By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger

The tone is set before the tunes are set. Upon walking into the annual North Park Music Festival in San Diego, you are greeted by a 70s psychedelic logo on a courtyard that looks as if Austin Powers had been there and things like a “bus stop” like none you’ll ever see from the MTS and wildly painted phone booths.

There’s even a “Putt for Puffs” booth.

It’s all part of the cool and funky vibe of this annual music and arts festival – the 2024 event was May 31-June 1 –at North Park Mini Park located just behind 30th and University.

It’s kind of Haight/Ashbury meets Topanga Canyon, a Grateful Dead and 70s hippie combination. And it works. Nothing is to be taken too seriously and that creates a hang loose, happy vibe.

@pubclub.com Cool scene with this band and this fire dancer at the North Park music festival in San Diego. #firedancer #fireeater #fireeaters #pubclub #northparksandiego #musicfest #musicfestival #musicfestivals ♬ original sound – PubClub

There is music, too, on three stages. But the bands don’t play the typical tunes you hear at most festivals. They sing original songs – one, from Oakland-based Fantastic Negrito that featured a lead singer who dressed like Jimmy Hendrix, was about picking up a girl at the grocery store – that will have you moving your head and feet to the different beats. While Fantastic Negrito played, a fire eater and dancer performed to the side of the stage.

Suffice to say there are no tribute bands playing popular cover tunes here.

And, of course, there is beer. San Diego craft beer, too. There are three beer stations, each serving different brews, as well as hard kombucha from San Diego’s Boochcraft and other boots selling spirits from San Diego’s Seaborn Cocktials ($8, $10 and $12, respectively).

There are a dozen food stands serving tacos, Argentinian street food, Asian fusion and other international options.

But what makes the North Park Music Festival really cool – and unique among other street fairs in San Diego – is that it is not a large, super-crowded event. It has a small footprint of only about four blocks, you don’t have to walk long distances and there is plenty of seating. The artwork makes it different, too. Oh, and it’s on a Friday night and Saturday only; there is no Sunday as is the case with just about every other festival.

Overall, the North Mark Music Festival is kind of mellow in a fun and funky kind of way.

Tickets are $45 each day and $60 for both days.

The event’s website is: North Park Music Festival