“Big Mike” smoking from the three-foot-long joint at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Unauthorized vendors set up an edible shop on a bench at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Two event attendees take a nap at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
An event goer smokes a shared joint at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Brittany McGrath (left) lights a large joint for an attendee of the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Brittany McGrath shares a joint with passerby at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Early reports share that one person was transported from the event for medical help at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
“Big Mike” lights a three-foot-long joint to be shared with the crowd when the clock hit 4:20 at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
A cloud of smoke rises from the crowd at 4:20 pm at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Attendees take turns smoking from the three-foot-long joint at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Attendees take turns smoking from the three-foot-long joint at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Attendees help each other smoke from a three-foot-long joint at the 420 event at Hippie Hill on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Ellie Doyen/Special to S.F. Examiner)Marijuana enthusiasts from all over the world gathered at Golden Gate Park’s Hippie Hill for the annual 420 celebration on Saturday.
Vendors lined the sidewalks selling joints, edibles and marijuana-related gear and clothing.
Event organizers say this is the largest 420 celebration in the world, with early estimates putting attendance somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 people.
District 5 Supervisor Vallie Brown asked attendees to buy their cannabis from certified dispensaries as there were fears that unverified suppliers might have product laced with fentanyl.
The event opened gates at 10 a.m., and attendees began filing out shortly after the “stoner ball drop” at 4:20 p.m.
Volunteers and organizers stayed behind to clean up after the crowds.
Photos and story by Ellie Doyen
Editor’s Note: City officials estimate that that between 13,000 and 14,000 people attended the event.
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