Carnaval is an annual tradition dedicated to celebrating diverse cultures. It happens in the Mission district on the last weekend of May.

The Festival

The festival starts early and ends at dusk, on Saturday and Sunday. It runs along Harrison St. (between 16th and 23rd). Food! Drinks! Frozen yogurt! Music! Free stuff!

The Parade

The parade starts on Sunday morning at Harrison St. and 24th St. From there, it marches to Mission St. and makes its way to Mission and 17th St.

Parade groups include: elementary schools, Aztec dancers, pirates, Zorro, marching bands, African dancers, high school honor roll students, people on stilts in elaborate costumes, the San Francisco cable car, English country dancers, soccer teams, jazz players, and tons more. Even local businesses get in on the action! The Sunset Scavenger garbage men have a popular routine they put on every year and BART usually has a mini subway-car running around, for example.

Welcome to Carnaval! (May 27, 2012)