50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love Makes Everything Groovy in San Francisco
- Written by Laurie Armstrong
Just like the Summer of Love did in 1967, its 50th anniversary is gaining momentum. More than 60 festivals, performances, exhibitions and activities have already been planned to celebrate the time that changed San Francisco and the world forever.
At www.summerof.love, the California Historical Society provides the detailed factual and cultural context for this seminal summer through its own exhibition and work with cultural partners. To help visitors plan their “trip,” San Francisco Travel has launched www.summeroflove2017.com, which provides an ever-expanding guide to the whole groovy scene.
Some events this summer are unique to this golden anniversary year. Others happen annually but will have a Summer of Love flavor, either intentionally or by virtue of the fact that they are happening in the birthplace of peace, love and rock and roll. Here are some highlights:
Summer of Love Music
May 5-June 3, 2017
Smuin Debuts Trey McIntyre's Summer of Love-Inspired “Be Here Now”
June 3- 4, 2017
Dead & Company at Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 7-July 2, 2017
“A Night with Janis Joplin” at American Conservatory Theatre
June 10, 2017
Magic Mountain Play Music Festival: “HAIR!” In Concert
June 16-18, 2017
50th Anniversary Monterey International Pop Festival
June 17, 2017
San Francisco Boys Chorus' “Summer of Song”
June 23, 2017
Pier 39's 60's Dance Party
July 21, 2017
Flower Piano "Summer of Love" Sing-along at San Francisco Botanical Garden
July 22, 2017
“The San Francisco Sound” with Joan Baez
August 6, 2017
15th Annual Jerry Day
Summer of Music to Love
May 7-Oct 29, 2017
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
June 2-Aug. 27, 2017
80th Annual Stern Grove Festival
June 3-4, 2017
41st Annual Union Street Music Festival
June 16-17, 2017
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus' “The Gay Kitchen Sink”
July 1-2, 2017
The 33rd Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival
Aug 11-13, 2017
Outside Lands Festival
Oct. 6-8, 2017
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Summer of Love Festivals
March 12 - Oct. 1, 2017
2017 Summer of Love Street Celebrations with It's Your District and Sunday Streets
April 29, 2017
Telegraph Avenue (Berkeley) Summer of Love Street Fair
May 7, 2017
18th Annual How Weird Street Faire: “Summer of Weird”
June 11, 2017
40th Anniversary Haight Ashbury Street Fair
June 24 & 25, 2017
“The Summer of Love: An Art & Music Experience,” the 2017 Italian Street Painting Marin
June 30-July 4, 2017
The Marin County Fair: “Let the Funshine In!”
Summer of Festivals to Love
May 27-28, 2017
Carnaval San Francisco: “El Corazon de San Pancho -- The Heart of San Francisco”
June 1, 2017
Summer of Love NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences
June 24 & 25, 2017
San Francisco Pride, “A Celebration of Diversity”
Summer of Love Exhibitions
Jan. 26, 2017-June 17, 2017
“Jim Marshall's 1967,” at San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries at City Hall
Feb. 8-May 21, 2017
“Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia” at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
April 7-Sept. 27, 2017
“Lavender-Tinted Glasses: A Groovy Gay Look at the Summer of Love” at the GLBT History Museum
April 8-Aug. 20, 2017
“The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion and Rock & Roll” at the de Young Museum
April 26-Aug. 27, 2017
“Summer of Love: Jimi Hendrix” at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)
May 12-Sept. 10, 2017
“On the Road to the Summer of Love” at the California Historical Society
June 23-Oct. 1, 2017
“Flower Power” at the Asian Art Museum
June-Sept., 2017
“Comix from the Summer of Love” at the Cartoon Art Museum
July 15-Oct. 29, 2017
San Francisco Public Library: 50th Anniversary of Love and Haight
Summer of Tours
San Francisco has dozens of tours that cover topics as diverse as the city itself. Several companies have always specialized in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood and the Summer of Love while others have added new itineraries this year to help visitors understand and enjoy the spirit of 1967. All of them promise a good “trip.”
- Avital Food Tours, Haight Ashbury
- Detour's Walking Tour
- Extranomical Tours' Summer of Love Edition Tours
- FOOT! Fun Walking Tours
- Flower Power Walking Tours
- Hornblower Classic Cable Cars City Tour
- Magic Bus Experience
- San Francisco by Gilles (in French)
- San Francisco City Guides Haight-Ashbury Tour
- San Francisco Electric Tour Company
- San Francisco Love Tours (in VW buses)
- SF on Tap Tours (beer tours)
- Wild SF Walking Tours
The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. For information on reservations, activities and more, visitwww.sftravel.com, read the Visitors Planning Guide or call 415-391-2000.
San Francisco Travel operates Visitor Information Centers at Hallidie Plaza, 900 Market St. at the corner of Powell and Market streets, and on the lower level of Macy's Union Square. San Francisco Travel is also a partner at the California Welcome Center at PIER 39.
American Express® is the official Card partner of the San Francisco Travel Association.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 46 international cities on 39 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with 79 cities in the U.S. on 13 domestic airlines. SFO is proud to offer upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. Follow SFO on www.twitter.com/flysfo and www.facebook.com/flysfo.
