Where:
Harrison Street, between 16th & 24th Streets
When:
May 23rd-25th
Admission:
FREE!
A celebration of springtime, this annual Mission District street party is an unforgettable Bay Area event like no other, with rich Latin American and Caribbean influences. In its 36th year, the theme of Carnaval San Francisco 2014 is La Rumba de la Copa Mundial, or Celebration of the World Cup, promising all sorts of sporty fun at one the biggest parties in the world!
What to Expect
Expect to PARTY! Carnaval is a celebration of the season, honored by nearly every culture in the world. In San Francisco, it has a largely Brazilian character, hence this year’s World Cup theme. Additionally, samba dancing provides the vibrant heartbeat of the FREE 2-day festival over the last weekend of every May. Starting with the San Francisco Giants Orange Friday, Carnaval weekend promises a great time for people of all ages. On Saturday and Sunday, Harrison Street fills with more than 400,000 revelers between 16th and 24th Streets, making it the largest multi-cultural party on the West Coast. The festival itself features homemade food from around the world, live international music, arts, crafts, dance, soccer-centric activities for the whole family, and a world-famous Grand Parade on Sunday.
The Grand Parade
Perhaps the most well known part of Carnaval San Francisco is the Grand Parade, bursting with loud music, floats, and glittered ladies in dazzlingly ornate costumes that don’t leave much to the imagination. As spring heats into summer, it’s all in the spirit of the season, and truly a sight to see, just 2 miles from the Inn at Union Square!