Come one, come all…to the 113th anniversary of the Hayes Valley Carnival!

Circus Bella presents WOW!

Presenting!
Circus Bella and the Prescott Theater Circus

2 showings: 1 PM and 3 PM
Free admission! Carnival games and prizes!

Brought to you by the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, the Hayes Valley Merchants Council, and Proxy with generous support from Avenue Greenlight

The 113th Anniversary Hayes Valley Carnival is FREE thanks to fiscal contributions and in-kind donations from our generous sponsors.

Ringmaster Level Sponsor: The Absinthe Group

Acrobat Level Sponsors: a Mano, San Francisco Association of Realtors

Juggler Level Sponsors: Afterwork Bar, Biergarten, City Arts & Lectures, Fiddlesticks / Orange Bird, Garrett Leight California Optical, Hayes Street Grill, Hayes Valley Art Works, Optical Underground, Papito / Hayz Dog, Rad Radish, Souvla, The Bird

Magician Level Sponsor: Anina, Arden Home, Brooklinen, Church Barber, Dark Garden, David Robinson, Hazie’s, Hôtel Biron, Jen Laska, LuxFit, Maven, Wildling Shoes

The original Hayes Valley carnival was a celebration and reminder of the vibrancy and tenacity of the city after the destruction of the 1906 earthquake and fires. The carnival reinvigorated residents, businesses and the city at large with a joyful community celebration.

The now annual return of this historic event will be held at PROXY, in the heart of Hayes Valley at the corner of Hayes and Octavia. A remnant of the removal of the central freeway, PROXY is a temporary experiment in the reinstatement of public space in urban life. Offering free public programming, innovative art installations, and an incubator for small local businesses, the site has acted as a container where people can share experiences and create bonds that foster community cohesiveness. This year’s collaboration with the Hayes Valley Merchants Association and the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association continues a long standing partnership, solidifying that the Hayes Valley Carnival has become a beloved annual event with an ever evolving present and future.

HEAD WEST provides a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses to have physical selling space multiple times per month at various neighborhood venues.

From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore.

Connecting people, forging community + sustaining the local economy, we continue to build upon our presence by offering expanded resources for small businesses to learn, grow, connect + share.

Merchant Mixer! Hazie’s bar and kitchen hosts this casual early evening of conversation and refreshments, co-presented by the Hayes Valley Merchants Council. Share your thoughts and ideas about doing business here in San Francisco, use the opportunity to tell others more about your own neighborhood business, or just enjoy some time with your peers. There is no formal program, this is simply a social event built around our wonderful Hayes Valley businesses.

Please do claim free tickets for all planned attendees via this invitation so that our hosts may know how many guests to expect. There is no limit to how many attendees per business may attend, but we do ask that only Hayes Valley merchants do so.

Live Music From Love Machine featuring Rachel Hermann on vocals

Saturday, December 23rd from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m.

Patricia’s Green/Brass Tacks

Soulful Sounds, Classic Tracks, and Xmas Bangers

Join us at the corner of Hayes and Octavia Streets.

Children’s Crafts, Face Painting, Music, Food, Drink, Menorah Lighting, and more!

Brought to you by Congregation Chevra Thilim and the Richmond Torah Center-Chabad

The Victorian Alliance of San Francisco brings back its house tour after a five-year hiatus and features five glittering homes in the Alamo Square neighborhood, known for the city’s most iconic Victorians.

The Victorian Alliance of San Francisco Victorian Home Holiday Tours will be held on  Sunday, December 10th from 3-7 PM. The locations of the specific homes will be revealed closer to the tour date.

Click here for more information

The Hayes Valley Merchants Council and

The Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association

Present

The 33rd Annual Hayes Valley Holiday Stroll

Join Us for an Evening of Holiday Merriment

Friday, December 1, from 5 until 9 p.m.

Kick off the holidays with the Hayes Valley Holiday Stroll, a neighborhood tradition for 33 years! Stroll around the neighborhood surrounded by music, holiday lights, and decorated windows. Visit the shops for in-store activities, wine & treats, and special promotions.

The Hayes Valley Holiday Stroll features live music, strolling entertainment, drag queen ambassadors in holiday finery, carolers, a Holiday Window contest, fabulous shopping, a photo booth, and so much more! 

This year we are very excited to welcome a real, live sugar plum fairy, Principal Dancer Sasha De Sola from the San Francisco Ballet and the Nutcracker as one of our Holiday Window contest judges.

The Stroll is family friendly! From 5 until 7 p.m. events for the kids will include face painting, wreath making, the Abominable Snow Man, DJ Sam Richter, and more surprises.

Of course our celebrated local restaurants & bars will be open, some with special hours and promotions. Watch this space for regular updates.

Entertainment throughout the neighborhood will include the strolling Areté Singers Mistletoe Carolers (5:30-8:30 p.m.), Dancing Christmas Trees, Mrs. Claus(es), a photo booth (sponsored by Fig & Thistle, be sure to look for the van!), and more.

Live Music all ‘Stroll long (5-9 p.m.) to include…

The Leafs - 300 block of Hayes, near Hayz Dogs

The Rock Project - 400 block of Hayes, near Chez Maman

SF Buskers - Linden Street, near Dark Garden

Sonamo - 500 block of Hayes, near Gambit

Participating Merchants are detailed below. Note that business participation is subject to last minute changes.

