Jerry Day returns to McLaren Park this weekend for its 22nd year

Jerry Day, the annual festival celebrating the birthday of The Grateful Dead's late lead singer Jerry Garcia, is returning this weekend to McLaren Park.

Why it matters: Jerry Day, in its 22nd year, honors Garcia's legacy and childhood roots in the city's Excelsior District.

• Garcia died in 1995 at the age of 53 from a heart attack.

State of play: The free festival , organized by Friends of Jerry Garcia Amphitheater and the Jerry Day Committee, takes place on Saturday at the appropriately named Jerry Garcia Amphitheater.

• The festival features performances from Melvin Seals and JGB , Stu Allen & Mars Hotel , Grahame Lesh and others. Mayor London Breed and Trixie Garcia, the late singer's daughter, are also expected to take part in the festivities.
• The official after-party, Jerry Nite , includes performances at Excelsior venues like The Halfway Club, Tala Wines, the Dark Horse Inn and others.

What they're saying: Jerry Day is "an event that seems to keep growing and evolving" and one that helps the Excelsior be "recognized as a culture asset" in the city, organizer Tom Murphy, who grew up in the neighborhood, told Axios via email.

• It's also a way for Murphy and others to "celebrate the life of one of the greatest musicians in our time, as well as fellow native son of SF — Jerry Garcia," he said.

Flashback: The first official Jerry Garcia-related event in the area took place in 2002 at the Italian American Social Club.

• The following year, Murphy and other organizers renamed it Jerry Day and hosted it at the amphitheater in McLaren Park.
• In 2004, the Jerry Day Committee petitioned the city's parks commission to rename the amphitheater after Garcia, which it did in 2005.

What's next: Doors open at 11am and Jerry Day starts at 11:30.

• Jerry Nite kicks off at 5:30pm.