Everybody loves to eat, so it’s pretty obvious why an event like the San Francisco Street Food Festival exists. And in a city that takes pride in its social and cultural diversity, you can expect more than just a celebration of flavors and favorites.
Presenting, all your questions about the SF Street Food Fest answered:
What can we expect from the SF Street Food Festival?
Great food, equally great drinks, and a fun crowd. Featuring more than 30 Bay Area chefs and restaurants, the SF Street Food Festival is all that, and then some.
From Puerto Rican empanadas to Vietnamese noodles, from Slavic to soul food – the diverse range of participating chefs and restaurateurs at the SF Street Food Festival is simply astonishing. You’ll have an entire day to walk around this food fair, but it still won’t be enough to sample everything that this exceptional event has to offer.
What makes the SF Street Food Festival so special?
The Festival means more to San Francisco than just a gastronomic adventure. It’s also a feel-good underdog story that every San Franciscan can be proud of.
The SF Street Food Festival started out as a simple block party in 2009, with the aim of celebrating the City by the Bay’s diverse culinary traditions. It was created by La Cocina, a Mission District-based food startup incubator that helps boost food startups created and run by low-income women, many of whom come from immigrant families.
The Festival immediately grew a huge following, but nearly ended its run in 2014 – ironically because its success had made it hard to accommodate at its original Folsom Street location. A move to the Dogpatch location in 2015 allowed this emerging San Francisco signature experience to continue making an impact to this day.
What this continued success means for San Francisco is that more low-income women find opportunities to launch or sustain their food businesses. By creating a festive environment that draws residents and tourists by the thousands, La Cocina places these promising enterprises – products of its incubator program – at the forefront of a globally appealing San Francisco food culture.
When and where does it take place?
This year’s SF Street Food Festival happens on October 13, 2018 (Saturday) at The Power Station, located in the Dogpatch neighborhood. It’s just a one-day event, so be sure to block off that date on your calendar!
The food stalls begin selling at 11 AM and will closeat 7 PM.
I’m sold! Do I need to buy tickets?
Yes. General admission to the Festival’s dizzying array of great eats is at $6, although kids 5 years and younger can enter for free. You can also get a ticket and t-shirt package for $35. Buy your tickets in advance here.
Tickets will also be sold at the door on the day of the event itself for $10.
The Festival is even more awesome than I thought. Can I help make it more successful?
Absolutely! The SF Street Food Festival welcomes volunteers! Click here if you’d like to sign up for pre-event setup as early as Thursday, October 11. Several volunteer slots are also available for the day of the event.
In addition to volunteers, the SF Street Food Festival also accepts donations.
For more living and real estate tips in San Francisco, contact Bernie and Mike Homes. Our local knowledge will help you make the most of your day-to-day living here in the City by the Bay from the best kid-friendly things to do to visiting San Francisco parks that your dog will absolutely love. Call us at 415.906.6000 or 415.308.4281 for inquiries.