A celebration of culture, community, the arts and of course, the holidays, is coming to the stretch of Mission Street between Cesar Chavez and Randall streets Thursday for the neighborhood’s second annual Mission Bernal Holiday Walk.
Bars, galleries, restaurants and small businesses on the cusp of the Mission and Bernal Heights will join forces in offering activities, entertainment and special holiday deals to the local community and beyond.
The event, hosted by the Mission Bernal Neighborhood Association, takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. and highlights the wares of some 30 participating merchants.
Happy hours will be extended and food pop-ups abound – El Rio, at 3158 Mission St., will offer participants of the Holiday Walk 21 and over a free hot spiced whiskey cider, and patrons of the Knockout at 3223 Mission St. may find themselves stumbling into a round of drunk bingo. Mentions of the event will get strollers 15 percent off cannabis goods at Harvest at 33 29th St., as well as on a dinner at Melody Cafe at 3401 Mission St.
Organizers hope that the Walk will draw new visitors to explore the neighborhood while giving small businesses an opportunity to highlight their products and services. Locals will have a chance to connect and celebrate amongst each other.
“We see the Mission Bernal Holiday Walk as a sort of social experiment in supporting the neighborhood’s small business community, and we want to invite everyone to be part of it,” said Eden Stein, president of the Mission Bernal Merchants Association. “The Mission Bernal corridor is a hidden gem of food, art, music, and culture.”
Stein, who runs Secession Art and Design at 3235 Mission St., invites strollers into her boutique for a holiday party featuring local art and eats supplied by neighboring restaurants.
The Mission Bernal Holiday Walk will take place on December 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to tag their adventures in the Mission and Bernal with the hashtag #MBMAHW, in exchange for ‘Thank you’ gifts.