March 12, 2009

San Francisco’s off-beat celebrations

It's in the less-publicized annual events that San Franciscans celebrate their cherished reputation as a city of oddballs

St Valentine's Day pillow fight — A good example of San Francisco's penchant for public absurdity is the annual St. Valentine’s Day pillow fight at Justin Herman Plaza. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

St Valentine's Day pillow fight — The cathartic event transforms both the fighters and the onlookers into a laughing throng, enjoying the spectacle while a million white pillow feathers float in the night air. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

St Valentine's Day pillow fight — It's not a massacre but there's probably more than a few broken hearts being mended through this process. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Brides of March — The Ides of March bring another only-in-San Francisco event, the wonderfully pointless Brides of March. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

The Brides of March — On that day the downtown shopping district of Union Square is overrun by hundreds of wedding dress clad women (and men.) Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Brides of March — The only point of the event seems to be to celebrate silliness and to confuse the tourists. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Bring your own Big Wheel — Those locals who are more sports-minded might choose to attend the Bring Your Own Big Wheel race. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Bring your own Big Wheel — This event features hundreds of costumed locals navigating plastic children’s tricycles down one of the city’s steepest and curviest streets. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Bring your own Big Wheel — Originally held on San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, the race has relocated to the less famous but more crooked Vermont Street. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Bring your own Big Wheel — While billed as a race, there are no trophies given or records kept. As one race organiser proudly stated, “There are no winners here, only losers.” Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Dia de los Muertos in the Mission — October brings the Mission District’s Dia de los Muertos celebration. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Dia de los Muertos — Dia de los Muertos is San Francisco’s take on the Mexican tradition of honouring the dead on All Saints Day. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Dia de los Muertos in the Mission — Thousands take to the neighborhood streets in a night parade. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

Dia de los Muertos — The marchers, most with their faces painted as skeletons, walk through the Mission District carrying candles, flowers and photos of the departed. Photograph: Ramsey Said/guardian.co.uk

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