San Francisco events mark Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary
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The Grateful Dead celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Photo: Ed Perlstein/Redferns via Getty Images
Deadheads, your time is here. San Francisco is launching a multi-week series of events to mark the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary ahead of Dead & Company's three-day concert at Golden Gate Park next month.
Why it matters: The homegrown, psychedelic rock band was a pioneer in the counterculture movement and left a lasting imprint on the Bay Area.
Driving the news: The legendary Shakedown Street marketplace will set up shop 10:30am-6pm during Dead & Company's concert days (Aug. 1-3) along JFK Promenade between Transverse and Blue Heron Lake drives.
- Dead & Company's Aug. 3 performance will also be livestreamed in IMAX locations across the city.
Here's some of the planned programming:
🖼️ Mickey Hart: Art at the Edge of Magic: Catch the Grateful Dead drummer's incredible artwork, featuring nearly 100 paintings and prints on canvas, metal, drumheads and more at the Haight Street Art Center.
- July 24 through Sept. 21, with an opening celebration set for 4-9pm July 31. Free for all museum visitors.
🎙️️ Exploring the Grateful Dead at Manny's: Hear from the Grateful Dead's official historian and other leading experts across three conversations examining the band's legacy.
- 6pm July 29 and July 30. Tickets start at about $9.
🎶 A Grateful Gathering: Indulge in live music, photo booth fun, live art and local vendors at this outdoor happy hour event.
- 4-9pm July 31 at Yerba Buena Lane. Free.
🎥 Len Dell'Amico on Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead: Hear firsthand accounts of the band from the man who directed their concert films and music videos.
- 6pm July 31 at the Main Library.
🎉 Jerry Garcia Sign: The city will formally unveil the new Jerry Garcia street sign on Harrington Street, where the late band co-founder grew up.
- 11am Aug. 1 on Harrington Street between Alemany Boulevard and Mission Street.
🎸 Jerry Day at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater: The annual music festival will feature a litany of live performances to celebrate Garcia's 83rd birthday. There will also be a pub crawl to support his childhood neighborhood afterwards.
- 11:30am Aug. 2 at McLaren Park. Free.
⚾️ San Francisco Giants celebrate the Grateful Dead: Join the team for a special evening of music, merch and vibes.
- 6:45pm Aug. 12 at Oracle Park. Tickets start at about $50.
🎤 Tribute performances and concert afterparties are planned at various dates.
- 8-10pm July 25: The Magic Theatre (Alex Jordan and Friends)
- 10:30pm Aug. 1: O'Riley's Pub (The Playing Dead)
- 7-10pm every Thursday through Aug. 28: The Faight Collective (Okeba)
- July 31-Aug. 2: Pier 48 (Grahame Lesh & Friends)
- Aug. 1-3: Great American Music Hall (Melvin Seals & JGB and Axial Tilt)
- 10:30pm Aug. 1-3: Balboa Theater (Danny's Live Dead).