Not ready to hang up your flower crown just yet?
In case you didn't know, San Francisco in 1967 played host to a counterculture movement that changed music, fashion, politics, art and Bay Area history. Dubbed the Summer of Love, it was a time when 100,000 free spirits convened in the neighborhood Haight-Ashbury in pursuit of peace, love and happiness. Fifty years later, SF looks back on that psychedelic period with a series of exhibits, events and shows…and yes, the festivities are still going. Summer may be coming to a close, but there’s still plenty of time to commemorate our city’s most iconic era.
The world’s longest-running musical revue is known for its hilarious spoofs of pop culture, spectacular costumes and outrageously large hats. This summer, the comedy show features a host of festive new characters including the Beatles, Hippie Peanut and several Haight-Ashbury gals clad head-to-toe in tie-dye.
Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (beachblanketbabylon.com)
SF Love Tours
Hitch a ride on an iconic 1970s Volkswagon bus—complete with neon-blue seats, beaded curtains and orange shag carpets—for a wild ride through San Francisco’s past. You’ll cruise by the homes of counterculture icons Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix while grooving to the sounds of the ’60s. Of course, no tour of SF would be complete without a stop at Lombard Street, Palace of Fine Arts Theatre and the Painted Ladies.
2899 Hyde St (888-419-5454, sanfranciscolovetours.com)
“The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion, and Rock & Roll”
The exhibit at de Young Museum is an all-encompassing look at the 1960s, highlighting the art, photographs, music, fashion and films that shaped the era. After seeing the show, walk over to the Conservatory of Flowers, where a trippy LED (not LSD!) light show takes place nightly (through Oct 21) at sundown.
de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr (415-750-3600, deyoung.famsf.org). Through Aug 20.