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Culture

Photos: SF’s first-ever lowrider parade celebrates cars, culture, and the Mission

Thousands turned out to watch the gleaming procession cruise through the city’s historic Latino neighborhood.

A woman in a blue denim jumpsuit stands confidently on a street corner in front of a green classic car, with a building and power lines behind her.
The procession kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month.
By The Standard StaffPhotos and text by Alexa Trevino

The sun always shines in San Francisco’s Mission District, but this weekend, it felt brighter — thanks to all the chrome. The lowriders were out to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month in the city’s historic Latino neighborhood. More importantly, so were the people who keep lowrider culture alive.  

Photographer Alexa Trevino went down to the Mission Saturday to capture portraits of the people who took part in the 500-car procession. The event drew thousands of in-person onlookers and even more tuning in to watch the parade broadcast on CBS.

Trevino’s images go beyond the cars. They’re a tribute to the culture-keepers, the families, the builders, the storytellers. Because without the people, there is no lowrider movement.

In every interview, a common thread emerged: cruising is more than a hobby. In a world where cultural expression is too often policed or misunderstood, they told her, simply showing up, joyful, united, and visible, is an act of resistance. Aquí estamos y no nos vamos.

Many participants spoke of generational pride, how knowledge and love for this art form is passed from parents to children, one bolt and brushstroke at a time.

Others wanted to set the record straight: this community has long been misjudged. But beneath the paint and hydraulics lies something deeper.

The lowrider community wasn’t out there just to showcase their rides, they were there to claim space, to celebrate identity, and to ensure that la cultura continues to ride strong in the very streets that raised them.

Five people stand on a street at dusk, holding a Mexican flag and a red flag with a black eagle and text, in front of a tall “New Mission” sign.
Six men stand confidently in a street flanked by vintage lowrider cars, wearing casual streetwear and sunglasses under a clear blue sky.
A blue car door with shiny chrome rims features bold, stylized black lettering that reads “we in the streets.”
A woman wearing a striped crop top and jeans leans casually against a white vintage car parked on a sunny street with trees and buildings.
Two women smile and pose in front of a classic red car parked on the street at dusk, with a building and trees in the background.
A vintage white car is tilted upward on its rear wheels, showcasing shiny chrome details under a bright blue sky near modern buildings.
A red classic lowrider car with people inside drives down a street lined with onlookers and tall palm trees under a clear blue sky.
A man in a white tank top, red shorts, white bucket hat, and sneakers stands confidently in front of a white convertible car on a sunny street.
A man with sunglasses and a sleeveless shirt sits in a vintage car, while a woman in a plaid shirt and jeans stands beside him in front of a building.
Two large Rottweilers lie on the ground in front of a black classic convertible car with gold rims, parked near a building with balconies.
A man wearing a black and orange sports jersey and cap crouches beside a teal classic car with glowing headlights in front of a vintage auto body shop.
A man with tattoos rests his arm on the window of a vibrant red vintage truck against a deep blue sky at dusk.

Filed Under

CarsCultureEventsLowridersMission District