The delightful annual event known as Flower Piano, in which a dozen pianos get installed in various corners of the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park, is back again starting Thursday, July 11.
The 12-day event features scheduled performances by professional musicians, as well as tons of serendipitous moments of regular San Franciscans and tourists passing through and sitting down to tickle the ivories. And for the fifth anniversary of Flower Piano, the schedule is even more packed with special events, and will feature three ticketed Flower Piano at Night event July 18, 19, and 20, which features special concerts, food trucks, and outdoor bars throughout the gardens.
The first Flower Piano at Night on July 18 will feature Cuban jazz pianist Chuchito Valdés, who performed last year (and is pictured above), and other nights will feature Jill Tracy’s Sonic Seance, Daniel Sullivan’s Bacharach Bacchanal, and Paulo Sultanum & Casulo’s Brazilian Bossafolk Experience.
Members of SF Symphony will be performing during the 12-day concert series, and other acts include Bay Area Hawaiian dance supergroup Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu, pianists Tammy Hall, Sarah Cahill and Van-Anh Nguyen, and the Stanford University Ragtime Ensemble performing rarely heard Scott Joplin rags.
See the full schedule of events here, and note that the fun kicks off with a community sing-along on Thursday starting at 4 p.m.
Grab your musically talented friends and head out to Golden Gate Park while the fun lasts. Closing day for Flower Piano is Monday, July 22.