The USA

Do these things mean anything to you?

The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Haight-Ashbury, Monterey Pop Festival, Rolling Stone magazine and a pop song ‘San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in your Hair)‘ sung by Scott McKenzie (and written by The Mamas & the Papas’ ultimate hippy, John Phillips).

If so, then you should be in San Francisco this summer – either to reminisce, to ‘let it all hang out’, or to enjoy peace and love, art and entertainment, and a heap of fun, San-Fran hippy-style! [It’s 2017 so we don’t recommend you ‘Turn on, tune in and drop out’ as prescribed to the masses by Dr Timothy Leary at Human Be-In at Golden Gate Park in 1967 – Ed]

… here’s Scott McKenzie performing that very song at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival – and if you doubt its historical significance 50 years hence, this particular YouTube video alone has had almost 47 million views!

If you’re still clueless, here’s a brief outline – and plenty of reasons why you should be a part of this living history in San Francisco in the Summer of Love 2017!

Fifty years ago in 1967, around 100,000 young people flocked to the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood of San Francisco, quickly establishing the epicentre of what became known as ‘the Summer of Love’, where new music, fashion and art flourished and there was a feeling that anything was possible.

On 13 May that year, the song “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” was released, and became the anthem of the era.

At summerof.love, the California Historical Society provides the detailed factual and cultural context for this seminal summer through its own exhibition and work with cultural partners.

Last Saturday, 13 May 2017, the city proclaimed ‘Flowers in Your Hair Day’ in celebration of the song and what it stands for, and The San Francisco Travel Association, in partnership with United Airlines and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), surprised passengers arriving from Los Angeles on specially-named Flight 1967 at Gate 67 with a one-of-a-kind San Francisco welcome. Passengers were presented with flowers by some of the local “gentle people” (as referenced in the song), were treated to a live musical performance from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, wax figures of Jerry Garcia and Jimi Hendrix courtesy of Madame Tussauds San Francisco, SFO’s Wag Brigade in tie dyed flair and United Airlines served 400 cupcakes to travellers in the terminal.

“Flowers In Your Hair Day” also marks the beginning of a summer-long celebration encouraging travellers to visit the city – just one of more than 60 Summer of Love exhibitions, festivals, events, tours, activities and celebrations that are being held throughout the city and the region this year.

“The Summer of Love is such an important part of San Francisco’s history, and our organization has truly enjoyed acknowledging and sharing its impact on our culture. The ‘Flowers In Your Hair Day’ celebration was the perfect start to a summer of events and activities showcasing the soul of that exceptional time 50 years ago,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors to San Francisco with open arms and an open heart.”

To help visitors plan their trip, San Francisco Travel has launched summeroflove2017.com, which provides an ever-expanding guide to the whole ‘groovy scene.’