In 1938, as San Francisco was emerging from the Great Depression, Rosalie Meyer Stern had a radical idea: build a public stage where anyone could experience world-class music, free of charge.

At a time when musicians were struggling for work, Stern Grove Festival offered not just a place to perform, but a paycheck, ensuring artists and crews could keep doing what they loved. Eighty-nine years later, that same enduring spirit lives on among the trees: music shared freely among generations of San Franciscans and visitors alike, sustained by a community that continues to show up, support, and celebrate this tradition.

The generosity that built Stern Grove in 1938 still fuels it today and the 100,000+ people who gather in the Grove each summer. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a moment to honor that shared tradition. And if we reach our $25,000 goal by the end of the week, we’ll celebrate by announcing one of the artists in our 89th Season. Your support keeps the stage open, the music free, and the legacy alive.