Call it Carnival, or Carnaval, or if you’re down on the bayou, Mardi Gras. In most other places, the annual festival of music, dance, costume, folk art, and revelry comes in February, a time to party before the Catholic observation of Lent.
But not in San Francisco. We do ours in May.
There’s a better chance of great weather, of course, but then, even with deep Catholic roots in our Irish, Italian, and Latino communities, San Francisco always has a need to do things differently.
SF’s Carnaval is always centered in the Mission and celebrates the city’s Latin American and Caribbean communities. This year’s theme was Honoring Indigenous Roots, and nearly 70 groups marched, kicked, drummed, floated, salsa’d and samba’d down Mission Street on Sunday. (Even Recology.)
Slideshow starts here: It’s not Carnaval without stunning colors and headpieces. 
Feathers galore, of course… 
…just add smoke. 
Some kids came in groups to take part in the parade. 
Some kids got their faces painted. 
And some kids got a lift. 
There was a lot of waiting “backstage” for parade participants. 
With all the waiting, a place to sit for a few minutes was a good idea. 
Mic check, headpiece check. 
But then the dancing started… 
…and went on for hours…. 
…just add drums! 
More dancing in groups… 
And in pairs. 
Everyone had a roaring good time… 
…even without a jaguar headdress. 
It’s also not Carnaval without low riders. 
Made in the Mission. 
This truck is carrying all kinds of Mexican history. 
Frida? Is that you? 
We can’t wait for 2025.
Flags and colors and feathers represented not just every corner of the Americas, but all the cultures and diasporas that have made their way to San Francisco.
Thanks to Pamela Gentile, who captured it all for us, from the backstage preparations to the inevitable wait as groups lined up for the parade.
