Every year on April 20th, a dense and hazy cloud forms over Golden Gate Park’s Robin Williams Meadow. This is 420 at Hippie Hill, California’s biggest free cannabis event. The event is known to turn out tens of thousands of people, but the organizers announced last week that 420 Hippie Hill is canceled for 2024.
Why is 420 Hippie Hill canceled for 2024?
According to the 420 Hippie Hill website, this year’s event is canceled “due to citywide budget cutbacks” and “the climate of the cannabis industry & economy.” The website elaborates that the organizers were unable to secure enough financial sponsorship to put on a safe and city-compliant event.
Other ways to celebrate 420 in San Francisco
Even though 420 Hippie Hill won’t be going forward this year, SF is still hosting plenty of alternative activities. Here are a few ideas.
1. Peace, Love, and Volo Field Day
SF Rec & Parks shared that they’ll host a different event at Robin Williams Meadow on April 20, 2024 in honor of Earth Day. They’ve partnered with Volo Sports for Peace, Love, and Volo Field Day, which includes volleyball and kickball tournaments, plus pickup games of cornhole, bocce, and grass volleyball. Attendees are encouraged to wear their grooviest tie-dye and flower power attire.
2. SF Weed Week
The first-ever SF Weed Week presents events from April 13-19, 2024. The free event series was meant to build up to the Hippie Hill celebration, but it’ll now stand alone with a series of product releases from top growers, on-site smoking lounges, and an art exhibition at Mirus Gallery.
3. Concerts, shows, and events on 4/20 in San Francisco
- Apr. 19 – Cannabis & Wine Tasting Event at Plant Connection
- Apr. 20 – White Denim at Great American Music Hall
- Apr. 20 – The New Mastersounds at The Fillmore
- Apr. 20 – The Strumbellas at The Independent
- Apr. 20 – Poetry and Strings in the Park at Golden Gate Park Bandshell
- Apr. 20 – State Line Empire, Modern Monsters, and Tangent at Bottom of the Hill
- Apr. 20 – Diva or Die: San Francisco Daze at The Lost Church
- Apr. 20 – Tree Tour at Salesforce Park
- Apr. 17-20 – Louis Katz at Punch Line Comedy Club
- Apr. 19-21 – Deon Cole at Cobb’s Comedy Club
4. Earth Day and other events in SF
- Apr. 18-19 – Discovery Sessions psychedelics conference at The Midway
- Apr. 20 – Heart Your Parks screen printing at Crane Cove Park
- Apr. 20 – Earth Day Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens
- Apr. 21 – “Earth Day Special Event” Crucial Reggae Sundays at Golden Gate Park Bandshell
- Apr. 21 – Storefront Market Earth Day Celebration at Thrive City
- Apr. 21 – Earth Day SF at The New Farm
What is 420 Hippie Hill?
For years, thousands have gathered on Hippie Hill in SF’s Golden Gate Park, although the festivities take place all throughout Robin Williams Meadow. The beloved event has been going on for decades as an unsanctioned and unpermitted celebration. However, the city got involved last year to amp up the safety measures, meaning that the festivities included permitted cannabis and food vendors, port-a-potties, fencing around the perimeter, a dedicated clean-up crew, on-site medical and emergency services, security checks, and a unified sound system to showcase rotating DJs and performers throughout the day.
The city-sponsored version came after celebrations were canceled for 2 years due to the pandemic. In 2022, SFGATE described 420 Hippie Hill as feeling like a “professionally produced music festival” thanks to a great lineup of performers including local turntable legend DJ Shortkut, Oakland R&B singer Goapele, and comedians Jeff Ross and Hannibal Burress, and Mike Tyson. In 2023, the lineup featured host Erykah Badu, DJ Shortkut, Mind Motion, Jahyzer, DJ A1, DJ Mykone.