A large crowd walks down a tree-lined street at an outdoor market or festival, with vendor tents and people eating at tables on both sides.
Valencia comes alive! Crowds flood the streets Thursday night for Valencia Live’s food, music, and celebration. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.

Live music and dancing took over Valencia Street this week as people turned out for the fourth Valencia Live! block party, held the second Thursday of each month between 16th and 19th streets.

Each block offered its own immersive rhythm: On 17th Street, Blondies hosted John Barleycorn, whose set featured driving banjo, warm guitar and a steady thump-thump rhythm.

One block over, Carnaval’s stage opened with Spanish-rock covers by Azul Latino, followed by Fogo Na Roupa’s high-energy Afro-Brazilian dance performance backed by pounding drums.

Another block down on 19th, The Chapel curated a mix of DJs and live acts, including the Latin lo-fi beats of PEÑA. People wandered from block to block, stopping when the music pulled them in.

These were some of the moments Mission Local captured of the evening. 

A four-member band performs on an outdoor stage with instruments including a banjo, guitar, and upright bass; buildings and street signs are visible in the background.
John Barleycorn, a lively and fun-loving San Francisco Bay Area bluegrass band, performed on Valencia at 17th Street, blending traditional roots with energetic instrumentals and sweet harmonies. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
Azul Latino, a Bay Area Latin rock band led by guitarist Ernesto Nolasco, delivers passionate Rock En Español on 18th Street. Video by Daniela X. Sandoval.
A group of people participate in a group dance on a city street during an outdoor event, surrounded by shops and trees.
ODC Dance Commons gets moving with free salsa lessons open to all. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
Salsa lessons hosted by ODC Dance Commons. Video by Daniela X. Sandoval.
People sit at tables with colorful striped tablecloths on a city street, decorated with papel picado banners and bunting, outside shops and under trees during a community event.
People enjoying a meal along the Valencia Street corridor. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
Two people in festive attire stand outside Puerto Alegre Mexican Cuisine, holding a Pride celebration flyer. Rainbow flags and restaurant signs are visible in the background.
Puerto Alegres’ Amparo Vigil and J’aime Martinez-Castro pose outside Puerto Alegre Mexican Cuisine, holding a flyer for a Pride celebration. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
A person in a white mariachi outfit and sombrero stands on a city street, holding a staff and draped in a sequined cape near outdoor café tables.
J’aime Martinez-Castro poses in his mariachi outfit and sombrero, holding a staff and draped in a sequined cape.
Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
People sit at wooden tables on a closed-off street with vendor tents, others walk or stand nearby; trees and buildings line the background.
People sit around enjoying good conversation while others stroll nearby. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
An artist sits by a display of colorful artworks and prints at an outdoor market, with a large painting of a stylized lion head prominently featured behind him.
San Francisco–based fine artist and muralist Francisco Franco works on a painting. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
People gather around outdoor tables displaying colorful paintings at an art fair on a city street lined with murals and trees.
Attendees channel their inner artist as they take a moment to paint and get creative. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
Three people look at framed artwork displayed on a table at an outdoor market, with a gray building and a "Cocktails" sign in the background.
Shoppers browse through framed artwork on display. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
People browse clothes and sunglasses at an outdoor market stall under a pink canopy. Two women in the foreground carry tote bags and one holds a drink.
Amidst the music, people shop for cute clothing and unique finds. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
Outdoor market stall with tie-dye clothing and art, DJ equipment on table, and several people browsing under a white canopy.
A DJ mixes vinyl while folks browse records and cassette tapes. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
People sit on yellow chairs facing a street stage at an outdoor event; others stand or walk nearby on a closed-off city street lined with buildings and trees.
People sit nearby, taking a break to people-watch. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
People browse art and craft booths inside a brightly lit gallery space, with various artworks displayed on the walls and tables.
Visitors explore arts and crafts booths inside The Drawing Room: Annex. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
A crowd gathers outdoors to watch a drumline performance on a city street, surrounded by buildings and trees.
People gather in anticipation of Fogo Na Roupa’s performance. Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.
The crowd of onlookers join in on the dancing during Fogo Na Roupa’s performance. Video by Daniela X. Sandoval.
A large crowd watches a street performance featuring a dance group in coordinated outfits, with musicians in red jackets performing on a stage in the background.
Fogo Na Roupa performs vibrant dance routines featuring their unique “Fogo-Style” choreography rooted in Afro-Brazilian rhythms.  Photo by Daniela X. Sandoval.

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I'm helping with Mission Local's social media strategy and finding stories in the Mission. I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and raised in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire in Southern California. I'm a UCLA alumna and am now pursuing my master’s degree in journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. In my free time, I enjoy going to the movies and running (yes, for fun!).

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2 Comments

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  2. This would be Valencia most of the days, if instead of bike lanes we had sidewalk dining all across it. Instead, we killed one more retail-culinary-entertainment zone to turn it into a commute lane for tech workers. Lobby money speaks, SF dies.

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