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Music

San Francisco’s Summer of Love 50th Anniversary Party Denied Permit

The city’s parks and recreation department cited safety concerns in their decision.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

There may be no summer lovin' in San Francisco this year.

A permit for an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the city's historic Summer of Love—during which thousands of young people (commonly called "hippies" and "flower children") gathered in the Haight-Ashbury district in 1967 for what would become known as a major counterculture movement—was denied last week by the San Francisco parks and recreation department, reports The Guardian.

In their letter to event organizer Boots Hughston, they reportedly cited safety concerns, adding, "We cannot put the public at risk."

The party, initially set to take place June 4 at Polo Field in Golden Gate Park, was proposed as a free, day-long concert. Artists supposedly confirmed to perform included Eric Burdon and War, Country Joe McDonald, Santana Blues Band's original rhythm section, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane, who performed at the original gathering in 1967.

Hughston, who successfully organized the Summer of Love's 40th anniversary celebration at Golden Gate Park's Speedway Meadows with McDonald, Moby Grape, Taj Mahal, and more, said he plans to appeal the denial. An online petition has also acquired more than 1,500 signatures.