We’re excited for another great season at the Grove! We want to share some important information about how tickets will work this year, and why we’re making these changes.

Here’s the deal - We wish we lived in a world where there were no restrictions to get into a large-scale event.
However, as responsible event producers, your safety is our priority. Having a perimeter and requiring tickets for entry is necessary to keep you safe at our concerts.
In order to obtain event permits and insurance necessary to bring you these free concerts, we are required to implement crowd management processes and security scans. Additionally, many of the artists we book require private soundchecks, which occur the morning of the show.

In recent years, demand has far outpaced our permitted capacity of 10,000 people. We understand the nostalgia for the “just show up” days of the past, but evolving safety standards and insurance requirements make it impossible to return to that model. And while our recent ticketing system helped us manage crowd size, it often favored speed, timing, or tech access, leaving too many people shut out through no fault of their own.

That’s why, for 2025, we’ve created a new ticketing process—one that we hope feels fair, thoughtful, and true to the spirit of the Grove, while reducing stress and improving access for our community. This year, you’ll be able to get tickets in a few different ways:

To keep ticket access fair, we’re using a lottery system for General Admission (GA) tickets this season. Here’s how it works:

Six weeks before each concert, the online ticket lottery opens. You’ll have one full week to enter and can request up to four tickets.

Five weeks before the concert, the entry period closes, and we randomly select a first round of winners. If selected, you’ll receive an email and have 72 hours to claim your tickets.

Any unclaimed tickets are redistributed in a second round of winners, pulled from the initial pool of entrants, again with a 72 hour claim window.

Everyone who entered and was not selected in either round will receive a final email confirming the lottery for that show has ended.
At least 1,000 tickets will be available through in-person Community Box Offices located at select sites throughout San Francisco the day before each concert, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participating locations and additional details will be announced closer to the season.
Come help out the festival and volunteer at a show or on our Street Team. All volunteers receive a ticket to a future show.
We will have more information about volunteering on our website soon. Please email volunteer@sterngrove.org for more information.
Many of our community partners and sponsors will be giving away tickets! Some of these partners include DoTheBay, SF Standard, Amoeba, KALW, KEXP, REI, and many more! These giveaways will take place leading up to the show date. Check back in and follow our socials to stay in the loop about these giveaways.
- VIP Tables - You can reserve a VIP Table at your show of choice which seats 10 people. All table purchases are direct donations to the festival and help ensure we can continue bringing free music to San Francisco.
- Community Tables – Reserve an individual seat at a shared picnic table for guaranteed access and great views. This new option allows fans to secure a seat without purchasing a full table, supporting the Festival’s mission to keep concerts free and open to all.
Reserve your table now or email development@sterngrove.org if you have additional questions.

Stern Grove has always been a public gift, a space where everyone is welcome, regardless of income or background. That mission will not change. These updates are designed to help us live up to it, and to make sure the Grove stays full, vibrant, and free for years to come.

Thanks for growing with us and for your support! We love you all.