Outside Lands tips; try 20th Street Block Party

BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE: If you were one of the many people who couldn’t afford a $375 ticket to Outside Lands this year, fear not; 20th Street Block Party is just the festival for you.

While you’ll still have to deal with an hour drive to San Francisco, the fest offers a power-packed day of fun. Put together by Noise Pop (yes, the same Noise Pop responsible for the Treasure Island Music Festival and the Noise Pop Music and Arts Festival), the sixth annual 20th Street Block Party showcases live music, art and killer local food.

This year’s lineup includes Empress Of, Jeff Rosenstock, The Marias, The She’s, FAN, The Total Bettys, Small Crush, Mint, Sazon Libre and B-Side Brujas. Best of all, the event is free.

Aside from awesome musical acts, you can also expect interactive yoga from Showga, a company that fuses live music with yoga and leaves you feeling stretched, refreshed and ready for more music. If you’re a fan of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the fest also offers the perfect chance to “lip sync for your life” (or, in this case, prizes) with KQED’s lip sync battle, where contestants are pulled from the crowd to lip sync between sets.

Other highlights include a silent disco, a pop-up record shop from Amoeba Music, tarot card readings, double Dutch competitions, local art exhibits and cool cars to scope out from SF Low Rider Council.

You can also pick up VIP “Headliner Experience” tickets, which include a private viewing area, complimentary beer and wine and private bathrooms. These tickets are a good deal if you’re over 21 and plan to buy a few drinks anyway. Not to mention, you can feel better about splurging on VIP tickets because the block party benefits Mission Language and Vocational School, a nonprofit community education center located in the Mission District.

P.S.: Dog parents who hate leaving their pups at home are welcome to bring their furry critters as long as they stay on a 6-foot leash at all times. There’s even a dedicated dog park.

Details: Noon-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, 20th Street Corridor, 3010 20 St., San Francisco. Free-$50; 20thstreetblockparty.com

hhhhhh

FESTIVAL TIPS FOR THIS WEEKEND: Speaking of Outside Lands, I have a few tips to throw your way before you head out to the three-day fest.

Remember to check the list of dos and don’ts on the Outside Lands website, even if you’re a festival veteran.

The festival organizers have added a few new rules this year, the biggest update being that bags larger than 6 by 8 inches are no longer permitted unless they’re clear. Make sure to pick up a clear backpack if you plan on bringing more than what fits inside a fanny pack. And remember, this festival stays cool in comparison to other festivals, so dress warmly unless you want to be chattering your teeth by the time the headliners take the stage.

Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. tonight, Aug. 10, through Sunday, Aug. 12, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. $149-$795; sfoutsidelands.com

hhhhhh

MUSIC OUTSIDE OF OUTSIDE LANDS: If you prefer to stay local or want to make your own festival, here’s a list of events happening during Outside Lands weekend.

With a mix of folk, blues and honky-tonk and an ancestry tracking back to Davy Crockett, Carley Crockett is one cowboy you don’t want to miss rolling through town.

Details: 8:30 p.m. tonight, Aug. 10, Mystic Theatre, 23 Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma. $15; mystictheatre.com

If you’re a Prince fan and don’t want to sit at home listening to “Purple Rain” on your own, catch When Doves Cry (a nine-piece Prince cover band) performing the album in Napa.

Details: 7 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, Silo’s, 530 Main St., Napa. $27-$30; silosnapa.com

Grab a bite and celebrate the legendary Johnny Cash with Cash’d Out at the third annual Twin Oaks Backyard BBQ.

Details: 6 p.m Sunday, Aug. 12, Twin Oaks Roadhouse, 5745 Old Redwood Highway, Penngrove. ?$20-$30; twinoaksroadhouse.com

Help us keep the beat. Write Estefany at ?nightbeats@pressdemocrat.com.