Flower Piano Returns: San Francisco Botanical Garden Transforms Into an Outdoor Concert Hall This September
SAN FRANCISCO — One of the Bay Area’s most unique music traditions is back as the San Francisco Botanical Garden hosts the 10th annual Flower Piano festival from September 12–21, 2025. For 10 days, the garden’s lush pathways will be lined with pianos, creating pop-up concert halls in the middle of nature.
Music in Bloom
Throughout the festival, professional musicians will perform across different locations in the gardens, and when scheduled shows aren’t happening, visitors can sit down and play the pianos themselves. The event blends formal performances with community interaction, making it one of the most popular happenings of the year for locals.
San Francisco residents enjoy free garden admission, meaning many performances are free to attend. For an upgraded experience, the Flower Piano Lounge offers a bar, lounge seating, food from local vendors, and special headliner sets. Lounge tickets start at $40 for adults, with weekend passes available.
Lounge Lineup Highlights
Friday, Sept. 12
- 5 p.m. – Montuno Swing Salsa Band
Saturday, Sept. 13
- 1 p.m. – Mariah Parker’s Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble
- 3 p.m. – Sixth Station Trio
- 5 p.m. – Dred Scott & Cali Mambo
Sunday, Sept. 14
- 1 p.m. – Sumi Lee & Ramiro Boero
- 3 p.m. – Fabio Reiss & The Orange Sunshine Experience
- 5 p.m. – John Brothers Piano Company
Friday, Sept. 19
- 5 p.m. – Los Tangueros del Oeste
Saturday, Sept. 20
- 1 p.m. – The Kevin Gerzevitz Trio
- 3 p.m. – Kash Killion, Killion’s Trillions
- 5 p.m. – Lavay Smith & the Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Sunday, Sept. 21
- 1 p.m. – Alon Nechushtan Trio
- 3 p.m. – Robert Dehlinger’s Alpha Rhythm Kings
- 5 p.m. – Kev Choice Chamber Ensemble
Special Events
Opening night will feature the Montuno Swing Salsa Band and Grammy-winning pianist Christian Tumalan, setting a vibrant tone with salsa rhythms and virtuosic piano solos. On September 20, the festival will host a Flower Piano-themed fashion show, inviting guests to dress for the occasion and strut the runway for a prize.
If You Go
- Dates: September 12–21, 2025
- Location: San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park
- Tickets: Flower Piano Lounge passes start at $40; many performances free for SF residents
Will you be joining the Flower Piano celebration this year? Share your favorite performances or piano moments with us at ChicagoMusicGuide.com.