It’s that time of year again — when music, dancing and the scent of street food fill the streets of San Francisco’s Mission District. Carnaval is back for its 47th year, and more than 500,000 people are expected to take part in the weekend-long celebration.
Stretching across 17 blocks in the city’s historic Latinx neighborhood, the free two-day festival will feature more than 250 vendors and 50 food stalls, along with artisan crafts, wellness booths, a lowrider car show, community workshops and five block parties.
This year’s theme is AfroMundo: African Diaspora in the Americas, which honors the legacy and cultural power of African-descendant communities throughout the Americas. From samba and cumbia to reggaeton, the weekend’s lineup celebrates how the African diaspora has shaped global culture.
Festival schedule
Saturday, May 24 | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The street festival takes over Harrison Street between 16th and 24th streets, with DJs, vendors, dance stages, a job fair, a health pavilion, and live performances across four stages.
Sunday, May 25 | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Everything from Saturday, plus the Grand Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. at 24th and Bryant streets.
The Grand Parade
Sunday, May 25 • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The parade begins at 24th and Bryant, travels west on 24th, heads north on Mission Street to 15th, and ends at Harrison and 15th Street.
This centerpiece of Carnaval showcases dance troupes, floats, cultural groups, comparsa performances and musicians from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
This year’s grand marshals are Dandha Da Hora and John Santos. Da Hora, born in Brazil, is a longtime member of the Afro-Brazilian collective Ilê Aiyê and lead vocalist of the Santa Cruz–based band SambaDá. Santos, a San Francisco native and Grammy-nominated percussionist, has spent decades preserving and innovating Afro-Latin music. He is also one of the original organizers of Carnaval, dating back to 1978.
Live music, dancing and block parties
Live performances will take place throughout the weekend across multiple stages.
Wampi, a young Cuban artist known for his reggaeton-meets-timba style, will perform from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the 17th and Harrison stage. At the same time, Mexican Institute of Sound, led by Grammy-nominated Camilo Lara, will fuse cumbia, electronica, mambo and rock at the 22nd and Harrison stage.
On Sunday, The John Santos Sextet and Friends will perform at 3:45 p.m., followed by Edgardo Cambón and his Salsa Orchestra at 5:00 p.m., both on the 17th and Harrison main stage.
Other featured acts across the weekend include Bululú, Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco, Oakland Samba Revue and Neblinas del Pacífico.
Street closures and parking restrictions
Festival setup begins Friday, May 23 at 4:00 p.m., with street closures continuing through Monday, May 26 at 2:00 a.m. Harrison Street between 16th and 24th will be closed to cars the entire weekend.
On Sunday, Mission Street from 15th to 24th, parts of 24th and 15th streets, and surrounding blocks on Bryant, Treat, and Harrison will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cars parked along the parade route will be towed. Residents needing access to garages can ask a Carnaval staff member to guide them through emergency access lanes.
Festival entrances are open on every block from 16th to 24th, including access points at 16th and Harrison, 18th and Folsom, 20th and Folsom, and 24th and Harrison.
Getting there
Public transit is highly recommended. The 16th and 24th Street BART stations are closest to the festival and parade. Muni lines serving the area include: 9, 12, 14, 14R, 22, 27, 33, 48, 49, 55 and 67.
Be aware that some bus lines will be rerouted on Sunday due to the parade.
What to bring (and not to)
Carnaval is free and open to the public. Alcohol is only allowed inside designated garden areas, where guests 21 and over can enjoy beer, wine and cocktails with valid ID. Wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen and water, and plan to stay a while (:
