This past Sunday, the Golden Gate Park Band began its 126th year with a rousing premiere concert. The season, comprised of 27 total concerts, runs from April through mid-October.

The band’s band shell is the Spreckels Temple of Music, the same performed in since 1900. The grid of pollarded trees in front of the band shell is one of the Music Concourse’s most recognizable features. In the photo here, the trees’ shoots are just starting to emerge, but when in full, the grid provides eco-friendly shade and protection from the elements. At the dedication in 1900, it was said that future San Franciscans (and so very many visitors) would enjoy music in the park, under “these trees in their age and decrepitude as now in their early growth.”¹

A San Francisco tradition, fans can count on the Golden Gate Park Band to provide an afternoon of free, lively music every Sunday starting at 1 p.m. Concerts usually last until 2:30-2:45 p.m. In the coming weeks, in addition to great band favorites, look for three cultural celebrations as well: Cinco de Mayo (May 4), Polish Constitution Day (May 18), and Italian-American Day (June 1). On May 25th, the band will offer a patriotic salute in honor of Memorial Day.

Perhaps one of these will work into your itinerary? Nearby you’ll find the Japanese Tea Garden, the de Young Museum, and the S.F. Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum.

^{* Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. Photo © Jennifer Alpeche. |1 History, Friends of the Music Concourse.}