NEWS

Mayor Daniel Lurie Kicks Off Celebrations for Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary, Driving San Francisco's Economic Recovery

San Francisco to Host Dead & Company Three-Day Concert Series, Series of Activities and Experiences Across City; With Hotel Demand Up Over 50% in Early August, City Expects to Draw Hundreds of Thousands of Fans and Visitors as Part of Concerts, Events, and Celebrations

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today kicked off a multi-week series of celebrations, concerts, and events planned across San Francisco to mark the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s formation. With a three-day Dead & Company concert series at Golden Gate Park from August 1 to 3, among many other events, the city expects to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout the summer, supporting San Francisco’s economy and bringing energy to the city’s neighborhoods. 

Already, hotel demand between July 31 and August 3 is up an average of 53% each day, and tourism industry leaders are reporting bookings from fans from across the country and world. When Dead & Company came to Oracle Park in 2023, the events generated an estimated $31 million for San Francisco’s economy.

The events this summer will continue Mayor Lurie’s work to advance the city’s recovery by activating public spaces and expanding entertainment options for residents and visitors. In May, the mayor signed legislation establishing five new entertainment zones across the city, supporting small businesses and revitalizing neighborhoods. He also announced the return of a free concert series downtown bringing world-class headliners and vibrant local energy to the city’s most iconic places. This spring, Mayor Lurie welcomed two new teams to the San Francisco sports community—including a professional soccer team to Kezar Stadium and the Golden State Valkyries. 

"San Francisco is coming alive to celebrate 60 years of the Grateful Dead, and today, we are kicking off the festivities,” said Mayor Lurie. “Our bars and restaurants will be packed, our hotels will be booked, our neighborhoods will come alive, and there will be more revenue to fund the services that benefit all San Franciscans. When we make space for creativity and celebration, the whole city benefits.”

As part of the events, Muni’s worm logo will evolve for a limited time into new Grateful Dead-inspired designs and will be featured on the 5 Fulton and 7 Haight bus routes as well as the N Judah train line and a cable car. The “PsychideliBus” and “TrippyTrain” designs include iconic tie-dye, paisley, and 1960s and ‘70s design elements capturing the cultural phenomenon influenced by the Grateful Dead in San Francisco’s legendary Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Muni’s online store will also feature a limited-edition tie-dye t-shirt to mark the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary.

The 60th anniversary concert series is expected to increase transit ridership as concertgoers and fans take public transit to easily move to, from, and around San Francisco. Muni ridership has already reached its highest levels since 2019, with weekend ridership reaching 97%, and more riders are expected in the coming weeks.

In partnership with Another Planet Entertainment, Muni will offer the popular “Your Ticket, Your Fare” program to Dead & Company concert ticket holders who are able to take Muni for free, as their concert ticket serves as an all-day Muni pass.

To move concert goers to and from Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA) will run additional services, including extra daytime service on the 5 Fulton and 5 Fulton Rapid bus routes and the N Judah train line. Extra service will continue in the evening, with express service on the 5X provided at Fulton Street and 30th Avenue to the Civic Center BART and Muni station.

“The Grateful Dead are iconic to San Francisco’s history and vibrant culture, like the Muni worm logo is to the SFMTA. We have proudly served passengers for decades, getting them to and from where they want to be,” said Julie Kirschbaum, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “Helping connect people to major moments that make San Francisco so special is at the core of what makes Muni so special. It’s important for our customers and it’s important for our city.” 

“The 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead is a cultural landmark, and we’re thrilled that Golden Gate Park will host such an iconic celebration,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of San Francisco Recreation and Parks. “This three-day festival is more than just an anniversary—it’s a homecoming. It promises the kind of energy, joy, and soulful creativity that only Deadheads can bring, reaching beyond the park and filling the entire city with love and music.”

“The 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead in San Francisco is a significant cultural milestone, marking the band's deep roots and enduring influence on the city and the Bay Area. It's a time for celebrating the band's legacy, their impact on music, culture, and the community," said Anne Taupier, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. "San Francisco is excited to welcome visitors from all over the world to celebrate the Grateful Dead, and thanks to the citywide activations, all of San Francisco will feel the positive economic impacts.”

Celebrations and events throughout the next several weeks include:

  • Dead and Company at Golden Gate Park
    • August 1–3
    • The August 3rd performance will be livestreamed in certain IMAX locations in San Francisco 
  • Jerry Day at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater
  • Grateful Friday’s
  • Grateful Dead Night at the Faight in Lower Haight
    • Every Thursday until August 28
  • Mickey Hart: Art at the Edge of Magic
    • Haight Street Art Center, July 24-September 22
  • Haight Street Daydream
    • First weekend of each month, May through October, info
  • Exploring the Grateful Dead at Manny's 
  • A Grateful Gathering
  • San Francisco Public Library
  • Haight Street Parties at O’Riley’s Pub
  • PROMISELAND After Parties at the Great Northern
  • After Parties at the 4-Star Theater, info and tickets
    • August 1, music by Hartle Gold Band
    • August 2, Saturday music by Aardvark
    • August 3, music by Grateful Sunday
  • Heart of Town hosted by Grahame Lesh & Friends
  • Electric Koolaid Acid Test After Party Presented by Bicycle Day and Public Works
  • Shakedown Street
    • August 1–3, Golden Gate Park's JFK Promenade, between Transverse Drive and Blue Heron Lake Drive
  • Melvin Seals and JGB/Axial Tilt, Great American Music Hall
  • Danny's Live Dead Presents at Balboa Theater
  • Jerry Garcia commemorative sign celebration, Harrington Street
    • August 1
  • Tom Hamilton at Café Du Nord
  • Jerry Garcia Day After Party
    • August 2, in Partnership with Jerry Day and Friends of JGA, events curated by EOMM, Trixie Rasputin Presents, EAG, and FOJGA
  • Jerry Nite Excelsior District
    • August 2, pub crawl starts at Harrington Street and Mission Street
  • Stern Grove, Michael Franti and Spearhead
    • August 3
  • Harmonic Jam Thrive City, Jay Lane & The Mayhem
    • August 8
  • San Francisco Giants celebrate the Grateful Dead
    • August 12
  • 46th Annual Haight Street Fair
  • Jerry Garcia in the Lower Mission, produced by the Magic Theatre

In Partnership with Another Planet Entertainment, more than 400 Grateful Dead banners will be on display across the city. Dead & Company merchandise will also be sold at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for those unable to go to the concert. Between July 30 and August 6, American Beauty Boutique, a Grateful Dead popup shop, will be at 1391 Haight Street—a partnership of Love on Haight and Holy Stitch.

A full list of concerts, talks, afterparties, and citywide events is available online from San Francisco Travel.