Now in its third year, the Portola Music Festival has become one of the hottest tickets in town for fans of electronic and club music. For two days, Sept. 28–29, San Francisco’s Pier 80 transformed into a giant rave — if you’ll allow the expansion of the term “rave,” with its roots in underground music and culture, to include a festival put on by a major corporate promoter.
More than 30,000 attendees got decked out each day to dance and vibe beneath a glittering disco ball, taking in sets by Jessie Ware, Disclosure, M.I.A., hometown heroes Deltron 3030 and more. Photographer Estefany Gonzalez was on the scene for photos of fans and their festival fashions.
See photos of performances and read more about the weekend here .
Lola Fadojutimi, 30, wears red sunglasses at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Fadojutimi currently lives in Washington, D.C., and was so excited about the lineup that she decided to purchase tickets despite the fact that she’s moving to New York as soon as she returns from her trip. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Gal Azulay, 25, twirls a glowing rave toy as Justice performs at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Azulay was one of the many people in attendance with neon accessories. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Emilio Arias, 36, wears a Victorian-style wig at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Janie Flores, 29, dances with her doll at the Ship Tent as Joy Orbison performs at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Robby Alva, 29, and his partner Cesar Delgado, 29, hold hands at at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Andie Romero, 30, uses a parasol decorated with colorful charms to protect herself from the sun at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Romero, a festival enthusiast, has taken the parasol with her to countless festivals, considers it a staple, and has repaired it each time a charm falls off. “It’s been through a lot,” she said. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Shashank Shivashankar, 28, center, dances at the Ship Tent as Joy Orbison performs at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Amy Herrera, 34, waves a rainbow fan as Jessie Ware performs at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Sungho Yoo, 37, center, and friends dress as fruit salad at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
People dance as Natasha Bedingfield performs at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Alyssa Tarango, 21, uses a pacifier as thousands of people gather at the Ship Tent at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Thomas Gerst, 30, decorates his spiked hair with safety pins at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Andie Biggs, 30, center, dances with their friends as Disclosure performs at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Carlos Ixcoy, 22, watches Horsegiirl perform from the front row of the Ship Tent at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Aaron Bermillo, 26, center, wears a vibrant, handmade fur outfit at the Ship Tent during Rebecca Black’s performance at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Tatiana Henriquez, 25, sits on her friend’s shoulders as she watches Horsegiirl perform at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Chris Tan, 25, waves an inflatable pickle in the air as Mochakk performs at the Warehouse Stage during Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
A festival attendee wears light up fur leg warmers at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
A person identifying as “Granny” walks toward the Crane Stage as Natasha Bedingfield takes the stage at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Jason Feldman, 35, right, hugs his friend as Tycho performs at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Concert goers watch Gesaffelstein perform at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Noheli Sotelo, 26, center, watches Mochakk perform at the Warehouse Stage during Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Concert goers watch Gesaffelstein perform at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Melonee Sanchez, 21, wears colorful bracelets at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. The bracelets Sanchez wears are often referred to as kandi bracelets at raves and are often exchanged to commemorate a friendship. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Shai Moya, 25, center, and friends party at the Warehouse Stage during Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Linda Gordon, 55, and her dog Brixton, 11, stun in their shades at Portola Music Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)