZZ’s annual series of free outdoor concerts kicks off in San Francisco in August and runs through October 10. Every Thursday evening in August, enjoy live jazz and a wine garden in Union Square, from 6-7:30 p.m. Entertainers range from Lavay Smith and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers to Zydeco Flames. In September and October, Levi’s Plaza reverberates with jazz riffs and Latin rhythms every Wednesday from noon-1:30 p.m. Among those performing are the Kat Parra Latin Jazz Ensemble, Zadell, the Mitch Marcus Quintent, and the Joel Dorham Latin Jazz Octet. More info: sfjazz.org

Stern Grove Festival
Humming, thrumming, even hip-hopping along in its 70th season of world-class, admission-free outdoor performances, the Stern Grove Festival is a beloved San Francisco tradition that began in 1938. Every Sunday at 2 p.m. through August 19, the festival presents a wide range of artists including the San Francisco Symphony, Opera, and Ballet, Os Mutantes, and Hugh Masekela. Hands-on art programs also precede every concert at the Kidstage in the West Meadow from noon-1 p.m. Weekday Kids’ Days programs at various locations throughout the Bay Area invite children to explore music and more; registration is required for these admission-free programs. More info: sterngrove.org

Woman’s Will
This all-female Shakespeare company turns the tables on the male-only casts of Shakespeare’s time with their version of Romeo and Juliet. San Francisco performances take place August 3 and 4 in Yerba Buena Gardens, and August 11 and 12 at Dolores Park. More info: womanswill.org

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
A splendid array of 100 events unfolds from May through October at Yerba Buena Gardens. Opera, performance art, international music concerts, dance performances, children’s programs, theatre, visual arts, puppet shows, cultural festivals, special events, classical and jazz concerts–hardly a day passes without something scheduled. This hothouse of culture also includes the San Francisco Theater Festival on July 22, with 70 professional theater groups performing on 10 stages from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info: ybgf.org

For many more free events in San Francisco, check out our events calendar.