Scenes from Union Street Festival

We live in an era of street festivals, and this weekend in San Francisco saw the Union Street Festival light up the historic Cow Hollow District.

The event was all about community, diversity, and sustainability; Local artists, musicians, and families gathered for smiles and snatching up some local goods. The Bold Italic joined the fun this past sunny Sunday.

Originally an arts and crafts festival, the Union Street Festival has morphed over the years into a fun, family-friendly extravaganza. This year, artisan food, local drinks, top-tier musicians, and high-end craft vendors lined Union Street from Fillmore to Octavia. The air was filled with the scent of delicious food and the sound of laughter and music, making it the perfect way to kick off summer in the city.

Artists, bartenders, and entertainment flanked the event. Here were some highlights:

Artists and crafters

Abigail Lee Goldberger showcased her large, colorful oil paintings inspired by myths and dreams, adding a touch of the fantastical to the event.
Adelyn Designs presented effortless, sustainable women’s apparel, perfect for day-to-evening transitions.
Coupe Ceramics brought vibrant, functional pottery inspired by the botanical world, turning everyday rituals into delightful experiences.
Ed Concepcion highlighted resort wear, specializing in elegant caftans, wrap dresses, and maxi dresses.
Fused Glass Creations featured colorful glass art designed to uplift and beautify both home and body.
Golden Coast Candle Co. offered non-toxic, memory-evoking candles, making homes smell as wonderful as they felt.

Food and drink vendors

Z. Cioccolato, a North Beach staple, tempted festival-goers with gourmet fudge, hand-crafted in small batches and rated #1 on the West Coast.
Wilder served international comfort food and award-winning cocktails, including their famed Espressotini, perfect for a sunny street festival.
Tovie Watermelon Mint Cooler refreshed the crowd with a sophisticated blend of watermelon, mint, lime, and ginger beer, boasting 70% less sugar than traditional sodas.
Recess Zero Proof “Paloma” provided a nonalcoholic cocktail with guayusa and adaptogens, ideal for enjoying the sunny day.
Markee LLC delighted attendees with freeze-dried candy, merging flavors and family traditions into a unique and tasty treat.

Entertainment

Chokecherry, a local band on the brink of stardom, brought their shoegaze and punk rock sounds to the stage.
Mint, a San Francisco band, blended shoegaze, surf punk, and post-rock to create a reverb-soaked, forward-pulsing musical experience.
New Diplomat, an indie-electronic band with a global lineup, offered a synth-pop performance that had everyone dancing.
Skinny Hendrixx and the Earthtones blended hip hop with live instrumentation that included funky bass grooves, guitar riffs, haunting violin lines, wailing horns, ethereal keys, and Skinny’s signature flow.

It was a day filled with creativity, community, and joy, capturing the essence of what makes this city so special. The Union Street Festival had again succeeded in bringing people together in the most delightful way.

All photos by Denise Cottin, who is a San Francisco-based photographer and contributor to The Bold Italic.

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