Organizers of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival had to close all entry gates for the first time in the free outdoor event’s history as crowds of thousands thronged Golden Gate Park.
Jim Merlis, a spokesperson for Hardly Strictly, confirmed in an email that the closure lasted for an hour, starting at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, when organizers “deemed the park to be at capacity.” SFGATE staff at the festival observed dozens of people waiting to be admitted near the east entrance, just after Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ set ended on the Banjo Stage around 5 p.m.
Merlis said the festival does not give estimates of crowd size or capacity, although an Instagram post shared by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said there were “60,000 people enjoying free music this weekend at Golden Gate Park.”
“The park is reaching capacity for Saturday night – be safe everyone and have a good time,” Lurie wrote.
The festival recently revealed a surprise announcement that Rilo Kiley would perform there, filling the void left by Alison Krauss, who canceled her appearance for a needed vocal rest. The youthful indie rock band, perhaps best known for its 2002 record “Take Offs and Landings,” recently reunited for the first time in 15 years for a reunion tour in 2025. They played the Towers of Gold stage Saturday from 4:50 to 5:55 p.m. Merlis did not attribute the biggest crowds to any particular set.
“Individual doors have been temporarily closed in the past,” he said, “but this is the first time all doors have been closed.”
“We don’t think it will be a problem today,” he said on Sunday.
The festival continues until 7 p.m. with legendary American singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris, former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, bluegrass five-piece Punch Brothers and more. As temperatures climb into the 80s in San Francisco, Merlis encouraged people to stay hydrated, wear hats and seek shade.
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