Entrances will open on Friday at 11 a.m., and at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Attendees are asked to enter via any of these four openings:
- JFK Drive and Transverse Drive.
- Fulton Street and 30th Avenue.
- JFK Drive and 36th Avenue.
- South Polo Field.
Here is a map of entrances, bathrooms and more:
Performances end daily at 7 p.m.
It gets crowded at Hardly Strictly, so it’s good to get there early to claim your spot (although this might make subsequent stage-hopping hard). There is also a “sweep” of the park by waste management each night after performances end, so you can’t “save your place” the day before.
And it’s Golden Gate Park, so remember: It can get cold — even during the Bay Area’s “second summer.”
What’s the Hardly Strictly schedule, and which artists are playing?
The entire lineup and schedule can be found on the Hardly Strictly website. KQED recommends some of these highlight performers:
- Valerie June, who appeared on KQED Forum last year, where she played some of her tunes that she described as “organic moonshine roots music.”
- Returning Hardly Strictly favorites: Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Buddy Miller, Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
- R&B and blues stars like Bettye LaVette, Irma Thomas, Kingfish.
- Local artists Laurie Lewis and Chuck Prophet.
- Non-bluegrass acts like Beth Orton, The Church, Lucero, Rufus Wainwright, Dawes, Kurt Vile, M. Ward.
What can I bring to Hardly Strictly?
Expect a security presence at Hardly Strictly, meaning body scanners and potential search of bags and coolers. If you haven’t been to HSB for a while, many of these measures will be new to you — including the fences and being asked to enter at the four main entry points (as described above). These security measures were implemented in 2019 after a wave of mass shootings across the U.S. at large events.
Clear bags are recommended for the easiest access. Regular bags (like a non-transparent backpack) over 22″ x 15″ x 10″ will be redirected to a physical search, which will probably cause some delay as you enter the festival.
Soft-sided coolers that are under 9″ x 6″ x 3″ will also go through a normal security search, and will get you through the line quicker. Larger hard-sided coolers, like the one seen in the image above, are “discouraged” and will be searched before you can bring them in — which HSB organizers advise may also cause delays in entering. Organizers say that the festival “reserves the right to reject any cooler for any reason.”
Beer and wine can be brought, but should be in non-glass containers.
Blankets and tarps up to 5′ x 7′ and short-backed chairs are allowed, as well as collapsible wagons.
Dogs are allowed to join in.
You cannot bring:
- Bicycles, scooters, regular skateboards, electric skateboards, Segways, Onewheels or other types of motorized devices inside the venue. (Bicycle parking locations can be found on the map).
- High-backed chairs.
- Tables.
- Tents.
- Umbrellas and shade structures.
- Items with an open flame, firearms, drones, fireworks.
- Kegs, beverages for the purpose of vending.
- Hard alcohol.
- Glass containers.
- Devices for amplified sound, or any item/device that could cause damage or injury.
- Cameras are okay but without tripods or “intrusive equipment.”
Smoking is also not allowed in any area in Golden Gate Park, due to a San Francisco ordinance.
What about food at Hardly Strictly?
Guests are also allowed to bring their own food (just no glass containers).
You can scope out the list of vendors on Hardly Strictly’s website. Plan for things to be cashless. Here is a map of where the vendors will be (PDF).
The Bluegrass General Story is a new feature this year where attendees can pick up picnic supplies, clothing, ice, water and more. There is free water available between Banjo Stage and Arrow Meadow.
Will there be a bus running in the park during Hardly Strictly?
The park service will be running their bus during the music festival. More information about the Hardly Strictly bus route can be found on the Golden Gate Park website.
What does public transit look like during Hardly Strictly?
You can follow SFMTA’s webpage here for the quickest updates for the Muni, including extra services during the festival.
There will also be a post-event service from 6 to 8:30 p.m.: the 5R Fulton Rapid service from Fulton and 30th Avenue to the UN Plaza/Civic Center Station.
These Muni lines will be affected during the weekend: N Judah; 5 Fulton; 5R Fulton Rapid; 7 Haight/Noriega; 18 46th Avenue; 28 19th Avenue; 29 Sunset; and 44 O’Shaughnessy.
These streets will be closed to biking:
- JFK Drive from Transverse to Spreckels.
- Hellman Bike Path.
- Middle Drive Bike Lane.
What roads will be closed around Golden Gate Park?
