35th Annual Carnaval San Francisco
Sometimes a little guitar is just a little guitar.
The 2013 Carnaval San Francisco was held yesterday in the Mission District. It was the 35th annual San Francisco Carnaval. My two children danced with a popular Bay Area group Fogo na Roupa. My children and others from their Oakland school have been practicing this year for Carnaval, but I did not realize that the kids were joining such a fun group.
We arrived around 8:15 and met performers from other groups. (We were float 44 of 48).
We prepared and waited for about three hours, but we had a great time. Everyone dressed. Some people put on make up… almost everyone applied sunscreen (except me.)
After we started walking six blocks to the start of the parade, one of the organizers ordered us to run… so we did. Well, I stopped first to photograph everyone running. (I should have applied sunscreen.)
When we joined the parade route on 24th, I understood why people return every year for Carnaval. The crowd waited for hours along the street to cheer and dance. Everyone seemed excited.
Our drummers and dancers had been moving for about five hours when we reached the grandstand, but you would not have known by watching them. They seemed full of energy. I was energized by their performance.
We walked a few more blocks.
and our group danced more, chanting, “Go Fogo, Go Fogo. Go.”
When we finished, we were happy and tired. I am ready for next year.
See more photos at Bryan Farley Carnaval Gallery
The end?
Are you asking about the little guitars reference?
The food!
There was a street fair with really good food afterwards… this parade had a colorful car at the end (@Ryan Wayte and Steve Wayte brothers often post about music so I went with The Doors and Van Halen, silly me.) Carnaval had great energy
I love marching bands!!
There’s nothing like a parade in S.F.! The pictures you took are awesome!
Karen,
The parade was a lot of fun. I had not expected much such a big event, probably because I thought the kids were dancing by themselves (and with their awesome teacher.) Then we arrived before the Grand Parade and there were a couple hundred people in our group. I think the musician traveled all the way from Brazil for the event. It was pretty cool.
BF
My youngest daughter and I were in S.F. in February for the Chinese New Year Parade. The streets in Union Square were so packed! Colorful dragons lined the street and people beat large drums that filled the air with music. The energy was amazing. I agree with you, it was the energy that was indescribable.
Karen,
Somehow we have never attended the Chinese New Year Parade… maybe next year. We see the streets in Oakland and San Francisco change as New Year approaches and I get excited waiting for it, but I have always missed it. The colors are amazing. About ten years ago, I taught in Oakland’s Chinatown and would love to see the parade. Maybe I can research it for next year.
It was wonderful to share this experience with all the youth from MLA!
[…] 2013 Carnaval was my first. I will never forget it. Both my children participated. Here is the 2013 Carnaval blog post. You can see the images too. I took a few decent […]
[…] In 2013 and (again in 2015), I photographed the parade route; my children were with the Fogo Na Roupa contingent. […]