San Francisco Diwali Festival (Sunday, Nov 8)

Celebrate Diwali on November 8 at Yerba Buena Gardens, as California observes Diwali as an official state holiday
About this Event

The San Francisco Diwali Festival brings together contemporary and traditional South Asian performances for a vibrant outdoor celebration. Set in the beautiful , this free, all-ages event invites you to relax, dance, and celebrate Diwali.

Enjoy live performances throughout the day, along with a curated selection of local makers, artisan vendors, and delicious food. Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of music, culture, and celebration!

Experience Diwali in the heart of San Francisco with live music, dance, and family friendly fun!

Featuring Alam Khan, two-time Grammy-nominated artist, Raaga School of Music, Rang De Bollywood Dance Company, DJ Mumbai Rani, and The Dhol King.

The San Francisco Diwali Festival is presented by in partnership with .

Meet Alam Khan, two-time Grammy-nominated artist, Khalifa of the Seni Maihar Gharana, and son of legendary sarod maestro Swara Samrat Ali Akbar Khan.Since beginning his training at the age of seven, Alam was fortunate to learn in the traditional style of Guru and Shishya (teacher and student) under the careful guidance of his father. The influence of Ali Akbar Khan’s teachings is evident in every note Alam plays, as well as in his imaginative interpretations of ancient ragas passed down from the courts of Emperor Akbar through Mian Tansen in the 16th century.

Alam’s performance career took off when he began accompanying his father on international stages from 1996 to 2006. During this period, he performed at prestigious venues such as the Royal Jodhpur Palace, the Dover Lane Music Festival in Calcutta, New York’s Lincoln Center Jazz Festival, and in highly acclaimed concerts across the United States, Canada, Europe, and India.

While accompanying his father, Alam’s solo career began to take shape in 1998, and since then he has established himself as the true heir to Ali Akbar Khan’s legacy. As one of the leading Sarod players of the Maihar Gharana, Alam has received praise from musical icons such as Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, and Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, among many of India’s finest musicians.

Alam has had the privilege of performing alongside some of India’s greatest Tabla masters, including Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, at renowned venues around the world.

In addition to his classical work, Alam has collaborated with a diverse array of artists across various genres, including the Grammy-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band, Vijay Iyer, Blake Mills, Anoushka Shankar, Karsh Kale, Beats Antique, Bob Weir, The San Francisco Symphony, Del Sol Quartet, and Jack Perla, among others. He is also a founding member of the genre-bending group Grand Tapestry and the primary composer of The Resonance Between.

Join us for a special performance by Alam Khan at the San Francisco Diwali Festival

Founded with a deep commitment to the rich heritage of Indian classical arts, the Raaga School of Music is dedicated to teaching and nurturing the next generation of artists. Passionately continuing the tradition of Classical Indian Music. Carnatic Vocal, Hindustani Vocal, Tabla, Veena, Sitar, Sarod, Carnatic Violin.

Celebrate the joy, color, and festive spirit of Diwali with Rang De Bollywood Dance Company, a San Francisco-based dance company dedicated to bringing people together through the magic of Bollywood and Indian dance. Our festive dance lesson will be fun, inclusive, and highly engaging, inviting everyone to move, laugh, connect, and celebrate together. No prior dance experience is needed—just come ready to have fun!

Following the lesson, Rang De Bollywood will bring the celebration to life with an uplifting and energizing performance featuring vibrant Bollywood music, expressive choreography, and the infectious joy of Indian dance. And as with all of our performances, the celebration doesn't end on stage—the audience will be invited to join us in dancing, turning the entire gathering into one joyful, shared celebration.

At Rang De Bollywood, we believe dance has the power to bring people together, celebrate culture, create connection, and spread happiness. This Diwali, come dance, celebrate, and experience the vibrant spirit of Bollywood with us at Yerba Buena Gardens!

DJ Mumbai Rani and The Dhol King join forces for a high-energy celebration blending contemporary DJ sounds with the powerful rhythms of live dhol.

DJ Mumbai Rani brings a vibrant mix of Bollywood favorites, global beats, and dance-floor energy, while The Dhol King adds the unmistakable sound and excitement of live dhol. Together, they create an energetic fusion of music and rhythm celebrating the spirit of Diwali.

Participating vendors:

• Deb Dutta Art
• 9am Art
• Mystic Marigold Co
• Raaga School of Music
• Desi Board Games
• Jari Studios
• Carbon Tales
• Pyarful
• Ohana Earth
• The Chaga Company
• Golden Coast Henna
• En Vie Naturals

More to be announced!

Participating food vendors:

• Curry Up Now
• Lahore di Khushboo
• Swahili Spot

More to be announced!

• Location: Mission Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, San Francisco, CA
• Great Lawn outdoor stage at Yerba Buena Gardens
• All ages • Family-friendly
• ADA accessible

Nearby Parking Garages:
Fifth and Mission Parking Garage

833 Mission St (between 4th St & 5th St), San Francisco, CA 94103

Moscone Garage

255 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Yerba Buena Gardens, a beautiful haven in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown art district, lets you experience San Francisco on a human scale. With its acres of sprawling greenery, the Gardens is an easygoing spot for you and your family to play, dine, recreate, shop, and take it all in any time of year.

Whether you want to visit a popular museum, sit in a theater or a café, view public art, hang out with your kids at The Fun Zone, or stroll the beautiful lawns and gardens, there’s always something new to experience and enjoy. Come visit our three city blocks, bordered by Third, Fourth, Market, and Folsom streets, any day of the year.

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