“Our Place in the Park” Free SoMa Festival + Mini Fair (2023)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Join us at the Victoria Manalo Draves Park for a free and open to the public festive ritual that gathers intergenerational families, artists and activists for a community celebration. Investment in the positive activation of public space is a proven method to support economic activity, strengthen existing communities, build bridges between diverse groups, and build empathy and connection at a larger neighborhood and city-wide level.

It is important to share stories of resilience and community organizing, helping us see a path forward that is more compassionate and inclusive. The location for the mini-fair is significant for the Filipino community because the park itself is named after the Filipina Gold medal Olympic diver, Victoria Manalo Draves, and it is adjacent to the future site of the SOMA Pilipinas Gateway arch, a joyful reclaiming of physical space. The mini-fair will feature a sneak peek of the proposed SOMA Pilipinas Gateway arch, film screenings of Sa Amin: Our Place, It Takes the Hood to Save the Hood, and a few short films from SOMA Sapiens, a series that offers a snapshot of people’s lives in the South of Market neighborhood. In addition to the films, the event will feature food, musical acts by local performers, resource and arts and crafts vendor booths, and a kids’ puppet-making workshop.

This mini-fair is produced in collaboration between SF Urban Film Fest, SOMA West CBD, [people.power.media], SOMA Pilipinas Cultural Heritage District, and Kultivate Labs, and generously supported by the SOMA Community Collaborative, California Humanities, and City of San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Special thanks to the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Recreation and Parks for their support.

To register, select from either a $0 general admission, or a $10 suggested donation ticket. Donation proceeds will be contributed to a SOMA-based service organization.

Curation by Fay Darmawi

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.