Carnaval San Francisco celebrated the diverse Latin American and Caribbean roots of the city’s Mission District over the weekend with dance performances, music and food. This year’s theme focused on healing through culture in reaction to the hostility the Latino community feels under the Trump administration, according to Carnaval Executive Producer Roberto Hernandez.
The two-day cultural celebration began Saturday with vendors and performers, and continued Sunday with a parade that travelled along 24th and Mission Streets.
The annual festivities began back in 1979 as a spin-off of the traditional Brazilian pre-Lent festival, but the celebration has evolved to expand its diversity over the decades.
The first Carnaval parade marched around Precita Park on a drizzly February day, as expat communities in the city yearned for a taste of home more than 40 years ago.
Since its inception, the festival moved to May seeking better weather. In addition to celebrating Caribbean, Central and South American heritages, Carnaval eventually became even more diverse by inviting Asian Pacific and Hawaiian communities into the festivities.
“The best thing about Carnaval is just seeing everybody that doesn’t live here anymore but they come back to celebrate,” said Jackie Ruiz, an attendee on Saturday. “That’s really awesome, I love that.”
Hernandez, the event’s executive producer, said the visible celebration is all too rare for certain communities.
“It’s sad because I know currently there are millions of Latinos in this country that go from work and go to home,” he said. “They don’t go to movies, they don’t go to clubs, they don’t go to outings, they don’t go to picnics.”
But for many, the festivities provide a home away from home.
KQED’s Sara Hossaini contributed to the report.