This September, one of the Mission District’s iconic events is celebrating 45 years. The annual Lowrider Parade is returning with a massive parade, car show, and car-hopping competition. The celebration will feature over 300 incredible cars and even a special art exhibition. Here’s what to know.
2026 San Francisco Lowrider Parade
On Saturday, September 19, the Mission District will host its annual Lowrider Parade along with the popular King of the Streets car-hopping competition. The annual event is in its 45th year, celebrating artistic expression, community, and cultural identity.
“This celebration is about much more than cars,” said Roberto Y. Hernández, founder and president of the San Francisco Lowrider Council. “It is about our history, our resilience, and our right to express our culture with pride in the very streets where we were once targeted. Our 45th anniversary exhibit at the Mission Cultural Center honors the pioneers who fought for this right, making sure our story continues to be seen, taught, and heard by the next generation.”
Saturday features multiple events, all of which are free and open to the public. The celebration starts with the 45th Anniversary Lowrider Art Exhibit, which opens at 11 am, followed by the iconic parade at 1 pm. The parade will feature a wide array of lowrider cars on Mission Street between Cesar Chavez and 17th. Then, at 2 pm, attendees can check out the car show, featuring over 300 lowriders. Finally, the event ends with the iconic “King of the Streets” Hopping Competition from 3 to 5 pm on 24th & Mission Street.
If you can’t make it to the parade this September, the event will be broadcast live on CBS.
The San Francisco Lowrider Council organizes the celebration to preserve and celebrate the cultural significance of lowriding. The council was formed in 1981 in response to racial profiling by San Francisco police. Check out the San Francisco Lowrider Council website for more details about the parade and organization.