A dancer performs on 24th Street during the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight Local
From feathered danzantes to folkloric dancers in billowing skirts, dozens of performance troupes filled the streets of the Mission District on Sunday for San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval parade. This year’s theme, AfroMundo, centered the African diaspora — highlighting the deep cultural ties between Black and Latin American traditions through music and dance.
Thousands of San Franciscans lined sidewalks to take in the spectacle. Some brought camping chairs; others leaned out of windows for a better view. As floats passed by, volunteers tossed candy and beads into the crowd, while spectators danced to samba and reggaetón, cheering on each passing performance troupe.
For many in the city’s immigrant communities, Carnaval is more than a party — it’s a way to reconnect with cultural roots, whether by dancing in the parade or swaying along the sidelines. It’s also a powerful celebration of San Francisco’s multiculturalism, and a reminder of how different traditions collide to create new expressions of community.
Youth dancers with Fogo Na Roupa perform during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalDancers with Fogo Na Roupa perform during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalElder dancers with Fogo Na Roupa perform during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalDancers of the Fogo Na Roupa preform at the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on May 25, 2025. The Fogo Na Roupa, an Afro-Brazilian inspired group, took part in Carnaval’s multicultural celebration in the Mission neighborhood, inspiring vibrant colors and diverse cultural performances. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalDancers of the Fogo Na Roupa preform at the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on May 25, 2025. The Fogo Na Roupa, an Afro-Brazilian inspired group, took part in Carnaval’s multicultural celebration in the Mission neighborhood, inspiring vibrant colors and diverse cultural performances. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalThe Fogo Na Roupa performs at San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalA Oaxacan troupe performs Danza de los Diablos during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalGalo Moralas, 40, performs Capoeira Batuque, a Brazilian dance of African origin, during the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalSpectators gather along Mission Street during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalNoe Cornejo, 43, wears a sombrero on 24th Street during the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalThe Afro-Latin group Loco Bloco performs during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalBrigit Garcia, 28, of Mi Tierra Colombiana, performs during the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalThe Colombian group Mi Tierra Colombiana performs during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalMonica Mendoza, 34, a dancer with Fogo Na Roupa, shows off her outfit for the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalThe Afro-Brazilian group Fogo Na Roupa prepares to perform at the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalA Oaxacan troupe performs Danza de los Diablos during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalA Oaxacan troupe performs Danza de los Diablos during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalA devil’s mask awaits its performer in the Oaxacan Danza de los Diablos group during the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalEmmanuel Mustika, 44, wears traditional Oaxacan clothing for the Danza de los Diablos during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalMarcos Henriquez, 39, prepares to perform with a Oaxacan troupe at the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco’s Mission District on May 25, 2025. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalMayan dancers prepare to perform at the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco on May 25, 2025. The Mission District event honors Indigenous, African, and Latin American cultures through dance. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalPerformers with colorful beads prepare backstage for San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. The parade celebrates cultural pride and the African roots of Latin American traditions. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalLowriders rise up on 24th Street during San Francisco’s 47th annual Carnaval Parade on May 25, 2025. The celebration filled the Mission with vibrant colors, music, and cultural pride. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight LocalLowriders stretch upward on 24th Street during the 47th annual Carnaval Parade in San Francisco, Calif., on May 25, 2025. Carnaval is a multicultural celebration in the Mission neighborhood, inspiring vibrant colors and diverse cultural performances. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight Local
Mariana Duran is a bilingual reporter for El Tecolote through UC Berkeley's California Local News Fellowship. Her work has also been featured in the Los Angeles Times and the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
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