SAN FRANCISCO—Spanning over 16 blocks in San Francisco’s SoMa district, the 16th annual “How Weird Street Faire” took place on Sunday, April 26. Since 1999, the festival (a play off of the name “Howard,” as in the main street of the celebration), has driven to host and commemorate all that is weird, exotic, and colorful in San Francisco.
Compared to a Burning Man type of atmosphere and decor, the festival rivals the “freakishness” of other comparable San Francisco Street Fairs.
Thousands of tourists and locals alike dressed in wild and vibrant costumes, attuned to this year’s theme “The Weirdest Show in Earth.” The theme was highly concentrated toward San Francisco’s long-past, but still adored circus-like amusement park Playland at the Beach.
Adorned with 10 dance and EDM music stages, circus skill workshops, art alleyways, and unusual and delicious food vendors, the “How Weird” festival was success for the city.
While the festival is free, a $20 donation was asked of all patrons for the growing cost of blocking off such a large area of public property. Expenses have been reported to continue growing in subsequent years to come.
