About the Haight Street Fair

Where Peace, Love & Street Culture Take Center Stage

Once upon a heady afternoon on April 30, 1978, the Haight-Ashbury Street Fair burst onto the scene like a psychedelic phoenix rising from the incense-scented ashes of a faded Summer of Love. Born from the minds and hearts of local merchants, artists, dreamers, and with a little help from District Supervisor Harvey Milk—yes, that Harvey Milk—the Fair was a love letter to a neighborhood that had given the world more than tie-dye and tambourines. It gave voice to revolution, resistance, and raw creative spirit.

What began as a local block party celebrating the rebirth of Haight-Ashbury after a turbulent post-‘60s crash has become one of San Francisco’s most iconic, free-spirited festivals—a day when the ghosts of Hendrix, Joplin, and Kerouac dance with the next generation of punks, poets, skaters, and seekers.

The Vibe

Held every second Sunday in June, HASF transforms Haight Street into a living gallery of creativity, community, and counterculture cool. Two stages—Main Stage and Masonic Stage—anchor the festivities with a killer lineup that’s included the likes of Jefferson Starship, The Tubes, Metallica, and Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Alongside legends, we spotlight the next wave of musicians, from garage bands to groove collectives.

But the Fair is more than a soundtrack. It’s a day-long celebration of artistry, identity, and inclusion. Artisan vendors, handmade goods, vintage treasures, activist organizations, and local legends all share the asphalt runway of Haight Street.

Powered by the People

Behind the tie-dye and bass drops is an all-volunteer engine. The Haight-Ashbury Street Fair is produced entirely by community members who give their time, energy, and love to make this event happen—year after year, for free. We run on donated funds, grassroots hustle, and the kind of passion you don’t find on payrolls.

Want to join the movement? Donate, volunteer, or just show up and be part of the magic. Your support keeps the lights on, the music loud, and the streets full of life.

For the Dreamers, Young & Old

This isn’t just a festival—it’s a family affair. Children’s Alley is our creative corner for the next generation, with face painting, interactive crafts, puppet shows, and musical moments designed to light up little imaginations.

And this year, we’re proud to introduce our Poetry & Photography Space—a new platform for local poets, visual storytellers, and streetwise wordsmiths to exhibit, perform, and connect. Whether it's spoken word, zines, or analog film, this new zone is a tribute to Haight-Ashbury’s legacy as a haven for self-expression.

Legacy with a Pulse

The late Pablo Heising, longtime Executive Producer and spiritual compass of the fair, helped solidify HASF as a San Francisco staple. After his passing in 2006, Robert Leon took the reins, guiding the event through a dynamic period of change until his own passing in 2021. Michael Xavier, then serving as Board President, stepped into the Executive Director role, bringing the fair back stronger after COVID with new programming and revitalized energy.

More Than a Street Fair

We’ve reimagined what a street fair can be while keeping one foot rooted in flower-child idealism. We’ve launched the HASF Skate Jam, a high-flying tribute to street culture and youth energy. We introduced the HASF ArtWalk, turning storefronts and sidewalks into public galleries.

Security and sustainability? We’ve got that covered too. HASF is proud to partner with Swords to Plowshares, hiring local veterans to lead our on-site monitors and waste management team with pride and professionalism.

Recognition & Rhythm

Over four decades strong, the Haight-Ashbury Street Fair has been showered with honors—from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the California Senate, and multiple Bay Guardian “Best Of” awards. But the true honor? Seeing generations gather, sing, skate, dance, and discover that peace, love, and civic joy are still alive and well.

This Is Us

We’re a nonprofit with a pulse, a purpose, and a punk-rock soul. We exist to honor Haight-Ashbury’s legacy of activism, artistry, and individuality—and to keep throwing the kind of party that reminds the world why San Francisco will always be weird, wild, and wonderful

🌈 KEEP THE VIBE ALIVE

🎸 Powered by Volunteers. Fueled by Donations. Made for Everyone.

The Haight-Ashbury Street Fair isn’t run by corporations. It’s run by you—the artists, the weirdos, the dreamers, the neighbors.
Every stage, every booth, every beat exists because someone showed up and said “I’ll help.”

Wanna be part of the magic?
💜 Follow Us on Instagram
💰 Make a Donation
🎨 Join as an Artist or Vendor

No suits. No gatekeepers. Just San Francisco, in full color.