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It’s Baaack! The 2024 Portola Music Festival is Sept. 28-29

It’s that time again, Alameda. The two-day Portola Music Festival at Pier 80 in San Francisco is happening on Saturday, September 28-29, starting at 1 p.m. and ending at 11 p.m. both nights. The good news for fans of the festival is that some of this year’s headliners include Disclosure, Justice, Rufus Du Sol, Gesaffelstein, Jamie XX, Four Tet, Fisher and M.I.A.; stage lineups and set times are available on the festival website.

Alameda Post - Portola Music Festival poster for 2024

The possible-but-not-necessarily-certain good news for islanders whose windows rattled with the deafening boom-boom-boom of the Skrillex bass until late at night last year, is that all outdoor amplified sound will supposedly be cut off no later than 10:45 p.m. on Sunday this year.

After getting more than 200 call-in noise complaints from Alamedans during the last night of the festival last year, the organizers, Goldenvoice, promised the San Francisco Entertainment Commission at a meeting this past May that they would do better this year. Their plan is to end this year’s Sunday night programming 15 minutes earlier than last year, stagger headline performers so there will be less overall noise late in the evening, and monitor decibel sound levels throughout San Francisco and in Alameda.



Organizers also blamed the higher sound levels last year on weather conditions that changed dramatically that night, stressing that heavy fog and cloud cover caused the sound to travel significantly further. Of course, there’s nothing that they can do to mitigate that.

In an announcement issued earlier this week, organizers acknowledged that “traffic congestion and sound were two factors that had a heavy impact on the community” and said they have “focused a significant amount of energy and resources in creating better solutions this year.” They promised to “monitor audio levels at more strategic locations in and around the site, San Francisco, and the City of Alameda.”

They also noted that there will be sporadic soundchecks Thursday, September 26 through Friday, September 27, from noon to 10 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Traffic, parking issues

With some 40,000 people expected to attend the festival, traffic congestion is expected to be a major issue before and during the festival week. Setup for the festival—with all the large trucks and heavy equipment being loaded in—will take a week, from Friday, September 19 through Friday, September 27. Taking it down and loading it back out will take three days, from Monday, September 30 through Wednesday, October 2.

Organizers also warned that the following road closures are scheduled for Saturday, September 28 through Monday, September 30:

  • Cesar Chavez Street, both directions:
    • Between 3rd Street and Maryland Street, 7 a.m.-1 a.m.
    • Between 3rd Street and Minnesota Street, 8 p.m.-1 a.m.
  • 25th Street, both directions:
    • Between 3rd Street and Maryland Street, 9 a.m.-1 a.m.
  • Marin Street, both directions:
    •  Between 3rd Street and Maryland Street, 7 a.m.-1 a.m.
  • Michigan Street, both directions:
    • Between Cesar Chavez Street and Marin Street, 8 a.m.-1 a.m.
  • Illinois Street:
    • Between Amador Street and 22nd Street, 8 a.m.-1 a.m.
  • 3rd Street:
    •  Between Cargo Way & Cesar Chavez Street, 8 a.m.-1 a.m.

If any of these closures affect you or your business, organizers suggest that you reach out to Community Relations Manager Darren Carroll at [email protected] or 310-200-5839, or contact Regional Director of Operations Erin Bilbo at [email protected] or 415-916-9613. They can help you get a Neighbor Pass dash pass to ensure access.

And if you’re going to the festival, forget about parking. Organizers issued a warning in bold-face capital letters: “THERE IS NO FESTIVAL PARKING AVAILABLE AT PIER 80. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE TO THE EVENT.” 

Visit the festival’s get-here-get-out web page for maps and the latest information regarding transportation and traffic plans, developed in conjunction with local transit authorities.

Liz Barrett is the Copy Editor of the Alameda Post and writes about our community. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Liz-Barrett.

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