Stern Grove Festival's Community Box Office pop-ups distribute 1,500 free tickets per concert across San Francisco — here's how to get them without the lottery.

Stern Grove Festival's Community Box Office program is back for 2026, offering 1,500 free tickets (15% of capacity) for each concert without the online lottery. Here's how it works and what you need to know.

The Community Box Office operates as pop-up events across San Francisco, not a permanent location. For each Sunday concert, tickets are distributed in person on a first-come, first-served basis. Each person can receive up to two tickets while supplies last. No ID or proof of San Francisco residency is required.

The first confirmed box office for the 2026 season is Friday, June 6 at 12 p.m. in Union Square, distributing tickets for the June 14 opening concert featuring Peter Cat Recording Co. and Marinero.

Historically, these pop-ups happen the day before each concert, but the full schedule of locations, dates, and hours for the remainder of the season hasn't been released yet. The festival advises checking their website for updates on each concert's specific box office location and time.

The program is presented by Zoox and designed as an alternative to the online lottery system, which opens six weeks before each concert and closes one week later. If you're not selected in the lottery or can't participate online, the Community Box Office is your best bet for guaranteed free tickets.

What you need to know:

  • First confirmed box office: Friday, June 6, 12 p.m., Union Square
  • Tickets distributed: 1,500 per concert (15% of capacity)
  • Limit: Two tickets per person
  • Requirements: None — no ID or residency proof needed
  • Format: First-come, first-served while supplies last

Pro tip: Based on past seasons, arrive early. Regular attendees like Ryland Greene (known as "Mr. 6 a.m.") show up hours before distribution to secure tickets, especially for high-demand shows like Bomba Estéreo (June 21), Japanese Breakfast (June 28), and Major Lazer (July 5).

For the most current information on upcoming Community Box Office locations and times, check sterngrove.org or follow their social media channels.