I stopped by the Mission on Saturday afternoon to check out the annual Lowrider Parade. This year marked the SF Lowrider Council’s 45th anniversary.

Dozens of customized cars cruised down Mission Street between Cesar Chavez and 17th Street as crowds lined the sidewalks. Many were armed with their nicest cameras to capture the occasion. There were plenty of Impalas, with some riding low, and some popping up at dramatic angles.

I started at 18th and gradually walked towards 24th. Farther down Mission near 22nd, cars were parked along the street, giving people a closer look at the interiors and custom details. This stretch felt like a gallery or showroom, with the cars being the art.

By the time I reached 24th and Mission, it was much more crowded, with everyone packed around the intersection for the King of the Streets hopping competition. When a car jumped, everyone’s phones came out. The hydraulics lifted the cars in the air and the crowd cheered.

Lowriding was once controversial and policed on Mission Street, but after organizing through the San Francisco Lowrider Council, the culture gradually became more mainstream. CBS Bay Area even began televising the parade in 2025 and returned again this year. You can even watch the full coverage of the 2026 event on their YouTube channel. For more on the history of San Francisco lowriding and Lowrider Council founder Roberto Hernández, check out the latest episode of Storied: San Francisco.