Carnaval SF Seeks To Be CA’s First Street Fair With Legal Cannabis Use
The Memorial Day weekend festivities will feature the state's first community-led, permitted cannabis garden.
Carnaval San Francisco is gearing up for a festive return on Memorial Day weekend! The highly-anticipated free event has taken a 2-year pandemic hiatus, but this year’s 44th annual event, themed “Colores de Amor,” will be back this year on May 28 and 29 from 10am to 6pm.
Carnaval SF recently applied for permits to allow legal cannabis sales and consumption at the street fair, according to SFist. If approved, then San Francisco would be home to the state’s first street fair with legal cannabis use. The event will also host the Jardin de Hierba Buena which will be the state’s first community-led, permitted cannabis garden.
“Colores de Amor: Inclusivity, Family, & Community” will transform SF’s Calle 24 Latino Cultural District into an even brighter explosion of color and compassion. The theme is perfect for the community space on Harrison Street between 16th and 24th Streets, where visitors can enjoy performances from 50 local performing artists on 5 main stages. 400 vendors will line the streets with amazing international food from Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Peru, Chile, Haiti and many more.
The event will include an LGBTQ dedicated stage, a tech and gaming pavilion courtesy of Alaska Airlines, and plenty of crafts and activities.
The Grand Parade will take place on Sunday, May 29. The colorful procession starts at 9:30am at 24th and Bryant, heading west to Mission Street, north to 15th St and east to conclude at Van Ness. Contingents will showcase dynamic floats with multicultural themes and performers including Brazilian-style escola samba schools; music and dance performers from around the Caribbean; Mexican Aztec performers, African and Japanese drumming groups, Polynesian dancers, giant puppets and countless others.
The best part? Both the parade and the festival are free to attend!
Make sure to mark your calendar for Carnaval San Francisco, coming May 28 and 29 to San Francisco.
Featured image: A dancer in a red Folklórico dress performs at San Francisco’s 2019 Carnaval festival. Credit: Sheila Fitzgerald via Shutterstock.