The Redwood City run has been going long enough that it draws a consistent local crowd — food vendors set up around the square, and the all-ages format means it skews family-friendly early, looser later. The Golden Gate Park shows have the obvious advantage of location: you're already in the park, the Panhandle and Haight are a short walk if you need to eat before or after, and the de Young is right there if you want to make an afternoon of it. Neither series requires advance registration.

For Golden Gate Park, take the N-Judah to 9th and Irving or the 5-Fulton to Crossover Drive — parking on weekends around the Bandshell is a slog. For Redwood City, it's a 35-minute Caltrain ride from 4th and King; the square is two blocks from the station.

If you have two hours: take the train to Redwood City on a Friday evening, grab food from whatever's set up around the square, catch the show, and head back. You're done by 9pm and it cost you a train ticket.