SFIAF IN THE MISSION

Getting the most out of your festival experience

has never been this easy!

By Andrew “Boots” Hardy

Once again, festival season is upon us and the San Francisco International Arts Festival takes place in one of San Francisco’s oldest and most celebrated neighborhoods: the Mission District. A vibrant and bustling hub of culture and diversity, La Misión’s streets and venues will once again play host to a two-week flurry of award-winning performances across nearly two dozen venues.

Festival 2025 kicks off April 30th with Green Shoot Productions’ powerful In the Name of the Son and a collaborative dance-theater performance by the Wandering Ensemble, followed by two opening night receptions at Casement’s Bar and El Rio, where lovers of the performing arts will have an opportunity to meet some of this year’s artists. The festival continues through May 11 with dozens of incredible presentations spanning across multiple genres, including dance, theater, live concerts, performance and visual arts—and even walking tours that showcase the Mission District’s brilliantly vivid street murals.

Saturdays may be the best opportunity to immerse yourself in this year’s festival: Witness a couple of amazing performances, explore the Mission’s wonders, and experience the delights of international fare at local restaurants. FESTIVAL PASSES are offered as a great way to take in multiple events, and they’re the best deal for taking part in Festival 2025.

Here is just a sample of what one day could look like:

SATURDAY, MAY 3

Start your weekend off with a leisurely breakfast and mellow Mediterranean vibes at CAFE LA BOHEME. Just a few steps from the 24th Street BART station, their colorful chalkboard menu will give you plenty to choose from, with Greek and Middle Eastern flavors mixed in with traditional American plates. With friendly mom-and-pop staff and plenty of table space, the Cafe’s offerings range from croissants and bagels to panini and omelettes. 

11:30 AM — Get your steps in with one of PRECITA EYES MURAL TOURS, a 90-minute walking tour guided by multidisciplinary artist Carmela Gaspar, who shares with tour attendees her love of the city and the people who lend their magic to it. This tour centers the community’s stories of resistance against oppressive systems, resilience, love, and creation against all odds.

Then, take in some of La Misión’s quaint and cultural shopping opportunities. Exotic gifts, unique keepsakes, handcrafted jewelry and much more are at hand throughout the Mission District, creations of small businesses and family-owned storefronts that can’t be found in mass production. Be sure to check out ISSO SAN FRANCISCO, a Mission storefront that’s true to their slogan: Made, Found, or Designed in the Bay Area. ISSO’s private label brand can best be described as "classics with a twist," where designers upcycle vintage pieces. Numerous five-star reviews cite the quality of ISSO’s wares, as well as a wonderful customer experience.

Now it’s time to take a load off! Stop in at L’s CAFFE and get off your feet with a light lunch. Enjoy one of L’s signature salads, whether a simple Cobb or a Hummus Crunch, or something on the vast spectrum in between. They also offer unique sandwiches, typical breakfast and brunch plates, and a wide range of teas, coffees, and fresh fruit smoothies.

3:00 PM — Prepare yourself to be blown away by DUANE FORREST’s buttery fretwork and smooth vocals in his hit show, Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World. The international performer takes audiences on a one-hour acoustic journey through the roots of reggae to the global influence of Bob Marley. Experience acoustic renditions of legendary reggae songs that have reshaped countless lives, including Duane's own. From the origin of reggae to Marley's transcendent legacy, immerse yourself in the soulful melodies and transformative power of this iconic music. CLICK HERE for the full SFIAF review of Forrest’s work.

Now, maybe it’s time for a change of pace! And there are options:

4:30 PM — Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran, Love Story Yoga is a great place to make space for peace in the middle of an adventurous day. At 4:30 PM, Mia Rose Voss leads Love Story's 75-minute signature bhakti flow, where everyone's welcome - from the adventurous beginner looking for a workout to the advanced student wanting a balanced practice. Voss offers variations that enable you to practice at your own level while keeping up with the flow.

Or…

5:00 PM — Head back to Precita Eyes for an artists’ reception for TRES FLORES, an intriguing visual arts exhibit by three artists from Northern, Central, and Southern California who have come together to present an exhibition about life, death, and meaning found in the present. Inspired by their past, and the city of San Francisco they now call home, artists Francisco Franco, Max Marttila, and Safi Kolozsvari Regalado explore these topics through their paintings, and create new meaning in this collaborative exhibition.

6:00 PM — JAZZFRANCISCO takes the stage at Barbara Berkeley Studio. Guitarist Jackson Moran and clarinetist Nathaniel Vincent perform a set of jazz standards interpreted in the style of the late, great Django Reinhardt. They will also be performing some original pieces drawing inspiration from Reinhardt’s approach to playing.

8:00 PM — Among the festival’s “don’t-miss” shows is GREEN SHOOT PRODUCTIONS’ powerful and captivating solo play, In the Name of the Son. Starring the inimitable Shaun Blaney, the performance chronicles the extraordinary life of Gerry Conlon after his release from prison in 1989. Written by Conlon's lifelong friend Richard O'Rawe and Green Shoot Productions’ Artistic Director, Martin Lynch, the play explores Conlon’s post-prison life and the roller-coaster of newfound freedom. CLICK HERE for the full story and an interview with Martin Lynch! 

9:30 PM Finish off an incredible day of festival entertainment with a late dinner at the unparalleled BISSAP BAOBAB. Legendary entrepreneur Marco Senghor plays host in this Mission hangout for Senegalese food, exotic cocktails and world music. Amazing West African cuisine and Bhangra Indian rhythms infuse the night’s pairing. The perfect capstone to an unforgettable festival experience!

OTHER FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Festival 2025 has endeavored to create an expanded schedule of LECTURES & WORKSHOPS that offer an impressive glimpse into the dynamics of the arts themselves, from movement and sound, to cultural insights and the making of existential art that reflects the truth of life. Many of these offerings are FREE, and give festival-goers the chance to interact with the artists themselves and glean some insight into their craft and creative processes.

Also among the festival’s highlights is the return of the VISUAL ARTS, including In Diaspora by Vida Kuang and Fernando Martí, a two-person exhibit of paintings and prints reflecting on immigrant diasporic life in the heart of empire. The festival’s Visual Arts presentations are all free, including a Visual Arts Panel Discussion bringing together Artists whose work is featured in the In Diaspora and Tres Flores Exhibits to discuss their work. 

While a number of diverse venues are playing host to Festival 2025 performances, other local Mission District SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS are more than happy to join in on the festivities, catering to festival-goers with a 10% discount to all ticket-holders. Incredible flavors from around the world are at hand, including the unique cuisines of Mexico, Guatemala, Senegal, the Mediterranean, Ireland, Guam, and so much more.

TRANSPORTATION

There are two convenient BART stations, both on Mission Street, at 16th Street at the north end, and 24th Street at the south. Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green Lines all run through both stations, giving excellent access to the Festival’s 12 venues. Bus lines also criss-cross the Mission for ease of access.

For those coming by car, street parking is difficult at best. It is highly recommended that drivers find parking at the several convenient and easily-accessed public parking garages across the Mission.

CLICK HERE for more information on transportation in the Mission District, including a practical, time-saving list of venues with corresponding BART and Muni lines.