Stern Grove Festival

The Stern Grove Festival Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the public with free live musical experiences. Founded in 1938, the organization is renowned for its annual Stern Grove Festival, which is held in the picturesque Sigmund Stern Grove, an outdoor amphitheater at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco. The festival has become a cherished tradition, offering a diverse array of performances from Grammy Award winners to emerging artists.\n\nThe history of Stern Grove and the festival is deeply rooted in the generosity and vision of Rosalie M. Stern, who purchased the land in 1931 and donated it to the City of San Francisco in memory of her husband, Sigmund Stern, a prominent civic leader. The Grove, originally a tract of sand dunes and marshes homesteaded by George Greene in the 1840s, was transformed into a park with the intent of hosting free music, dance, and theater performances. The San Francisco Symphony performed the first concert in the Grove on June 19, 1932, marking the beginning of what would become the Stern Grove Festival.\n\nOver the years, the Festival has been guided by the Stern family, with leadership passed down through generations. Rosalie Meyer Stern chaired the Festival until her death in 1956, followed by her daughter Elise Stern Haas, and then her granddaughter Rhoda Haas Goldman. In 1996, Dr. Douglas E. Goldman, Rhoda's son, became the Chair of the Festival, serving for 24 years before retiring in 2020. His son, Matthew W. Goldman, succeeded him, continuing the family's legacy of service to the community.\n\nThe Stern Grove Festival Association is governed by a Board of Directors and operated by a dedicated staff, with Bob Fiedler serving as the Executive Director. The organization works in close collaboration with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, ensuring the preservation of Stern Grove as a venue for recreation and cultural engagement.\n\nEach summer, the Festival presents a series of free concerts that showcase a wide range of musical genres, reflecting its commitment to exceptional programming and accessibility to diverse audiences. The Festival's mission is supported by individual donors, volunteers, foundations, government agencies, and businesses, requiring nearly $3 million annually to produce the concerts and associated outreach and education programs.\n\nDespite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the 2020 season, the Stern Grove Festival has persevered, offering virtual programming and returning to live events when possible. The Festival's resilience and commitment to the community have made it a beloved Bay Area institution, bringing people together to enjoy the performing arts in a beautiful natural setting for over eight decades.