SF.'s Hippie Hill 420 gathering discouraged. Here's where to go instead

A tie-dyed flag waves as people walk by Hippie Hill where a Volo Sports, "Peace, Love and Volo Sports" event that coincided with Easter gatherings, and an unofficial 420 gathering at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park in San Fr, on Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle)

Spring is about to get a little greener as the unofficial 420 holiday pays tribute to Bay Area cannabis culture.

On Monday, April 20, the typically large outdoor gathering at Golden Gate Park's Hippie Hill will likely remain the informal ground zero for the occasion, despite lacking city sanction this year. But there's more to explore across the region.

In addition to a week-long celebration with SF Spacewalk, whose third annual cannabis culture-focused event series is going on now through Monday, here are some of the best 420 events for 2026.

After Dark: Altered States

Get into an evening of mind-expanding programs, including boundary-pushing music from electroacoustic composer-pianist Sarah Davachi, hands-on exhibitions and hear from researchers about psychedelics. Food and drinks available.

Psychedelic Culture 2026: A Chacruna Conference

The annual Bay Area spring conference on plant medicines and psychedelic science is set to explore cutting-edge psychedelic conversations and education. The three day, in-person conference is set to offer panel discussions and experiential opportunities with live music, dance, art circles, tobacco ceremonies, workshops, social sessions and more.

9 a.m. Friday, April 17-6 p.m. Sunday, April 19. $160-$375.72. Brava Theatre Center, 2781 24th St., S.F. 415-641-7657. www.brava.org

A 420 fan sports a leafy t-shirt and necklace for the holiday that celebrates all things marijuana. (Yalonda M. James/S.F. Chronicle)

Begin the evening with a light tea service before joining sound healing professional Jessica Sharp on third Fridays, for a 420-friendly immersive sound bath experience. Bring a mat and dress for comfort.

HellaFunny Presents: The Stoner Comedy Jam and Puff Puff Laugh

Enjoy a night of herbal-influenced live stand-up comedy in the cannabis venue's cozy lounge space.

8-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, April 17-18. Free admission with purchase. Moe Greens, 1276 Market St., S.F. 415-762-4255. www.moegreens.com/events

420 Celebration with Kabaka Pyramid and the Bebble Rockers

Da Best Entertainment presents a night of mellow vibes and live reggae music from Grammy Award-winning, Kingston, Jamaica-native lyricist Kabaka Pyramid and his band, along with a lineup of live reggae DJ sets.

Pot Stars of California 420 Celebration

A day-long cannabis culture event is set to feature community activities, live entertainment, interactive attractions, educational workshops, food trucks and merchandise vendors representing local cannabis brands and culture.

Aidan Mumme, left, passes a marihuana joint to Bianca Ponce de Leon at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle)

Spend a weekend hanging out in the heart of downtown San Jose with two days of live reggae and hip-hop music, food and merchandise vendors, cannabis cultural activations and more. Headlining artists Baby Bash and Julian Junior Marvin and the Legendary Wailers and other artists including the Bayonics, RBL Posse, Los Rakas, Amp Melo are part of the performance lineup.

2-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April 18–19.$44.69-$82.18; ages 21 and older. Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 194 S. Market St., San Jose. www.mitpsj.com/420-in-the-park

The Roaring 420s: Great Gatsby Party

Dress to impress at a 1920s-themed dinner party with a cannabis twist. As part of the Cotati dispensary lounge's Four Day 420 celebration, the evening event is set to include live jazz from Fog City Swing, dinner, goodie bags, cannabis-infused cocktails, interactive cannabis brand stations, guided tastings, casino-style games and a costume contest

UC Theatre Presents: the Disco Biscuits

Get your dancing shoes on for a live performance from Philadelphia-based original ‘trance-fusion' jam band as they celebrate their 31st anniversary.

Bay Blaze 420 Celebration and Music Fest

Enjoy an outdoor event featuring cannabis-inspired live music and art, local vendors, cannabis culture, food trucks, wine and waterfront views. There will not be cannabis vendors at this event, but it is 420-friendly.

