Free DJ pop-ups return to Golden Hill Park with city approval

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — What started as one man playing music for friends at Golden Hill Park has grown into a full community event, this time with city approval.

DJ Daniel Hernandez, whose grassroots pop-ups were once shut down by the city, is back thanks to a community sponsor who stepped in to cover permits and requirements.

On Friday, Hernandez returned to Golden Hill Park, drawing a large crowd. He credits the comeback to a partnership with Probity Productions.

“Since the last time I talked to you, we got the permits, we got all the logistical things figured out with the city and the park to be able to put on the event,” Hernandez said.

He said having a local sponsor made it possible to keep the event free and rooted in the neighborhood where it all began.

“It’s everything that I wanted out of this,” Hernandez said. “It’s nothing without the community, first of all, but to be able to do it at Golden Hill Park, my neighborhood park where I have deep roots, it meant something to me personally that I didn’t pop up anywhere else until we were back.”

The city previously shut down his events for lacking permits and drawing large crowds. Under new limits, Hernandez’s gatherings are capped at 250 people.

Still, Hernandez said keeping the events free is what matters most.

“We were able to keep this as a free event in San Diego and that’s really important right now,” he said. “All of us as San Diegans know we are paying a lot of money, but stepping outside should not cost you money.”

On Saturday afternoon, Hernandez performed at Juneshine, a brewery in Scripps Ranch, where crowds gathered Saturday to enjoy food, drinks, and hear his music.

Hernandez says he hopes to continue bringing together the community through his music.