San Francisco does things differently, as we all know. Unlike the rest of the world and its pre-Lent carnivals, SF waits until the end of May. It’s worth the wait.
The gloomy skies were no match this year for the city’s 45th edition of Carnaval, which started as a gathering in Precita Park and in 2003 moved to the streets of the Mission District.
From simple guajiro to samba magnificent: Headdresses, feathers, hats, shoulder pads, sequins were in full effect. You name it, participants were wearing it — and sometimes fixing it.
You like footwear? You’ll love Carnaval.
It’s not Carnaval without the lowriders out in front getting the crowd amped.
Sunday’s grand parade featured 66 groups, including SF public school students, cultural associations with roots across las Americas and the Caribbean, SF service workers, and even a few politicians. We wish we could show them all — except for the politicians.
With crowds expected in the tens of thousands lining the parade route on 24th Street then north along Mission Street, it was nice to find some quiet moments here and there.
Ted Weinstein is a San Francisco documentary and art photographer.