31 Images From Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, The Real San Francisco Treat

Article by: Laura Mason|@masonlazarus

Mon October 03, 2016 | 00:00 AM


Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is a gift, both figuratively and literally. The great San Francisco philanthropist Warren Hellman created the freewheeling festival 16 years ago with the promise of keeping it admission free (and sponsor free) forever, and its spirit remains unchanged. As its name suggests, there's a lot more than just bluegrass at Hardly Strictly; you'll hear everything there from surf rock to indie music to soul royalty (Mavis Staples!) to bona fide legends like Emmylou Harris and Earl Scruggs. The festival's carefree vibe and radical inclusivity makes it one of the finest celebrations of the Bay Area's musical and cultural spirit.

And what better place for it to occur than in Golden Gate Park? Over 700,000 revelers flocked to its grassy knolls to rejoice in world-class music, togetherness, and unwavering natural beauty. Here are 31 images, dreamily captured by photographer Kristina Bakrevski, of 2016's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. Long may she reign!

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2016 Kristina Barevski   01