Yardfest
Source: https://dso.college.harvard.edu/yardfest Parent: https://dso.college.harvard.edu/student-activities
Each April, the entire Harvard College community gathers in Tercentenary Theatre for a giant cookout and festival-style concert.
The two winning student bands from Battle for Yardfest, held in February or March, are granted an amazing opportunity to open for the exciting professional headliner. Past performers include Kiiara, Bazzi, Lil Yachty, and Wale. This annual spring concert is sponsored by the Harvard College Events Board (CEB), Harvard's premier programming board.
Yardfest 2026 is tentatively scheduled for April 19, 2026!
Yardfest 2025 Event Details
Featured Artists Block Parties Dinner Menu and Drinks Bathrooms Accessibility
Featured Artists
Featuring Natasha Bedingfield
and student openers Big Tuesday, Yard Bops & STRYK9
CEB headliner announcement on Instagram
Block Parties
Residential Community Block Parties
Before the concert begins, we hope to see you at one of the Block Parties. Join these events for an exclusive Yardfest t-shirt while supplies last.
Block Parties will be held from 2:00 pm–4:00 pm at the following locations:
- Quad (Pforzheimer, Currier, Cabot, and Dudley): Quad Lawn- 60 Linnaean Street
- River East (Dunster, Leverett, Mather): Leverett Towers Courtyard- 28 Dewolfe Street
- River West (Eliot, Kirkland, Winthrop): Eliot Courtyard- 101 Dunster Street
- River Central (Adams, Lowell, Quincy): Lowell Courtyard- 10 Holyoke Place
If you are a first-year student, you are encouraged to attend the block party associated with your future house!
Once the Block Parties end at 4:00pm, we encourage you to go to the Yard for the concert and dinner.
Dinner Menu and Drinks
Yardfest 2025 Burger Bash Menu
Food will be served from 4:30 to 7:30pm. Kosher options will be available.
Salads
- Baby Kale Caesar w/ gluten free croutons & grated parmesan cheese
- Spinach salad with mandarin oranges & Apple cider vinaigrette
- Coleslaw
Burger bar
- Grilled Halal beef burger
- Garder broiler veggie burger
- Hot dogs
- Baked beans. Vgn
- Soft Burger buns
- Hot dog rolls
Topping Bar
- Shredded lettuce
- Sliced tomato
- Sliced red onion
- Sliced pickles
- Sliced American
- Guacamole
- Bacon
- Individual Bags Chips
Bulk Dispensers
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- BBQ sauce
Dessert
- Selection of prewrapped Ice Cream novelties
Beverages
- Water dispensers
Bathrooms
- Portable bathrooms will be available once you enter the concert area
- No access will be permitted to bathrooms in adjacent buildings
Accessibility
Contact the Student Engagement team at studentengagement@fas.harvard.edu if you have accessibility needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open all sections
Close all sections
How do you get into Yardfest? expand_more
There will be three entrances into the concert:\ Entrance 1: between Weld and WidenerEntrance 2: between University Hall and WeldEntrance 3: between Thayer and University Hall
For all Yardfest details visit https://dso.college.harvard.edu/yardfest
Can I bring guests to Yardfest? expand_more
Not this year. Only Harvard College students will be allowed to enter the concert.
For all Yardfest details visit https://dso.college.harvard.edu/yardfest
What do I need to bring to the concert? expand_more
What to Bring
- Please bring your phone. You will not be able to get in without it! You will need it to get your QR code from the to be scanned into the event!
- Please bring your Harvard ID. You should keep it on you at all times!
Prohibited Items
- Please do not bring alcohol or bottles, they will not be allowed in.
- No glass!There will be plenty of water in and around the Yard for you to drink.
- No bags (i.e; backpacks, fanny packs, purses, large bags, etc.) of any kind will be allowed into Tercentenary.
- No umbrellas:Yardfest will be held rain or shine, so please dress for the weather as needed.
For all Yardfest details visit https://dso.college.harvard.edu/yardfest
Yardfest 2025 Event Map
What can you expect at Yardfest?
Check out the video below for an inside look.
Battle for Yardfest
Join CEB for a night of music. This annual battle of the bands is one of the coolest showdowns of musical talent on campus. Talented student performers compete for the chance to open for the Yardfest headliner! But wait there's more! The student audience gets the opportunity to decide the winners! If that is cool enough, sit back and enjoy the vibe as you're entertained by a professional comedian host. Most importantly, the big Yardfest headliner is revealed at the end of the show!