SAN FRANCISCO — Valencia LIVE! does not begin until 5 p.m. Thursday, but drivers will see Valencia Street transformed much earlier.
City transportation officials approved a closure of Valencia Street between 18th and 21st streets from noon until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. The intersections along the three-block stretch are scheduled to remain open, so east-west traffic can still cross Valencia while the event occupies the street itself.
The public street party runs from 5 to 10 p.m. and is free and open to all ages. That five-hour gap between the start of the closure and the start of the party is the practical detail to remember if you drive through the Mission on Thursday afternoon.
What time does Valencia LIVE! start?
The Sept. 10 edition begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m., according to the Valencia Street merchants’ event page.
The current music schedule lists Banda La Toxica at 5 p.m., Mazacote at 7 p.m. and Momotombo at 8:30 p.m. The performances are part of a broader street party with dancing, neighborhood businesses and public space on Valencia.
Which part of Valencia Street will be closed?
The city-approved traffic action covers Valencia Street from 18th Street through 21st Street from noon to 11:59 p.m. Sept. 10. The ISCOTT action record says the intersections remain open.
That means motorists should not expect to drive north or south through the closed Valencia blocks after noon, but they should still be able to cross at the intersecting streets unless the city changes the operating plan.
What is the easiest way to get there?
The organizer points visitors to both 16th Street Mission BART and 24th Street Mission BART. Nearby Muni options include the 22 Fillmore, 27 Bryant, 33 Ashbury/18th, 14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid and 49 Van Ness/Mission.
For most visitors coming from elsewhere in San Francisco, transit will be more predictable than trying to find parking around three closed blocks. Check SF News Today’s live transit page before leaving if service conditions change Thursday.
Is Valencia LIVE! free?
Yes. Valencia LIVE! is promoted as a free, all-ages neighborhood street party. An RSVP page exists, but there is no general admission charge.
What should drivers know Thursday afternoon?
The event is likely to create two distinct search periods: people planning to attend in the evening, and people who encounter barriers hours earlier and wonder why Valencia Street is closed.
If you are driving through the Mission between noon and midnight, plan to use surrounding streets rather than the three-block Valencia segment. The cross streets staying open should reduce the size of the detour, but parking pressure is likely to rise around the event footprint.