Damian & Stephen Marley and Diana Ross to Close Stern Grove’s Iconic 88th Season

Reggae royalty Jr. Gong and Stephen Marley, alongside tour guest J Boog, are set to bring their infectious groove to Big Picnic Weekend on Saturday, August 16, while musical legend Diana Ross will close out the festivities with a grand finale performance on Sunday, August 17

Stephen and Damian Marley to headline the Stern Grove Festival

Reggae royalty Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley are set to bring their undeniable groove to San Francisco as they headline the Stern Grove Festival on Saturday, August 16, as part of their Traffic Jam 2025 North American Tour.

Joined by special guest J Boog, the Marleys will kick off the Big Picnic Weekend at the scenic Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove.

The celebration continues on Sunday, August 17, with music icon Diana Ross headlining the final concert of the festival’s landmark 88th edition, promising a glamorous close to the summer series.

“We’re doing everything we can to preserve this incredible San Francisco tradition,” said Bob Fiedler, Executive Director for Stern Grove Festival. “In a world where most concerts are very costly, this is one of the last remaining places where music is free, accessible, and truly for everyone. It’s remained this way for 88 years and the only way we can do it is from the support of our amazing community".

San Francisco’s cherished free outdoor music event, Stern Grove Festival has once again delivered a vibrant season blending icons and innovators. Since opening on June 15, the festival has featured genre-spanning performances from The Pointer Sisters, Orville Peck, Phantogram, Girl Talk, Chromeo, Channel Tres, Sleater-Kinney, and hometown favorites like Michael Franti & Spearhead, The California Honeydrops, and Lyrics Born.

With a lineup that celebrates music across generations and genres, the Stern Grove Festival continues to be a cornerstone of Bay Area summer culture.

Stern Grove Festival was founded in 1938 by philanthropist Rosalie Meyer Stern, Stern Grove Festival was created to make the arts free and accessible to all.