Author and former Sunset Magazine garden editor Johanna Silver will talk about her book on April 19 in Berkeley. (Rachel Weill/Abrams Books)

Enjoy a talk and 420 weekend party with author Johanna Silver celebrating her practical guide to growing weed in your home garden titled "Growing Weed in the Garden: A No-Fuss, Seed-to-Stash Guide to Outdoor Cannabis Cultivation".

Renegade Theater Company: ‘Reefer Madness'

Inspired by the original 1936 film of the same name, this community theater's raucous take on the cult classic offers a tongue-in-cheek look at the historical hysteria caused when kids fell prey to the vice of marijuana usage.

7 p.m. Saturday, April 18; 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19; 5 p.m. Monday, April 20. $25-$33.42. Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz. www.renegadetheaterco.org

12th Annual Bicycle Day SF 2026

Pause at the intersection of psychedelics and culture and mark the occasion of Albert Hofmann's discovery of LSD. A weekend-long music and art festival is set to showcase dubstep and trance performance artists including headliners Liquid Stranger and Infected Mushroom as well as notable performances scheduled from Cool Customer, Porangui and Liquid Bloom. It's set to include an art exhibition, interactive installations, live entertainment, food, drinks and merchandise vendors.

‘Twas the Night Before Bike Day

Enjoy a night of live performances featuring Bay Area–based jazz-funk and psychedelic soul project Collectivity and DJ Little John. There will be an art exhibition, vendors, food and drinks available.

Hundreds of participants smoke minutes after 4:20 pm at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle)

Attend an outdoor celebration that encourages local spoken word and music artists to express themselves at a live community performance. Open mic sign up starts at 11 a.m. RSVP online Seating is first come, first served. Bring your own blankets or low seats.

Paint Your Own Cutie Pipe Workshop

Unleash your creativity and paint a pre-bisqued ceramic ‘cutie' pipe. Use professional underglazes to hand-paint your own piece to take home in time for 4/20.

Noon-2 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 19. $79. Clay by the Bay, 747 Beach St, S.F. 415-416-6475. www.cutie-pipes.com

Quique Neira and Elenah Live

Head over to the historic Ruth Williams Opera House for an evening of reggae, Latin roots and cross-cultural sounds as Chilean reggae artist Quique Neira performs live as part of a lineup set to include Afro-Caribbean, reggae artist Elenah. Local cannabis dispensary Urbana will be activating a 420 friendly area featuring an artist meet and greet as well as offering 420 gift bags to elevate the vibe.

Psychedelic Culture 2026 Official Afterparty

Immerse yourself in vibrant psychedelic culture at an official Bicycle Day afterparty. Unwind after the conference, enjoy live entertainment and keep the conversations going.

420 at 7 Stars

Stop by, lean in and learn from local cannabis brand ambassadors. Enjoy yoga, live music, bingo, craft activities, prizes, food and cannabis vendors offering product specials and goodie bags.

Horace Thomas shows off his pins at a 4/20 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle)

Join all-day festival event featuring indoor and outdoor lounge areas, live performances from Berner, B-Legit and others. The 420 takeover is set to include a vending marketplace gourmet food and a lineup of major artists and surprise guests.

Another Planet Entertainment: ‘Fantastic Planet'

Attend a screening of René Laloux' 1973 animated science fiction masterpiece centered around a story where humans, kept as pets by a technologically advanced alien species, must fight to regain their freedom. In French with English subtitles

Haight Laughsbury Comedy Show

Check in for a 420 installation of the weekly stand-up comedy show and keep the spirit of Haight-Ashbury weird, funny and alive.

CinemaSF Presents: ‘The Big Lebowski'

A screening of the Coen brothers' classic 1999 stoner film starring Jeff Bridges as "the Dude," Julianne Moore, John Goodman, John Turturro and Steve Buscemi.

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