Another Haight Street Fair has come and gone, and yes, it was every bit as chaotic and magical as you’d expect. The streets were packed with an explosion of color — primarily tie-dye, of course — while the ever-present scent of cannabis swirled in the air.

Even San Francisco’s Patagonia-clad set seemed to take a break and let the city’s original hippies reclaim their stomping grounds. I swear I spotted a few folks who looked like they’d time-traveled straight from Woodstock, tie-dye shirts and flower crowns in tow.

In true Haight Street fashion, tiny dogs in tote bags were everywhere, practically lifted above the crowd as their humans navigated the packed sidewalks. Mystical tarot readers dotted the scene too, reminding everyone that there’s always a bit of magic to be found in this city.

The fair also carried on its tradition of welcoming all ages with “Children’s Alley,” where youth bands, including winners from the Rock Project SF’s Battle of the Bay competition performed. It gave the fair a family-friendly twist while staying true to its countercultural roots.

The Haight-Ashbury Street Fair began in 1978 as part of the neighborhood’s emergence from the the “Summer of Love” era in the late 1960s. The goal was to draw attention to the cultural, political, and social contributions that the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood made during that period. With support from figures like Harvey Milk, the first fair highlighted community’s desire to reclaim its identity as a cultural hub.

We’re now at year 45 and it’s just a lot of fun. Of course it’s also in a crowded space for street fairs nowadays, with everything from night markets in Sunset, Chinatown, First Thursdays, and even new ones on the horizon in Castro and on the Great Highway. San Francisco really took that doom-loop narrative and kicked its ass over and over again.

It was fun to see someone dancing on the exterior window sill of Toxic Thrilz like it was just another Sunday — because, in this neighborhood, it kind of is. A vendor nearby confirmed that the dancing wasn’t planned but said it happens whenever there’s a crowd.

The standout moment came from two little girls who absolutely slayed This Girl is on Fire in front of a huge crowd; adorable and totally unexpected. We also saw veteran bands like Moonalice, with their blend of rock and psychedelia, and punk legends Frightwig. Keystone Revisited, featuring Tony Saunders, and The Infamous Stiffs brought a variety of sounds too.

Whether you came for the music, the mysticism, or just to people-watch, this year’s fair had a little something for everyone. From the colorful streets to the live art, including everything from abstract murals to live sketches, the spirit of 1960s Haight was alive and well this weekend.

Courtney Muro is a San Francisco-based content strategist, producer, designer, and creator. Saul Sugarman is editor in chief of The Bold Italic.

The Bold Italic is a non-profit media organization, and we publish first-person perspectives about San Francisco and the Bay Area. Donate to us today.