San Francisco to host first official Diwali celebration

The city of San Francisco is gearing up for its first official Diwali celebration this fall.

The festivities will be part of the highly anticipated return of Bhangra and Beats, a free night market series that kicked off last spring, infusing the Financial District with South Asian culture by celebrating bhangra music and a range of local eateries.

This season’s markets are scheduled to take place over the course of four Fridays starting May 10, with additional dates set for July 12, Sept. 13 and Nov. 15. The final Bhangra and Beats market of the season will also serve as the city’s inaugural Diwali celebration, despite Diwali being on Nov. 1.

Known as the festival of lights, Diwali is one of the biggest religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.

Over two stages, the event is expected to showcase local and international talent. There are also plans for more than 30 local artisans and retailers offering Indian goods, locally made jewelry and more. “The popularity and success of the Bhangra and Beats Night Market shows that San Francisco is hungry for cultural events that lift up small businesses and showcase the amazing diversity of our city,” Mayor London Breed said in a statement. “We need many creative strategies to make Downtown a 24/7 neighborhood, and bringing performers, vendors, and small businesses to come together in a spirit of joy and celebration is one of them.”

The events are a joint effort from San Francisco-based culture production studio Into the Streets, which recently proposed a monthly San Francisco street party dubbed Downtown First Thursdays that’s still pending approval, and Non Stop Bhangra, a local artist collective and marketing company that aims to highlight bhangra music and dance.

Odell/Bhangra and Beats Bhangra and Beats is back with four night markets starting in May.