Hundreds of thousands braved the heat to attend the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park this weekend.

Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle were among the weekend’s headliners. Harris is the only artist to have performed at every single edition of the festival since  billionaire philanthropist Warren Hellman created the event in 2001, and Earle has played every one since 2002.

Mavis Staples, along with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, were among the roughly 80 musical acts who played across six stages from Friday through Sunday.

On Saturday, festival organizers had to close all entrance gates for the first time in the free event’s history as crowds were beyond capacity across Golden Gate Park. They reopened after an hour.

The free festival started out as “Strictly Bluegrass,” after billionaire investment banker, private equity investor and avid amateur banjo player Hellman, with a deep passion for bluegrass and roots music, funded the entire operation out of his own pocket.

Hellman watched the festival grow until his death in 2011, and through his family foundation, ensured that the festival would remain free for the public indefinitely.

Mavis Staples performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Mavis Staples performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Jessica West, of East Palo Alto, dances as Mavis Staples performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Jessica West, of East Palo Alto, dances as Mavis Staples performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Mavis Staples performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Mavis Staples performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Steve Earle & The Hardly Strictly Dukes perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Steve Earle & The Hardly Strictly Dukes perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Steve Earle & The Hardly Strictly Dukes perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Steve Earle & The Hardly Strictly Dukes perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Festivalgoers shade themselves from the hot sun at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Festivalgoers shade themselves from the hot sun at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Members of the Hellman family sing before Steve Earle and The Hardly Strictly Dukes perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Warren Hellman founded the free annual HSB festival in 2001. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Members of the Hellman family sing before Steve Earle and The Hardly Strictly Dukes perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Warren Hellman founded the free annual HSB festival in 2001. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Charles Lighthouse, of San Francisco, dances as musicians perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Charles Lighthouse, of San Francisco, dances as musicians perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Emmylou Harris performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Emmylou Harris performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Emmylou Harris performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Emmylou Harris performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Robert Plant performs with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian on the Towers of Gold Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Robert Plant performs with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian on the Towers of Gold Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Concertgoers listen to Mavis Staples perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Concertgoers listen to Mavis Staples perform on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Frances Hellman, right, presents Emmylou Harris with a bouquet of flowers before she performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Her dad Warren Hellman founded the free annual HSB festival in 2001. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Frances Hellman, right, presents Emmylou Harris with a bouquet of flowers before she performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Her dad Warren Hellman founded the free annual HSB festival in 2001. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Festivalgoers check out the six stages at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Festivalgoers check out the six stages at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Emmylou Harris performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Emmylou Harris performs on the Banjo Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Festivalgoers check out the six stages at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Festivalgoers check out the six stages at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Robert Plant performs with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian on the Towers of Gold Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Robert Plant performs with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian on the Towers of Gold Stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Festivalgoers head to stages at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Festivalgoers head to stages at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)