Flower Piano to Celebrate 10th Anniversary at San Francisco Botanical Garden

In the final days of summer and celebrating its 10th anniversary, Flower Piano will fill San Francisco Botanical Garden with music for everybody, September 12–21, 2025.

Participants are invited to explore and enjoy the Botanical Garden’s plant collections as they seek out 12 pianos spread out across the 55 acres. At each of the pianos, there will be scheduled professional and community partner performances as well as open play time for anyone to sit down and play, reflecting a range of genres, ages, and cultures.

“That whole recital vibe is kind of subverted with what we’re doing with Flower Piano,” says Dean Mermell, Co-Founder, together with Mauro ffortissimo, of event partner Sunset Piano. “Most people who practice the piano have never played in front of other people before. Perhaps they’ve only ever played in front of their music teacher, their partner, or, in my case, my cat! People finish playing and suddenly realize they are surrounded by applauding strangers. Flower Piano allows everybody to experience the piano and all kinds of music in so many new ways. Listening to this parlor instrument being played outdoors fills you with a sense of wonder. It kind of short circuits your brain and lets something else come in. It’s an exciting space where we can be our best as humans, enjoying the Bay Area’s finest musicians in the city’s most beautiful setting.”

“We are excited to celebrate 10 years of our most popular program. This inclusive, interactive music festival is an extraordinary gift to the community and all our visitors. I want to express my deep gratitude to the funders, sponsors, partners, and musical artists who contribute to the magic that is Flower Piano,” says Stephanie Linder, CEO of the Gardens of Golden Gate Park.

Flower Piano Lounge

During Flower Piano 2025, the Celebration Garden in the Botanical Garden will be transformed into the Flower Piano Lounge. This upgraded musical landscape will feature priority entry to the festival, special performances from local headliners, access to premium bars, food from local makers, lounge seating, dedicated restrooms, and flexibility to relax and enjoy all areas of the festival at will. Tickets to the Lounge start from $40 Friday to a $90 weekend all- access pass.

Lounge performances will include Lavay Smith and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Dred Scott & Cali Mambo, Sixth Station Trio, Sumi Lee & Ramiro Boero, and more. The Lounge will also host the 10th Anniversary Opening Night Event on Friday, September 12, featuring Montuno Swing Salsa Band with Grammy Award-Winning pianist Christian Tumalan bringing together infectious rhythm, thundering brass, and out-of-this-world piano solos for a new twist on classic salsa favorites that you can dance to. The ten days of Flower Piano will come to a close at the Lounge on Sunday, September 21, with a special event featuring long-time Flower Piano star, the Kev Choice Chamber Ensemble. The Lounge has limited capacity. Buy your tickets today!

Featured Performers

Featured Flower Piano performers will include familiar favorites such as Tammy Hall, Sarah Cahill, Serene, Diana Gameros, as well as several new artists and special performances. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra will premiere a new piece by composer Benjamin Gribble called Oleander, Elektra Schmidt, soloist; as well as Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major, Kymry Esainko, soloist; and George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Allison Lovejoy, soloist. The full program will feature more than 100 performers, including solos, duos, and ensembles.

Fashion Show and Family Programming

The second annual Flower Piano Fashion Show hopes you will come decked out in full regalia and ready to strut down the catwalk in your best Flower Piano themed outfit. You will be adored by thousands and may win a fabulous prize! The Flower Piano Fashion Show will take place at the Great Meadow on Saturday, September 20, from 3–4:30 pm.

Flower Piano will also feature a wonderful assortment of family programming such as a Family Dance-Along with San Francisco Ballet, SF Opera Garden Party featuring the Instrument Garden in full bloom, the Rabbit Hole Theater performing a whimsical puppet show and garden treasure hunt, and more. Family programming at Flower Piano is generously supported by the Sue Ann & Bob Schiff Children’s Fund.

Flower Piano is a musical event and attraction that provides open access to music and pianos within the beautiful, outdoor environment of San Francisco Botanical Garden. General admission to Flower Piano is free for all San Franciscans, veterans regardless of residency, for families receiving SNAP or CalFresh benefits via the Museums For All program, and for everyone else following $3–$25 general admission.

“Congratulations to the entire team at the Gardens of Golden Gate Park and our partners at Sunset Piano on 10 amazing years of bringing piano music to the community. We are proud of this incredible festival and our partnership,” says San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “After a decade, Flower Piano has become a San Francisco tradition you don’t want to miss!”

The presenting sponsor for Flower Piano is the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, and the San Francisco Bay Times is proud to be a media sponsor of this iconic San Francisco annual event series.

Flower Piano
Friday, September 12–Sunday,
September 21, 10 am–6 pm;

Flower Piano Opening Event:
Friday, September 12, 4 pm–7:30 pm;

Flower Piano Lounge:
Saturday, September 13–Sunday,
September 14, noon–7:30 pm; Friday,
September 19, 4 pm–7:30 pm
Saturday, September 20–Sunday,
September 21, noon–7:30 pm.

San Francisco Botanical Garden,
Golden Gate Park
https://gggp.org/flowerpiano/

Published on September 11, 2025