Diana Ross performs at Stern Grove in San Francisco on Aug. 17, 2025.

No disrespect to Outside Lands or Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, but few San Francisco musical traditions are as universally beloved as Stern Grove Festival. Every summer from June to August, Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove at the edge of the Parkside and West Portal neighborhoods transforms into the hottest music venue in town. It identifies as the longest-running free music festival in the country, operating since 1938 — a tall claim, but who are we to disagree?

This year’s lineup, announced........

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