Friday afternoon in downtown San Francisco, hundreds of people gathered who were definitely not working nine-to-five. That’s because it was Dolly Day, a celebration of Dolly Parton that took over Union Square with fans decked out with wigs, rhinestones and a boundless love for the country music star.
The event celebrated the “9 to 5” singer, cleverly scheduled on 9/25, exactly one month after Dolly Parton’s death, marking the end of one of the most storied careers in both music and philanthropy. Parton became a global icon for not just her songs but also her unabashed love of flashy clothing, compassion and limitless sense of humor, all of which was on display at Union Square.
The event featured musical performances from the likes of platinum-selling artist Robbie Fitzsimmons playing “Here You Come Again,” as well as San Francisco country strummers Thee Olde Country, who opened with a rambunctious version of “9 to 5.”
“None of y’all working nine-to-five, are ya. We’re all taking the day off for Dolly Day,” proclaimed the singer of Thee Olde Country.
Cindy, left, and Nora Johnson, daughter and mother, celebrate Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees collaborate to paint a Dolly Parton mural at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Vangie Ong puts on her Dolly wig at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees come out to celebrate Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
A Dolly costume contest brought 20 entrants to the stage, with a final faceoff between drag queen Dirty Carol and Lisa Zafina, ending with a victory for Zafina.
Holly Willett Rios, a retired SFPD officer, and her friend Jeanine DuBois, a retired electrical worker, drove up to San Francisco from Pacifica for the event, decked out in poofy wigs with butterflies in their hair.
“I’ve been obsessed with Dolly since I was a little girl … I have a Dolly toilet, a Dolly bathroom, a Dolly coffee table, everything Dolly, and she just happened to die on my birthday too,” said Willett Rios.
Snuggles attends the first annual Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept, 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
A Dolly shrine is set up at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Zora the parrot attends the first annual Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept, 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
“I really didn’t know how it would affect me until she passed away. I cried and I cried, I listened back to her music. And the whole thing about where we were in the ’70s, and our jobs, and how we were relegated to certain work. I love the song ‘Just Because I’m a Woman.’ And I’ve seen how that song has evolved,” said DuBois.
Scroll down to see SFGATE photographer Lizzy Myers’ images from the event.
Attendees make the finishing touches on a Dolly Parton mural at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Holly Willett Rios, a retired police officer and life-long Dolly fan, attends Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Mae Powell performs a tribute to Dolly Parton at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees wearing Dolly shirts pose for a group photo at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees collaborate to paint a Dolly Parton mural at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees come out to celebrate Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees learn a line dance to “9 to 5” at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Fans come out to celebrate Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Dirty Carol poses with fans at the first annual Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept, 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Holly Willett Rios, left and Jeanine DuBois attend Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Fans come out to celebrate Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Holatta Tymes performs in drag as Dolly at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees watch the performances at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Dolly Parton doppelgangers gather backstage before the look-alike competition at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Sarah Hope paints her dog’s nails before the Dolly look-alike competition at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Dirty Carol waits backstage before the Dolly look-alike contest at Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees compete at the Dolly look-alike contest in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees compete at the Dolly look-alike contest in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees celebrate Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Lisa Zafina wins the Dolly Parton look-alike contest at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Dirty Carol flashes her prosthetic chest during the Dolly look-alike contest in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Lisa Zafina wins the Dolly Parton look-alike contest at Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
The SF Public Library attends Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a free book-gifting program that mails one high-quality, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth until their 5th birthday. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees come out to celebrate Dolly Day in Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
Attendees wear Dolly-inspired clothing at Union Square in San Francisco, on Sept. 25, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)
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This article originally published at ‘None of y’all working 9 to 5’: San Francisco shows up for Dolly Parton Day.