The San Francisco Bay Area is home to a few great music festivals each year, but Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is the most unique and the most fun. Held in Golden Gate Park, it's FREE to attend (thank you Warren Hellman, RIP), and it was created out of a sheer love of music (rather than a love of money), but it still offers up three full days of eclectic talent, featuring huge headliners, local favorites, and plenty to discover.
I only went one day this year, on Sunday, but still had a full festival experience.
Passion, dance moves, drama, a killer drummer, custom jackets & two costume changes: 66 year-old Charles Bradley gave me life.