About Us

The San Francisco Free Folk Festival was conceived in 1976 by the San Francisco Folk Music Club, which staged it for the first two years at the Hall of Flowers. It then moved to Fort Mason, where it remained for 13 years, before moving to the John Adams campus of City College until that venue became too small. Several years ago, the festival moved to its current home at Roosevelt Middle School. Last year, between 2,000 and 3,000 people attended the event. It takes about 200 volunteers to stage the Festival.

While the festival would be a special event under any circumstances, what makes it unique is the fact that it is an all-volunteer effort. Not only do members of the sponsoring organizations–the San Francisco Folk Music Club and the San Francisco Folk Music Center–serve as volunteer organizers, but all performers and workshop leaders donate their time and talents to the festival as well.

Detailed planning for the festival begins several months in advance. The committee this year included: