Bay Area rap, reggaeton and cumbia music rang through the Mission District on Saturday as people of all ages gathered for a Cinco de Mayo car show and block party where they admired dozens of pristine lowriders and celebrated both Latino and Bay Area culture.
Local artists, shops and chefs had booths lined on both sides of Harrison Street behind John O’Connell High School, selling food or handmade goods and reuniting with old friends.
“We’re out here trying to build community,” Cutberto Ramirez said. “This is the place to be.”
Ramirez, who organized the event with the San Francisco Lowriders Council, runs the clothing brand Hella Paisa, which celebrates Latino and Mexican culture with a California spin. He said he was excited to get all of his friends and vendors out to the event to showcase their products to the Mission community.
The Mission District fundraiser attracted a variety of classic cars.
Felix Uribe/Special to The Chronicle“It’s about celebrating our people,” he said with infectious passion.
One of the vendors, first-year college student Samantha Castellon, was excited that the event provided an opportunity to sell her handmade jewelry and candles, meet new people and learn more about being a small business owner.
“I found my passion in art,” said Castellon, 18. She explained that, when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a 9-year-old, making art helped her cope. Now, she said, she hopes her products can help people do the same.
“I want to help people heal spiritually,” she said, adding that she hopes to be an ob-gyn someday. “I put a lot of work into each piece I make, and I really hope people enjoy them.”
A spectator checks out the lowriders at the fundraiser for John O’Connell High School.
Felix Uribe/Special to The ChronicleIn the high school parking lot off Harrison Street, dozens of lowriders were parked, hoods open, for passersby and car enthusiasts to enjoy, discuss and photograph before they cruised in the Mission later in the afternoon. Proceeds from the car show benefit the high school.
A crowd favorite was Abel Rueda’s 1962 Impala, painted with intricate designs in 49ers red and gold. Every detail was thought out — the metal throughout the car, including the door handles, the armrests inside and the engine, was engraved.
Rueda, who is from San Jose and has shown many cars before, said getting the car to this point took 12 years.
“I’m proud of it,” he said.
The event also featured several performances, including baile folklórico, mariachi and traditional Aztec dance. Ariane Cortés, who teaches mariachi in the San Francisco Unified School District, said celebrating through music is important to teach children, including her daughter Camila, who was performing with Mariachi La Misión.
A lowrider drives through the front gates of the car show in the Mission District.
Felix Uribe/Special to The Chronicle“It’s so important to teach youth the joy of making music together,” she said.
Camila, who has been playing the violin for 11 years, said her parents got her into music and that playing with the mariachi band is an important experience for them to share.
“It’s very cultural,” she said. “It’s good to express that.”
Reach Danielle Echeverria: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @DanielleEchev
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