Stern Grove is best known for its summer concerts, but it's a city park the rest of the year too. Wikipedia says the 33-acre grove sits along Sloat Boulevard between 19th and 34th avenues in the Parkside District, and is run by SF Rec and Park.
A gift to the city
Rosalie Meyer Stern donated the site to the city in 1931 and named it for her late husband, Sigmund Stern, according to Wikipedia. He was a philanthropist and a nephew of Levi Strauss. The Works Progress Administration built the original landscaping and facilities.
What's there
The grove includes the Concert Meadow, the West Meadow and Pine Lake Park. Wikipedia says Pine Lake is one of three natural lakes in San Francisco. A $15 million renovation designed by Lawrence Halprin was done in 2005. It added a larger stage and terraced stone seating on the slope across from it.
The Trocadero clubhouse was destroyed by a falling tree in early 2023 and reopened in 2025 after repairs, according to Wikipedia.
The festival
The Stern Grove Festival calls itself the nation's longest-running free music festival. Its site thanks fans for the 2026 season and says next summer will be its 90th season.