California’s Largest Annual Multi-Cultural Celebration Highlighted by the Grand Parade on May 29  ---

 

San Francisco Cultural Arts Traditions (SFCAT) is presenting San Francisco Carnaval 2011 on Memorial Day weekend in San Francisco. To be held on Saturday May 28 and Sunday May 29 in San Francisco’s Mission District, Carnaval is a free, family-friendly event that showcases the very best of Latin American, the Caribbean and around the world cultures and traditions with a diverse variety of food, music, dance and artistry.

 

As one of the Bay Area’s most spectacular traditions, the San Francisco Carnaval Grand Parade features rich multi-cultural themes, spectacular costumes, music and dancing is a unique, multi-cultural event that celebrates the traditions of many countries and cultures around the world. The floats are spectacular, the music is uplifting and the costumes are lavish. Beautifully designed floats depict rich multi-cultural themes, and feature musicians, dancers and other performers that excite and entertain the crowds.

Leading the parade will be this year’s King and Queen of San Francisco Carnaval 2011, King Jay Paul and Queen Eyla. Acting as this year’s Grand Marshals of the parade is actor, film director and political activist Danny Glover and Dr. Ana Maria Polo, author and star of the popular television program, "Caso Cerrado.” The parade will feature a very special appearance of the San Francisco Giants’ 2010 World Series trophy accompanied by the Giants’ mascot Lou Seal.

The parade takes place on Sunday, May 29 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of 24th and Bryant streets where it will proceed west to Mission Street.  From there, the parade heads north on Mission down to 17th Street, where it will turn east and flow into the festival area.
 
On Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29, the San Francisco Carnaval Festival will offer food, music, dance, art, crafts and other fun activities and events on several stages for the entire family to enjoy. Spanning seven blocks, the festival will take place on Harrison Street between 16th and 23rd streets (10 a.m.-6 p.m.).  This year's festival highlights include three stages of continuous live music from around the globe, salsa dance classes and competitions, children's activities and much more.

At the Havana Village Dance Pavilion attendees can take salsa dance classes, watch salsa demonstrations or sign up for a sizzling salsa dance competition. The Havana Village will also be a nice place to relax during the Festival with seating, tables with umbrellas and a gourmet food court.
 
Children and their families will have lots to explore at Niñolandia, a special area of the festival that offers children’s activities. Niñolandia will include fun children’s activities like inflatable bounce houses, face painting, and a kid’s music camp. Additionally, Xfinity’s La Academia will feature a fun-filled sports center where children and adults can test their skills in soccer, football and video games.

Updates on the festival and musical acts can be found at www.sfcarnaval.

San Francisco Carnaval was conceived 33 years ago by a group of local musicians, artists and residents eager to bring the spirit of Latin American and Caribbean culture to San Francisco. For the last two years, the event has been produced by San Francisco Cultural Arts Traditions (SFCAT), a new nonprofit organization with long-term involvement in Carnaval and San Francisco’s multi-cultural communities.