On Saturday, San Francisco’s Winter Walk street festival returned to Stockton Street for the holiday season. The Winter Walk stretches along two blocks of Stockton Street next to Union Square, featuring live music, food trucks, photo opportunities, a winter shopping market, and interactive booths from companies like Nintendo (who opened a store at Union Square earlier this year).

The Winter Walk runs through Dec. 24 and is open Monday through Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Winter Walk started in 2018 and continued in 2019, explained Union Square Alliance CEO Marisa Rodriguez. During the pandemic, she said the event went on a hiatus, but the tradition picked back up again a few years ago.

“After the pandemic, it really took off like wildfire, and I think it is that feeling of community — everyone coming together,” Rodriguez said.

Martha Chesley, who has lived in San Francisco for 50 years, attended the ceremony to kick off this year’s Winter Walk. Chesley said she’s spent many holiday seasons at Union Square, and she thinks the Winter Walk is a good addition to the holiday traditions there.

Chesley said the Winter Walk “has almost a small-town feel, like we’re just hanging out together.”

Former Golden State Warriors player Festus Ezeli emceed the ceremony that kicked off the Winter Walk.

Several local leaders spoke at the ceremony as well, emphasizing that crime numbers in the city are down, and that more people around the world are starting to see what San Francisco has to offer.

“This city is safe,” Mayor Daniel Lurie told the crowd. “We want you down here in Union Square.”

Also present at the ceremony were companies with footprints in the city, including JPMorgan Chase (which is presenting the Winter Walk), as well as Nintendo, Gap, Amazon, and United Airlines. Many of those companies had representatives who spoke to the crowd, sharing their companies’ commitment to investing in San Francisco and its downtown.

“I understand that if the downtown fails, our city fails, and I think we all realized that during the pandemic, and so now more than ever, people are truly leaning in,” Rodriguez noted.

Lorissa Ashurst was visiting the Bay Area from Texas on Saturday when she stopped by the Winter Walk

“I do like the vibe here,” she noted.

Ashurst said she used ot live in San Francisco and has watched the city go through many changes.

“So I think it’s just fantastic to bring people in, especially since other retail establishments have closed since [the pandemic],” she continued.

Ashurst was in the city for the annual SantaCon bar crawl, as were thousands of other people decked out in their Santa and holiday-inspired outfits.

“The vibe, you know, it’s all the Christmas lights and everything, so that’s why we’re out there tonight,” said Angel Espino of San Francisco, who headed to SantaCon this year for the first time with his friends and family.

Espino and his crew decided to kick off their SantaCon night at Union Square.

“I heard this is the place where you start off the SantaCon, so we want to meet new people, friends, and everything,” Espino said.

Rodriguez said she had heard a “funny rumor” that Santa wasn’t going to come to San Francisco this year.

“I think not!” Rodriguez said with a laugh, “There’s a Santa on every corner.”

She added that Santa will make appearances at the Winter Walk as well.