“If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.” That iconic line from Scott McKenzie’s classic 1967 Summer of Love anthem welcomed a new era of collective consciousness at a pivotal time of national upheaval. It’s not unlike the moment we face today.
The song’s call to disarm felt freshly relevant to me as I ventured north from Southern California to attend this weekend’s Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park. It was my tenth time at the event, but my first since COVID. My goal was to experience great music but also to soak in the city’s vibe firsthand.