Sunday Streets 2017 Starts This Weekend
Sunday Streets on Valencia Street in the Mission.
Nothing says spring has sprung better than the arrival of the Sunday Streets season in San Francisco.
So mark this Sunday, March 12 on your calendar, because that's when the first event of 2017 kicks off on Valencia Street in the Mission, between Duboce Avenue and 26th Street, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Sunday Streets is an annual series of events in the city that turn large sections of streets in the heart of neighborhoods throughout San Francisco into car-free spaces for celebration. Tens of thousands of people come out to bicycle, enjoy musical entertainment, learn about SF neighborhoods and explore the area in a way you can't do during a typical day with traffic on the streets. The celebrations are held each month from March through October.
For the 10th year, the SFMTA will participate as the primary city sponsor of Sunday Streets, an event organized by the nonprofit Livable City in partnership with agencies including the Department of Public Health and the Office and Economic and Workforce Development.
"Since 2008, the SFMTA has been an invaluable partner in bringing Sunday Streets to neighborhoods across the city," said Tom Radulovich, executive director of Livable City. "The event furthers the city's goal of encouraging sustainable transportation, especially active transportation - walking and cycling - which improve health and protect the environment."
Activity Hubs
At this weekend’s event on Valencia, activity hubs will be located between 14th and 16th streets and 24th and 26th streets, with dozens of free activities in between offered by local merchants and organizations. Hubs will feature collaborations with partners across the art, music and dance worlds, along with health, fitness, bicycling and animal groups.
"Each Sunday Streets has two themed activity hubs that provide information and invite exploration and engagement," said Radulovich. "Each hub is filled with a diverse mix of community groups, nonprofits and event sponsors, providing everything from free bike repair and pickup soccer to free blood pressure screening and health and wellness resources."
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Summer of Love this year, It’s Your District will sponsor the Arts and Culture Hub, bringing a block of unique local art, music and history to each Sunday Streets event. Attractions will include Summer of Love exhibitions, art projects, live performances and family-friendly activities.
"Together with Sunday Streets’ other offerings, like live music, bubble blowing, yoga, bicycling, hopscotch, interactive art, cultural performances and more, Sunday Streets can help organizations of all kinds connect with residents in a fun, authentic community setting."
Organizers of the event have worked to help local businesses benefit from the influx of patrons Sunday Streets brings. Additionally, Sunday Streets does not typically allow outside vendors to participate; all food and drinks are from local vendors.
"Sunday Streets helps San Franciscans discover other neighborhoods and deepen their connection to their own neighborhood,” said Radulovich.
Grab your family and friends to explore San Francisco “two feet at a time” at one, or all, of the Sunday Streets coming this year:
- Mission – March 12
- Bayview/Dogpatch – April 9
- Tenderloin – April 30
- Sunset/Great Highway – June 11
- Mission – July 16
- Tenderloin – Aug. 20
- Western Addition – Sept. 10
- Excelsior – Oct. 1
For trip planning information to or near Sunday Streets events, go to sfmta.com. For information on related Muni service impacts, visit sfmta.com/alerts the week before the event. And for more about Sunday Streets, check out SundayStreetsSF.com.