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CARNAVAL
Here in the Mission, the
month of May starts and ends with
a street party. It kicks
off with Cinco de Mayo, held this year May 2,
and ends with
a bang on May 30 with--Carnaval! The latin beat
that
simmers year round in the Mission comes to a full boil
in May.
Carnaval San
Francisco is celebrating its 20th anniversary this
year.
It's come a long way since its modest beginnings all
those years ago
in Precita Park. Considering marriages and
restaurants often don't
make it past even the five-year
mark, 20 years of anything is definitely
something to
celebrate.
The
festivities Sunday, May 30 (Memorial Day weekend) begin at
10
a.m. The Grand Carnaval Parade, with its 32 contingents
of
gorgeously costumed dancers, electrifying drummers,
imaginative
floats, rollarskaters, stiltwalkers and scores
of school children will
wend its way through the heart of
the Mission. Leaving from 24th and
Bryant Streets, the
parade moves along 24th, makes a right turn onto
Mission,
goes down Mission and takes another right onto 14th
street
and proceeds to Harrison.
There will be
a street festival on Harrison Street between 16th and
22nd
Streets from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Booths selling a tempting
spread
of ethnic foods and drink, colorful crafts, carnaval
souvenirs and more
will be there. Continuous live
entertainment will heat up the area
throughout the day. Two
stages, one at each end of the festival block,
will feature
a dazzling array of dance and music performances,
including
headliner Miles Pena y Su Orquesta.
1999 seems to
be the year for anniversaries. As well as Carnaval
SF
itself, Escola Nova de Samba, the City's oldest samba
school, has
been going strong for 15 years and Foga Na
Roupa is celebrating
their 10-year anniversary with a
continuous round of dances parties.
the Mission
Neighborhood Center is celebrating 40 years in business
and
20 years participating in Carnaval. Whew!
The major
Carnivals of the world all have their own
character--in
Brazil its samba, in Trinidad it's calypso
and Brooklyn, London and
Toronto all ahve a strong
Caribbean flavor. What's so wonderful
about Carnaval SF is
that it has a little bit of everything--a
real
multicultural mix.
Grand Marshall
Tom Ammiano, President of the Board of Supervisors,
will be
on the main float. Riding on the royal float in all their
glory
will be this year's King and Queen of
Carnaval--Carlos Silva and
Sorcidia 'Sorci'
Harris.
Traditionally,
Carnaval enthusiasts like to arrive early to see
the
performers and floats line up on Bryant Street. The
atmosphere is
electric as the baterias warm up and the
dancers practice their moves
and put the finishing touches
to their costumes. A definite photo
opportunity. There are
a couple of options available for those who
prefer to watch
the parade in comfort.
Grandstand
seating is available along the parade route for
$20.
Tickets may be purchases from all BASS outlets, Ritmo
Latino on
Mission Street and Discolandia on 24th Street.
Information: 207-7747.
Dance Mission
Studios have a birds' eye view of the parade from their
2nd
floor studio on the corner of Mission and 24th Streets. Tickets
are
$20 per person. Children accompanied by an adult get in
free.
Refreshments are included. Space is limited.
Information:
415-826-4441.
To kick off
all this excitement there will be a Carnaval ball
on
Saturday night, May 29, at Roccapulco, 3140 Mission
Street. The hot
local group, Avance, will headline. Further
details were not available
at press time. For ticket
information: 415-648-6611. Proceeds from the
ball and the
sale of grandstand seating will benefit
Mission
Neighborhead Center programs.
And, finally,
while you're still in Carnaval mode, join
dedicated
Carnaval celebrants and head over to Oakland
Monday, May 31, for
the Carijama Festival held in Mosswood
Park. It's laid-back, mellow, a
lot of fun and well worth
the trek over.
Happy Carnaval,
everyone! | 
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