Carnaval San Francisco — the annual, free, two-day festival and grand parade drawing thousands of attendees and featuring international music, dance, arts & crafts and cuisine — is slated to return to the Mission District’s Calle 24 Latino Cultural District for its 41st annual celebration, themed “La Cultura Cura – Culture Heals,” this Memorial Day weekend, May 25 and 26, 2019.

Throughout the weekend, hundreds of Carnaval San Francisco participants will come together to transform the district into an enormous celebration featuring music, dance, brilliant costumes and delicious food from Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Trinidad, Tobago, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Guatemala, Africa, Chile, Haiti and more.

Each year, organizers choose a theme for the celebration that speaks to the political climate of the times.  La Cultura Cura /Culture Heals was chosen this year to bring awareness to the fact that the creation of art, music, dance and dialogue helps communities build support systems.

“In the spirit of resistance and healing, Carnaval San Francisco dedicates the 2019 celebration with the theme “La Cultura Cura / Culture Heals,” said Carnaval San Francisco Co-founder and Artistic Director Roberto Hernandez.  “We believe that culture has the power to affirm one’s value, build a diverse community, and politically mobilize people of color, leading to positive outcomes and collective healing.”

Although Carnaval San Francisco is best-known as a massive two-day celebration that takes place over Memorial Day weekend, it also creates year-round cultural events such as the Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday festivities that included Carnaval performers entertaining in 21 venues throughout the Mission on Tuesday, March 5; the Royalty Competition slated for Saturday, April 27; photo exhibits in public spaces; and its year-round Cultural Arts & Health Education program currently in place at Mission District public schools.

The Carnaval San Francisco Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Taking place on Harrison Street between 16th and 24th streets, the festival will feature a rich assortment of food, music, dance, arts, crafts and other fun activities and entertainment on several stages for people of all ages to enjoy.

The Grand Parade on Sunday, May 26, begins at 9:30 a.m. with a brilliant procession of contingents, most of which will feature beautifully adorned floats depicting rich multicultural themes and featuring performers who engage and entertain the crowds.  Brazilian-style escola samba schools with up to 300 members dance through the streets in fantastic feathered headdresses or sweeping Bahia skirts, while Caribbean contingents perform the music and dance of the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad.  Other parade groups include Mexican Aztec performers, traditional African drummers, Polynesian dancers, Japanese drummers, giant puppets and folkloric groups representing Guatemala, Honduras and Bolivia.  The Grand Parade will start at the corner of 24th and Bryant streets, proceed west to Mission Street, head north on Mission to 15th Street, turn east on 15th and conclude at South Van Ness.

Admission to the festival and parade is FREE.  Grandstand seating for the parade, located on Mission Street between 21st and 22nd streets, is available for purchase online at www.carnavalsanfrancisco.org.

For more information and current updates about Carnaval San Francisco, please visit www.carnavalsanfrancisco.org.