San Francisco Celebrates the Grateful Dead’s 60th Anniversary

SAN FRANCISCO (May 27, 2025) — San Francisco is marking the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead, celebrating the iconic band's profound influence on San Francisco and American culture with months of special events, concerts, exhibitions, and tributes citywide.

The celebration will reach a zenith August 1 to 3, when Dead & Company headlines three nights of historic performances at Golden Gate Park's Polo Field, supported by tribute bands playing throughout San Francisco and City Hall and other landmarks illuminated in tie-dye. Haight-Ashbury, the Grateful Dead's home during the transformative 1960s, will again become the colorful heart of festivities.

“From Haight-Ashbury to the Excelsior District where Jerry Garcia grew up, the Grateful Dead’s influence is integral to our city’s cultural fabric," said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. "Sixty years later, we proudly honor their legacy through concerts, community events, and celebrations, reflecting San Francisco's enduring spirit of creativity, connection, and musical innovation.”

Celebrating 60 Years of Musical History

Formed in San Francisco in 1965, the Grateful Dead redefined live music with improvisational performances blending rock, jazz, and blues. The band's legendary concerts drew millions of devoted fans, creating a global community of “Deadheads” bonded by shared musical experiences.

The 60th-anniversary festivities include:

• Dead & Company at Golden Gate Park: Grateful Dead band members Mickey Hart, and Bobby Weir, joined by John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge and Jay Lane, headline three unique performances on August 1–3. Ticket sales start on May 28. Visit www.deadandcompany.com for details.
• Jerry Day Celebration: The free, annual Jerry Day concert on August 2 commemorates Jerry Garcia’s 82nd birthday and the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park. Performances feature Melvin Seals & JGB, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, and Grahame Lesh, Elliott Peck, and Alex Jordan. The concert is followed by “Jerry Nite,” the official Jerry Day after-party that supports Jerry Day and the Excelsior District, Garcia’s childhood neighborhood. 
• Jerry Garcia Street Sign Unveiling: A commemorative “Jerry Garcia Street” sign will be unveiled at Harrington Street, Garcia’s childhood neighborhood, on August 1 at 11 a.m. 
• Haight Street Daydream: Haight-Ashbury merchants are hosting celebrations on June 21, July 19 and August 16, featuring live music, art showcases, special promotions, and vibrant street activities. 
• One for the Vault: Great American Music Hall will host a three-night tribute from August 1 to 3, celebrating the Grateful Dead's historic 1975 performance at the historic venue. The lineup features artists including Melvin Seals & JGB and AXIAL TILT 2025. 
• SF Giants’ Jerry Garcia Tribute Night: On August 12, attendees at Oracle Park receive tie-dye jerseys, accompanied by a special pre-game performance from Moonalice. 
• Annual Haight-Ashbury Street Fair: On September 7, enjoy performances, art, community spirit, and a vibrant lineup that historically includes legendary artists. 
• Jerry Garcia in the Lower Mission: From October 29 – November 23, Magic Theatre premieres a musical exploration of Garcia’s early years in the Mission District.Dead-icated Stay: Hotel Zeppelin’s package celebrating the 60th anniversary includes a suite equipped with a vintage record player, a handpicked vinyl albums, The ABCs of The Grateful Dead book, a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream, and a 10% discount on food and beverage from the hotel’s restaurants, including at PLS (Peace, Love, Soul) and on Post.

The Counterculture Museum Opens

Opening at the end of May at the iconic corner of Haight and Ashbury, the Counterculture Museum is the first institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting the art, music, and activism of countercultural movements—from the Beat Generation to hippies and beyond. Co-founded by Estelle and Jerry Cimino, creators of the Beat Museum, the museum will serve as a cultural anchor point to the historic neighborhood and feature original artifacts and multimedia storytelling that bring to life the stories and people that shaped these movements.

The museum will open with a special exhibition on the San Francisco Oracle, an underground newspaper in San Francisco that explored hippie consciousness through interviews, articles, and commentary. Known for its vibrant, colorful layouts and psychedelic artwork, the newspaper was published in Haight-Ashbury, one block from the site of the Counterculture Museum. Though it only produced 12 issues, the newspaper captured the spirit of the counterculture movement and was heavily influential during, and in the lead-up to, the Summer of Love.

Visitors can also explore an exhibit displaying a rare recording of the Acid Test with the Grateful Dead. Recorded in 1966, the tape is one of the earliest recordings of the Grateful Dead and is a piece of a larger movement, led by author Ken Kesey, advocating for the use of the psychedelic drug, LSD.

Find more information on these and other events celebrating the Grateful Dead’s 60th Anniversary here at sftravel.com. 

SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL

San Francisco Travel is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. The city is one of the top tourism and meetings destinations in the U.S., attracting over 23 million visitors annually. In 2024, total visitor-related spending contributed $9.26 billion into the San Francisco economy and supported nearly 62,000 jobs.

For information on reservations, activities and more in San Francisco, visit www.sftravel.com. 

Follow San Francisco Travel on www.facebook.com/onlyinSF/, www.instagram.com/onlyinsf/, and www.x.com/onlyinsf. 

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 

SFO is committed to providing an extraordinary airport experience, with seamless access, thoughtful amenities, sustainable design and inspiring artwork and exhibits.

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 us on x.com/flysfo and facebook.com/flysfo.

United Airlines is the preferred airline of the San Francisco Travel Association. 

# # #

Image Links and Information: 

• Press releases and other media resources are available at www.sftravel.com/media 

• San Francisco Travel’s Photo Video Library is available at photos.sftravel.com

• To receive news and updates regularly in San Francisco Travel’s e-newsletters, visit www.sftravel.com and scroll down to “Newsletter Sign-up.”