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A float goes down Bryant Street in the Mission District during the\u00a0Carnaval parade in San Francisco in 2024.<\/p>\n
Don Feria\/For the S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
People carry letters spelling \u201cCarnaval\u201d during the Carnaval San Francisco parade in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anadolu\/Tayfun Coskun\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
People carry flags during the\u00a0Carnaval San Francisco parade in the Mission District in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anadolu\/Tayfun Coskun\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Bay FC\u2019s Taylor Huff, right, and Angel City FC\u2019s Alyssa Thompson play during a match in San Jose in 2025.<\/p>\n
Stephen Lam\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup\u2019s Bay Area stop this summer, Carnaval San Francisco is bringing soccer fever to the Mission District with La\u00a0Copa del Pueblo (The People\u2019s Cup), a theme celebrating the communities who rally around the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As part of the occasion, a popup soccer arena<\/a> at Harrison and 20th streets, dubbed La Plaza del F\u00fatbol, will offer a space for enthusiasts of all ages to participate in scrimmages; skill building; giveaways; and more fan experiences with Bay Area professional soccer teams including the San Jose Earthquakes,<\/a> Bay FC,<\/a> Oakland Roots SC,<\/a> San Francisco Glens SC,<\/a> SF City FC,<\/a> Frisco United B11,<\/a> Volo, Bay City Futsal Club,<\/a> Jamestown Community Center and Futbol by the Bay.<\/p>\n Carnaval San Francisco: Festival 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 23-24. Free. Harrison Street between 16th and 23rd streets, S.F. \u2022 Parade 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 24. Free-$50. Starts at Bryant and 24th streets, S.F. www.carnavalsanfrancisco.org<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIn the spirit of\u00a0Carnaval San Francisco\u2019s cultural mosaic, La\u00a0Copa del Pueblo embraces the global rhythm of the game and invites us to cheer for each other as one,\u201d organizers said in a statement.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The free two-day celebration, Saturday-Sunday, May 23-24, is expected to draw as many as 500,000 attendees.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s parade will include dancers in flashy Carnaval costumes along with live samba, bomba and other festival marching music, floats, and more.<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Carnaval San Francisco arrives just weeks before Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara hosts six FIFA World Cup matches between June 13 and July 1, featuring teams from Qatar, Switzerland, Austria, Jordan, Turkey, Paraguay, Algeria and Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to joy the festivities:<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Bay FC fans wave flags and scarves before a soccer match between Bay\u00a0FC and Washington Spirit at Oracle Park in San Francisco in 2025.<\/p>\n Minh Connors\/For the S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n The vibe<\/p>\n This high-energy event is set in the heart of the Mission District, offering family-friendly activities, cultural arts, locally made global cuisine, a marketplace, and a robust lineup of live music and dance performances.<\/p>\n The festival<\/p>\n Saturday and Sunday\u2019s open-air celebration will take place 11 a.m.-6\u00a0p.m. along Harrison Street, between 16th and 24th streets. Attendees can view live performances across five stages as well as multiple all-day parties.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The lineup<\/p>\n Entertainment will be provided by mariachi groups and multicultural music and dance ensembles from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. Enjoy headlining performances from Mi Banda el Mexicano de Casimiro<\/a>, La Gente SF<\/a> and La Cuneta Son Machin<\/a> on the main stages at 5 p.m.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n People watch the Carnaval San Francisco parade in the Mission District in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n Anadolu\/Tayfun Coskun\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The parade<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s grand parade\u00a0\u2014 with Brazilian soccer legend Rom\u00e1rio set to serve as grand marshal\u00a0\u2014 starts at 9:30 a.m. at Bryant and 24th streets.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n From there, more than 60 parade contingents will strut their stuff along 20 blocks in San Francisco\u2019s historic Latino Cultural District, including the recently crowned king and queen of Carnaval, Chris Cornelious and Mizzy Ng.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other participants include comparsa dance and drum troupes and thousands of artists representing the cultural heritages of Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Bolivia, Cuba, Peru, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador and more.<\/p>\n The parade route heads west to Mission Street and then east on 15th Street before ending at South Van Ness Avenue.<\/p>\n Performers and musicians in the Carnaval San Francisco parade walk through the Mission District in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n Anadolu\/Tayfun Coskun\/Getty Images<\/p>\n How do I get there?<\/p>\n With the road closures necessary to host this huge celebration, it\u2019s best to avoid driving and instead use public transportation.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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