The Haight-Ashbury Street Fair Celebrated Its 45th Year on Sunday

All photos: Cheryl L. Guerrero/Hoodline

The Upper Haight celebrated the 45th Annual Haight-Ashbury Street Fair on Sunday, drawing a sizable crowd despite the breezy weather. People filled Haight Street, along with many of its side streets, from Stanyan Street to Masonic Avenue. The fair is a non-profit, volunteer-run event that highlights the neighborhood’s art, music, and community.

The iconic street fair got its start in 1978, as a way to celebrate the reemergence of the neighborhood after the social and economic downturn it suffered following late 1960s “Summer of Love” era. Except for that first fair, which took place in April, it traditionally was held on the second weekend of June each year. In 2022, the fair was moved to October just 10 days before its scheduled June date. This is the second year it has taken place in September.

Attendees enjoy playing with bubbles, courtesy of Magic Bubbles and Ballons. | Photos: Cheryl L. Guerrero/Hoodline

The fair featured two main musical stages and hundreds of merchants and artisans. There also were food and drink vendors galore to satisfy any craving, and a skate park on Belvedere Street offered a cash contest for the best trick performed during the day.

Bryan Kehoe’s Los Cincos Borrachos play the Stanyan Stage. | Photo: Cheryl L. Guerrero/Hoodline

It’s a family-friendly event, and a “Children’s Alley” was set up on one of the side streets. This year that area included a small stage featuring musicians from the San Francisco Rock Project.

And in case anyone forgot it’s an election year, a number of campaigns set up shop along the street as well, wooing potential voters.

Here are some more scenes from the day:

“Love iz the Answer.” Artwork from Tony B. Conscious lines Haight Street.

An attendee dances during the fair.

A skirt speaks loudly at the Artivism stall on Haight Street.

Keegan Roberson paints live during the fair.

Bart Bridge caps line their stall at the fair.

Skaters attempted to win the prize money for the best trick in the Skate Jam on Belvedere Street.

Maeve Gallagher and her pup Magoo, who she adopted from Muttville several years ago, were enjoying the fair. “We’re having a blast,” she told Hoodline.

A wide selection of culinary treats were available from local food vendors.

People get their groove on to the DJ set on Clayton Street.

Rock Project SF, a Nonprofit Organization and rock-based music school in the Bay Area, had musicians playing on a small stage on Cole Street. However, two winners of their BANDS OF THE BAY Youth Band Competition, Estranged Individuals and Inside Voices, also played one of the main stages of the fair.