Groups of samba dancers, percussion ensembles, lowriders and a wide variety of Latin music are just some of the delights of the Mission during this weekend’s San Francisco Carnival festival and parade.
The 46th annual Carnival Festival and Grand Parade celebrates the diverse Latin American, Caribbean and African roots of the city’s Mission District and the Bay Area at large. It’s five main stages, 50 local artists and 400 vendors – including food, which can be a boon for those who dance for hours at the performances or just enjoy food.
What is Carnival San Francisco?
Carnival San Francisco cultivates and celebrates the diverse Latin American, Caribbean and African diaspora roots of the Mission District and the San Francisco Bay Area. The annual festival and parade provides an outlet for hundreds of artists and educators to express themselves through dance, music, visual arts and by creating spaces for community education, school education and advocacy.
Where is the San Francisco Carnival Festival?
The free two-day festival spans 17 blocks on Harrison Street, between 16th and 24th Streets, and is billed as the largest and longest-running multicultural celebration in California, with more than 400,000 attendees.
SF Carnival
The festival site will offer a rich range of food, music, dance, arts, crafts, a new technology and gaming pavilion and other fun activities. The festival is open from 11am to 6pm both days and there are multiple entrances at either end and along the entire length of the festival site. Although it is a free event, donations are accepted and appreciated.
What is the theme of Carnival San Francisco 2024?
The theme for Carnival San Francisco this year is “Honoring Your Native Roots.” While the idea of honoring indigenous heritage has always been central to Carnival SF culture – the Carnival parade begins each year with a blessing ceremony by local Aztec dancers – organizers felt it was important to celebrate the spirit of the indigenous people around the world and how important it is for humanity to coexist with all of creation.
Who will be performing at the Carnival SF Festival?
Dozens of bands and DJs will be performing this weekend, but the festival is highlighting a number of headliners who will be performing. Noel Torres – a regional Mexican singer/songwriter and accordionist who has been playing professionally since the age of 15 – will take the stage at 22nd and Harrison on Saturday at 4 p.m., at the same time as 21st century salsa and timba group Pirulo La Tribu from San Juan, Puerto Rico , puts their modern spin on traditional Latin sounds on the 17th and Harrison stage. Cuban Latin pop singer Franco (aka Franco Javier Iglesias) will play the Caravana de la Bahia Stage at 23rd and Harrison at 5pm and Banda Blanca will play the same stage at the same time on Sunday.
When is the Carnival Grand Parade?
The crowning event of the 46th annual Carnival San Francisco begins at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of 24th Street and Bryant Street, heads west to Mission Street, then north on Mission down to 17th Street, where it turns and flows east. to the festival site.
The 60-person lineup features more than 3,000 artists representing the cultural heritage of Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Bolivia, Cuba, Peru, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, El Salvador and more. The Grand Parade covers 20 blocks in the mission. If you can’t attend the parade in person, CBS New Bay Area will broadcast and stream all the action live from 10am
How does Carnival San Francisco affect traffic?
To accommodate the festival and parade, streets in the Mission District will be closed from the afternoon of Friday, May 24 through the early morning of Monday, May 27. Muni will detour around the Harrison St. festival site and parade route.
On Sundays the following streets are closed from 9am to 4pm for the parade, staging and takedown.
- Mission between 15th and 24th streets
- 15th St. between Mission and Alabama
- 24th St. between York and Mission
- Bryant between 17th Street and Cesar Chavez
- Harrison between 15th and 16th streets
- Treat between Harrison and Alameda
Additional information about street closures and Muni detours is available on the SFMTA website. Motorists in the area should be advised to expect delays on open roads.
Given parking and traffic restrictions, BART will provide festival and parade goers with an easy way to reach the mission.
Additional information about the festival and parade is available on the official Carnival San Francisco website.