According to Hardly Strictly’s website, these roads will be closed before and during the event:
- JFK Drive between Transverse Drive and Chain of Lakes Drive.
- 36th Avenue between Fulton and JFK Drive.
- 30th Avenue between Fulton and JFK Drive.
- Transverse Drive between Crossover Drive (25th Avenue) and MLK Drive.
- Overlook Drive between Transverse and Middle Drive West.
- Middle Drive West between Transverse and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
- Metson Drive between Middle Drive West and MLK.
- Parking area at Polo Fields at North Stables and on Metson Drive (south side of Polo fields).
What parking is available at Hardly Strictly?
Hardly Strictly encourages public transportation to the event. If you choose to drive however, there may be paid parking on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Below are the paid parking lots that were available last year, independently owned, so Hardly Strictly cannot guarantee it will be the same this year.
- George Washington High School — 600 32nd Ave. (Enter at 30th Avenue between Geary & Anza).
- Argonne — 680 18th Ave. (Enter at Cabrillo between 17th and 18th avenues).
- Jefferson Elementary School — 1725 Irving St. (Enter on 18th Avenue between Irving and Judah)
- Lawton Alternative School — 1570 31st Ave. (Enter on 30th Avenue between Kirkham and Lawton).
- Lafayette Elementary — 4545 Anza St. (Enter on 36th Avenue between Anza and Balboa).
Remember, if you’re choosing to try to park near Hardly Strictly, break-ins are common in San Francisco — so leave nothing visible in your vehicle, and if at all possible leave your trunk exposed to show it’s empty. Don’t leave any electronics like laptops in your vehicle, even if you think they’re hidden. Read more about how to potentially reduce your risk of getting your car broken into.
During Hardly Strictly, the SFMTA will enforce blocked driveways “on a complaint basis only,” says SFMTA. Of course, that’s not giving you free rein to block a person’s driveway — they’ll almost certainly make that complaint and have you towed if they don’t recognize your car.
How does rideshare pickup/drop-off work at Hardly Strictly?
There will be taxi stands at Fulton from 22nd Avenue to 24th Avenue.
There are pickups and drop-offs for rideshare around “Washington High School on both 30th Avenue between Anza and Balboa and on Balboa between 30th and 31st [avenues],” according to the Hardly Strictly website.
There are pickups on Irving between 25th Avenue and 27th Avenue.
“Due to the large amounts of traffic coming to and from the park, ridesharing apps will only allow pin drops from the designated pickup area, so you should make your way to the drop-off/pickup location before calling for your ride,” the website notes.
What should I know about accessibility at Hardly Strictly?
Guests who seek accessibility can get a wristband. This map highlights accessible services at Hardly Strictly, like entrances, viewing spots and accessible portable bathrooms. There are also shuttles throughout the park, the stops include:
- JFK and Bernice Rodgers Way.
- JFK and Chain of Lakes.
- JFK near the Gate 3 entry.
- GGP Senior Center — 6101 Fulton St.
For ADA parking, rideshare and paratransit drop-off, you should enter from Fulton/43rd Avenue or Lincoln/41st Avenue onto Chain of Lakes Drive E.
The Accessibility Ambassador tent is at “JFK and 36th Ave., adjacent to Gate 3 at Spreckels Lake,” according to their website. You will get a number at the tent to text, in case you need to request a golf cart to reach you.
Accessible golf-cart stops are along JFK:
- Lloyd Lake (pedestrian path) for Banjo and Arrow.
- Marx Meadow for Rooster.
- 30th Avenue for Swan and Towers of Gold.
There will be a medical team at the festival. The nearest hospital is Health Connection St. Mary’s Hospital & Medical Center at 450 Stanyan St.
What should I do in a crowd?
Crowds can be overwhelming for some people. With past tragic incidents at other festivals, it does not hurt to be cautious and prepared. Read NPR’s full guide on what to do if you find yourself caught in a crowd crush.
According to Mehdi Moussaïd, a research scientist in Berlin who studies crowd behavior, rely on your instincts and senses if you feel like the crowd is getting too dense. If you get stuck in a crush, move with the crowd and put your arms out in front of your chest and hold them there.
“In this position, you would have some space, just a little bit, to push for half a centimeter or just 1 centimeter — enough for you to keep breathing,” Moussaïd told NPR in 2022. “It’s not going to be comfortable. You’re going to be feeling really bad, but at least you’ll survive.”