Amour Vert - 15% off purchases (some exclusions), free gift with $200+ purchase, Prosecco wine, holiday candy & cookies**

Arden Home - Wine**

Aviator Nation - Pictures with Santa Claus, hot cider & adult beverages, Christmas cookies & sweet treats**

Brooklinen - Hot chocolate bar

Dark Garden - Live music & festive beverages**

Ebb & Flow Wine Bar - Complimentary appetizers with purchase of two glasses of wine

Fiddlesticks + Orange Bird - Spiked cider at both locations**

Goldstories Pop-Up - Surprise treats and a 15% discount on all products during the event**

Lisa Says Gah - 20% off and drinks from Golden Rule Spirits and Leisure Project**

Marine Layer - 20% off during the event**

MMclay - Hot spiced apple cider and guest vendors on our lot**

Optical Underground - Spiked mulled wine

Outdoor Voices - 30% off storewide during the event**

Rails - Festive drinks & lite bites with 20% off for Stroll shoppers!

Topo Designs - 20% off purchases during the event**

Revelation in Fit - Free panty or soak with purchase**

**Noted business will be open extended hours during the Holiday Stroll!

Afterparty hosted by Hôtel Biron from 9 until 11:30 p.m., details here

Special Thanks to our sponsor Avenue Greenlight

Special Guest Holiday Window Contest Judge: Sasha De Sola

Experience the magical winter wonderland of toy soldiers, King of the Mice, Sugar Plum Fairy, and so much more at the Nutcracker. This dazzling production is a kaleidoscope of over 150 dancers accompanied by the SF Ballet Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s beloved score. Create everlasting memories with loved ones.

Photo Credit: San Francisco Ballet in Tomasson's Nutcracker // © RJ Muna for San Francisco Ballet

Trick or Treat! Join merchants throughout Hayes Valley in this annual fun tradition.

Look for the orange ghost to find participating stores.

This Sunday, October 22nd! HEAD WEST returns to Hayes Valley from 11 AM until 5 PM.

HEAD WEST is a local outdoor, marketplace featuring live, local Musicians. HEAD WEST was founded and is curated by creative + small business owner Jimmy Brower and is led by a team of leaders in the field.

PARTICIPANTS include Makers, Merchants, Crafters, Designers + Artists, as well as Non-Profit Organizations. Preference is given to handmade, locally sourced, small batch, eco-friendly, conscious offerings and products. Mass manufactured and MLM companies do not participate.

COMMUNITY BOOTHS: Those that identify as BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQIA+ or Non-Profit have been highly encouraged to apply for both Marketplace Booths as well as a no-cost Community Booth. Community Booths recipients are based on Need, Journey, Impact + Contribution. 

HEAD WEST will take place, light rain or shine, along Octavia Blvd adjacent to Patricia’s Green + Linden Street.

For more information, including a detailed version of the map below, click through to the HEAD WEST website here.

The 112th annual* Hayes Valley Carnival will be back again this year on July 15th!

Featuring Circus Bella at PROXY.

*Except 1912-2021

On Saturday, July 15th, PROXY, the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, and the Hayes Valley Merchants Association are bringing back the infamous Hayes Valley Carnival on its 112-year anniversary.

The original Hayes Valley carnival was a celebration and reminder of the vibrancy and tenacity of the city after the destruction of the 1906 earthquake and fires. The carnival reinvigorated residents, businesses and the city at large with a joyful community celebration.

The return of this historic event will be held at PROXY, in the heart of Hayes Valley at the corner of Hayes and Octavia. A remnant of the removal of the central freeway, PROXY is a temporary experiment in the reinstatement of public space in urban life. Offering free public programming, innovative art installations, and an incubator for small local businesses, the site has acted as a container where people can share experiences and create bonds that foster community cohesiveness. This year’s collaboration with the Hayes Valley Merchants Association and the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association continues a long standing partnership, solidifying that the Hayes Valley Carnival has become a beloved annual event with an ever evolving present and future.

We have been awarded an Avenue Greenlight Grant to support The 112th Anniversary Hayes Valley Carnival with additional fiscal & in-kind donations from:

Absinthe Group, a Mano, Hazie's, Rad Radish, Afterwork Bar, The Bird, Optical Underground, Papito's, Souvla, Miette, Fiddlesticks, Outdoor Voices, Suppenküche and Maven Realty.

Attendees will enjoy a myriad of carnival games and activities, thrill to the sounds of the Circus Bella All- Star Band, and partake in food and beverages from local vendors starting at 12pm. The Circus performance will begin at 1pm with Circus Bella, an open-air contemporary circus that uplifts diverse audiences and engages community. They will present their most recent production, Bananas!. This show marks the triumphant return of Circus Bella to the Bay Area Parks for their 14th Annual series of free performances, featuring some of the dazzling Circus Talent from the Bay Area and beyond. Guaranteed to delight and amaze audiences of all ages in a treasured family event for Children of All Ages. *Bananas! is directed by Abigail Munn (Circus Bella co-founder and director).

Space is first come first serve. Minimal audience seating on site will be provided, with turf up front for young children to be part of the action. Feel free to bring picnic blankets and small folding chairs. Standing room will be available in Patricia’s Green and along Hayes Street and Octavia Boulevard.

Essays and photographs of the historic Hayes Valley Carnival can be found at FoundSF.

Contact:

Lara Aburamadan
Communications Lead_ENVELOPE Architecture and Design + PROXY
lara@envelopeAD.com

Autumn Adamme
Hayes Valley Merchants Association
Vice President and Circus Bella Costume Designer
Explorehayesvalley@gmail.com