Images courtesy of Kyle Adler

DATE: Saturday, April 5, 2025
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION:
Casa de Carnaval
683 Florida St.
San Francisco, CA
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AfroMundo: African Diaspora in the Americas is this year’s theme for Carnaval San Francisco!

Join us in an action-packed and joyous competition to crown the King and Queen of Carnaval’s 47th Anniversary! Showcasing the best music, dance and artistry of Latin American, Caribbean and African Diasporas contestants step on stage bringing their spirit to the audience. Cheer for your favorite performer and be part of San Francisco’s history!

Meet our reigning King & Queen, who will be crowning our 2025 Royal Court.

19th Annual CubaCaribe Festival of Dance & Music

March 28 – April 4, 2025

The 19th CubaCaribe Festival will consist of performances at ODC Theater, Honoring of Bobi Cespedes, After party at Bissap Baobab, Master Afro-Cuban folkloric dance classes with visiting teacher Emilio Hernandez Gonzalez, Artist panel discussion with artistic directors of the performing companies, film shorts screening of various short films with a Q & A with the directors, and a Lecture/demo on the history of Urban music in Cuba and reception with DJ Jigüe visiting from Havana.

AFRO-CUBAN FOLKLORIC MASTER DANCE CLASS

DATE: Monday, March 31, 2025
TIME: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
LOCATION:
Casa de Carnaval
683 Florida St.
San Francisco, CA
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Class taught by Emilio Hernandez Gonzalez– master dancer, choreographer and teacher born in Cuba. He was lead dancer and choreographer with the famous Havana Folkloric dance company, Raices Profundas. He received the Ramiro Guerra 2016 prize for the best interpretacion of Folkoric dance and the prize of the Nacional de Coreografía de la Union Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC) 2019. He has also been a judge and teacher in International festivals in Ecuador, Chile, México, France and the United States. He recently now lives in Miami.

FILM SCREENINGS/ Q&A PELICULAS CUBANAS

DATE: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
TIME: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
LOCATION:
Casa de Carnaval
683 Florida St.
San Francisco, CA
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Screening of two Cuban documentaries: La Tumba Mambi & Mouth of a Shark and the short dance film Raw Emotions by Marco Palomino

Q&A with DJ Jigüe & Ramón Ramos Alayo

Film Screening / Q &A: Peliculas Cubanas

La Tumba Mambi by DJ Jigüe

Mouth of a shark by Reinier Charon & CubaCaribe –
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Raw Emotions by Marco Palomino

La Tumba Mambi: The docu-fiction La Tumba Mambi is the result of a long collaboration between Canadian anthropologist Alexandrine Boudreault-Fournier, Cuban DJ Jigüe, and the members of the Tumba Francesa La Caridad de Oriente, a traditional cultural group located in Santiago de Cuba. Shot entirely in Eastern Cuba and edited in Havana over a period of more than 6 years. 27 min. https://latumbamambi.ca/trailer/

Mouth of a Shark: Mouth of a Shark is a dance documentary that took place over the span of 3 years. The film incorporates dance, music, and spoken word and reflects the dual life of immigrants and the struggle of those who create a new life in a new world, but carry their homeland, however dire, in their heart forever. It highlights Afro-Cuban artists and the pivotal role dance plays in the survival of culture, tradition, and identity. The project engaged artists in both Cuba and the United States. 33 min. https://vimeo.com/685667999

Raw Emotions: In Raw Emotions, this dance film strips away the constraints of technique and polish, diving into the untamed essence of human expression. Rejecting the pursuit of perfection, Raw Emotions reminds us that true beauty lies in the courage to feel deeply, embrace our instincts, and exist unapologetically in our rawest form. A Collaboration Between Acosta Danza and Marco Palomino, filmed in Havana in 2024. 5 min.

In Partnership with MoAD

ARTIST PANEL DISCUSSION & RECEPTION

DATE: Thursday, April 3, 2025
TIME: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
LOCATION:
Casa de Carnaval
683 Florida St.
San Francisco, CA
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Join 6 artistic directors of local Afro-Latino / Caribbean dance companies. Each artist will delve into what their first memory of dance / movement / music was, when their creative spark ignited, how it was realized and how the drive to create continues. Featuring Denise Solís of Batey Tambó, Pedro Gomez of Batuki, Laurie Fleurentin of Folklo Ayisyen Lakay, Samuel Cortez Balderas of Los Lupeños de San Jose, Ryan Mead of Rueda Con Ritmo and Deborah Vaughan of Dimensions Dance Theater. After you see their performances March 28-30, then come learn more about them and the creative process.

In Partnership with MoAD

Carnaval San Francisco & CIBC Present

SMALL BUSINESS MIXER

FREE EVENT | FOOD & BEVERAGES PROVIDED

DATE: Saturday, April 30, 2025
TIME: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
LOCATION:
Casa de Carnaval
683 Florida St.
San Francisco, CA
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Join us for a Small Small Business Mixer & Resource Fair designed to connect local businesses & entrepreneurs with valuable resourdces, networking opportunities, and expert advice!

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Business funding & grant opportunities
• Marketing & branding strategies
• Financial guidance
• Networking with fellow small business owner
• Guest speakers

LEARN ABOUT CIBC SMALL BUSINESS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

Images courtesy of California Academy of Sciences

DATE: May 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music
Concourse Dr San Francisco, CA 94118
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Calling all creatures of the night: explore the nocturnal side of the Academy at NightLife and see what’s revealed. With live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and nearly 60,000 live animals (including familiar faces like Claude, our alligator with albinism), the night is sure to be wild.

Step inside the iconic Shake House and our four-story Osher Rainforest, venture into their latest aquarium exhibit Venom, visit the BigPicture exhibit in the Piazza, bask in the glow of the Philippine Coral Reef, take in the interstellar views from the Living Roof, then grab a bite from the Academy Café and head to the West Garden outdoor bar to drink and dine under the stars.

Image courtesy of Daniel Beck

DATE: Sunday, May 25, 2025
TIME: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
LOCATION: Gray Area / Grand Theater
2665 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
MAP COMING SOON

See the 47th Anniversary of Carnaval San Francisco’s Grand Parade in the best seats of the event –the Grand Stand/Judging Area!

Our Grand Parade boasts a 60–contingent lineup, with over 3,000 artists representing the cultural heritages of Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Bolivia, Cuba, Peru, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, El Salvador, and more to participate, televised by CBS. The Grand Parade covers 20 blocks in San Francisco’s historic Latino Cultural District in the Mission.

Get your tickets as soon as they’re available  because they will SELL OUT. Limited tickets will be sold on site the day of the Grand Parade.

Parade starts on 24th & Bryant Street travels west on to Mission Street then on Mission Street travels north to 15th Street.

The Grand Stand seating area will be located outside, in front of the Gray Area Theatre (2665 Mission St, SF) as well as in front of La Corneta Taqueria ( 2731 Mission St, SF). Tickets will be for general admission–no reserve seating available. Wheelchair accessibility available.

COMING SOON – Full Lineup, Parade Map, and more!