Part 1 of the Forever Grateful exhibition opened at the Haight Street Art Center in July, chronicling the Grateful Dead’s journey from 1965 to 1995.
Now, two months later, the highly anticipated second part is finally opening in Golden Gate Park on Saturday, Sept. 5, followed by a free concert by Grahame Lesh & Friends on Monday, Sept. 7.
Sponsored by Amoeba Music and Love on Haight, the show is one of the most comprehensive surveys of the iconic San Francisco band‘s legacy.
Forever Grateful will go on display at the SF County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park from Sept. 5 to Oct. 25, 2026, requiring ticketed access. Its free counterpart will remain on display at the art center through September 20th.
Here’s a closer look…
Inside the exhibition
While the Haight Street exhibition leans toward contemplation, the Golden Gate Park one is all about participation and immersion. The park installation tells the band’s story through performance art, large-scale projections, and interactive storytelling.
Visitors move through dynamic spaces inspired by the band’s experimental ethos, encountering everything from Ken Kesey’s Furthur bus and Jerry Garcia’s BMW to spontaneous performers and puppetry.
Fans are looking forward to ringing in the second exhibition at the free Labor Day concert on Sept. 7th from 2-6pm, featuring Phil Lesh’s son, Grahame Lesh, at Robin Williams Meadow.
The first part of Forever Grateful remains on display at the Haight Street Art Center until Sept. 20, where visitors are offered a comprehensive, collection-driven look at the band’s history. Spanning more than 400 works, the free show highlights the Grateful Dead’s visual identity, from psychedelic concert posters by the “Big Five” artists to rare memorabilia, instruments, and photography.
The show’s focal point is a fully operational, 1:4 scale replica of the band’s Wall of Sound, immersing visitors in the audio innovation that shaped their live performances.
Exhibition information at a glance
Forever Grateful in Golden Gate Park
🗓️ Dates: Sept 5 – Oct 25, 2026
🕐 Hours: Thursday-Tuesday, 12:00-4:00 p.m.
📍 Location: San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
🎟️ Admission: Tickets start at $23.11
Forever Grateful at Haight Street Art Center
🗓️ Dates: July 3 – Sept 20, 2026
🕐 Hours: Thursday–Sunday, 12:00–6:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Haight Street Art Center, 215 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
🎟️ Admission: Free and open to the public
🌐 More information: Haight Street Art Center website