It makes sense that the 1960s home to flower children, historic rock concerts, and the summer of love is also home to Outside Lands, a multi-stage music and arts festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The 3-day August event—which started in 2007—fills the park’s meadows and glades with a platinum-level lineup of diverse artists. Past headliners have run the musical gamut—from The Who and Metallica to Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, and Radiohead.
Choose between general admission passes or upgrade to VIP status for special lounge access, exclusive viewing areas, and entry to special options for food, beer, wine, and spirits.
Speaking of those options… you can ditch your preconceived idea that they will be limited to typical festival fare. Outside Lands is known for surprisingly swanky food and wine options for all attendees, so come hungry—and ready to tip a few back. The Wine Lands and Beer Lands big-top tents pour some of the finest in craft libations sourced locally, as well as from beyond.
Hungry for more than just nibbles? The Taste of the Bay “local flavors” area has in the past featured such options as smoky chicken tinga quesadillas from Otra, Indonesian plates from Azalina's, Nepalese momo dumplings from Bini's Kitchen, and sweet treats from Humphry Slocombe and Charles Chocolates. There are even chef demos, wine-tasting events, and a pop-up bar—Cocktail Magic—featuring bartenders from local bars mixing up mean cocktails and mocktails.
There will also be an open-air house and techno music destination (Soma), a queer dance and drag stage (Dolores'), an ultra-luxe experience complete with a fleet of golf carts (Golden Gate Club), and even a wedding venue (Outside Lands City Hall).
Insider tip: Buy Outside Lands shuttle passes and ditch the car—pick-up and drop-off spots are located citywide.