Concert Programs: Stern Grove Festival was founded in 1938 by Mrs. Rosalie Meyer Stern, a civic activist and arts patron who envisioned a series of free performances open to the public in Sigmund Stern Grove, a stunning natural amphitheater and park in San Francisco. Generations of music and nature lovers gather at Stern Grove Festival to enjoy world-class artists, picnicking, and relaxation in serene meadow surrounded by giant eucalyptus and redwood trees. Stern Grove was redesigned by renowed landscape architect, Lawrence Halprin, and is a world-class performance art facility and a natural jewel in the heart of the city. Since 1938, Stern Grove Festival has presented admission-free, outdoor concerts for Bay Area residents and visitors.