Peace, Love, and Protest: 15 Photos From the ‘Summer of Love’

Written by Alina Wang on May 20, 2025

A group of people dance joyfully outdoors at a festival or concert, with sunlight streaming through the trees and a crowd seated in the background on a grassy hillside.

The “Summer of Love” was a defining moment in San Francisco’s history. In 1967, more than 100,000 people flocked to the city’s Haight-Ashbury district, where droves of hippies embraced psychedelic music and free expression as a way to protest the establishment. Armed with flower crowns and protest signs, they turned the city into a weeks-long celebration inspired by the ideals of love, peace, and communal living. Though the movement had largely faded by fall, its impact on art, music, and social change remains a pivotal chapter in the city’s counterculture and activism. Here are 15 striking “Summer of Love” photos.

1. Haight Ashbury Was an Absolute Scene in ’67

Black-and-white photo of a diverse group of young people gathered at the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets in front of The Unique Men's Shop, with a vintage car and buildings in the background. — j3434

2. Closing Down Entire Streets for Protests

Black and white photo of a group of people marching on a city street, some carrying a large homemade banner and a "STREET CLOSED" sign, with apartment buildings in the background. The crowd appears lively and engaged. — notstephanie

3. Barefoot on Haight Street and Wrapped in Beads and Rebellion

Three young people stand barefoot on a city sidewalk in front of a building with a sign reading "Haight." A car and a van are parked on the street behind them. The style appears to be from the 1960s. — j3434

4. ‘Spencer Dryden, Marty Balin, and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane Performing at the Fantasy Fair, Early June, 1967’

Musicians perform on an outdoor stage before a large crowd. Two play guitars, wearing hats and sunglasses, while a third is partially visible. Trees and sunlight fill the background. — Bryan Costales/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

5. Were Shoes Illegal or Something?

A bearded man in casual clothes and a barefoot woman in a patterned dress and headband smile and stand close together among a crowd at an outdoor gathering, likely in the 1960s or 1970s. — j3434

6. A Couple of Hippies on Haight St.

Two young adults in colorful, eclectic 1960s-style clothing lean against a building on a city street. Posters and flyers cover the window and wall behind them. One wears a flowered hat; both look relaxed. — Ericmolzahn

7. George Harrison From the Beatles Jamming Out With Protesters

A large group of young people sit outdoors on grass, smiling and laughing. One person in the center plays an acoustic guitar. Another person takes a photo, and trees are visible in the background. — h1637727

8. Police on Horseback Trying To Control the Masses

A black-and-white photo shows a crowded city street with protesters marching. Two police officers on horseback face the crowd. The street is lined with buildings, and a large domed building is visible in the distant background. — George Garrigues/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

9. ‘George Harrison and Pattie Boyd Visiting Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco for the ‘Summer of Love’ in 1967′

A group of people outdoors in vibrant, colorful 1960s-style clothing; a man with long hair and sunglasses shakes hands with a woman in a patterned dress, surrounded by others in a lively, festive atmosphere. — groomleader

10. A Concert at Speedway Meadow in Golden State Park

A black-and-white photo showing a band playing on an outdoor stage to a huge crowd seated on the grass. Trees surround the area, creating a natural amphitheater. The scene feels lively and energetic. — Post_Crash_Earnheart

11. ‘Noted Beat Poet Allen Ginsberg Chats With Some Hippies on a Street Corner in San Francisco, California, on May 4, 1967’

A bearded man with glasses stands on a busy city sidewalk, surrounded by people walking in both directions. Shops, cars, and signs are visible in the background on a bustling street. — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

12. ‘A Young Woman Talks to a Hippie Student as He Does His Homework on a Sidewalk During the ‘Summer of Love’ in 1967′

Black-and-white photo of three young people outside a shop. One sits on the sidewalk barefoot, drawing or writing, while the other two stand nearby. Shop windows display posters, including one about "Join the Army. — Bettmann/Getty Images

13. Hanging Out in Front of Local Establishments in the Haight-Ashbury District in Early Summer

Black-and-white photo of a street scene with vintage cars parked in front of a barber shop and other storefronts. Several people stand on the sidewalk, and ornate windows line the building above. — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

14. The Doors Performing at the Fillmore Music Venue

Black and white photo of a band performing on stage; one musician plays keyboard on the left, while a singer in a leather jacket and pants stands at the microphone, with two other figures and abstract patterns on the wall behind them. — AngeloFerlucci

15. ‘Greatest Summer in History’

A group of young people in casual 1960s clothing sit and stand outside a yellow storefront on a sunny city street, while others walk by on the sidewalk under leafy trees. — danroyj

Interested in seeing more ’60s content?

Immerse yourself in the decade with 24 Vintage Photos From 1965 and 15 Dreamy Photos of 1960s Weddings. And for the kids at heart, don’t miss 12 Popular Toys Every Kid in the ’60s Couldn’t Wait To Get Their Hands On.