Cancellation of San Francisco's Sunset Night Market prompts local enterprises to organize an alternative event of their own.
The Sunset District in San Francisco is gearing up for a new community-driven event, Sunset After Dark, set to take place on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Irving Street between 20th Avenue and 23rd Avenue.
This grassroots event, organised by the local advocacy group Dear Community in partnership with Smokin D’s BBQ, aims to celebrate local culture, food, and small businesses while fostering community connection. The event is a smaller-scale, community-driven alternative to the larger Sunset Night Market, which was cancelled for 2025 due to financial and logistical challenges.
The event will feature food vendors, artisan vendors, and activities for kids, all supported by neighbourhood schools. Smokin D’s BBQ, owned by Daniel Ramirez, has expanded into a brick-and-mortar storefront on Irving Street and will be a significant part of the event. Rob Aiavao, a board member of Dear Community, serves as the key spokesperson for Sunset After Dark.
Local restaurant owner Lareina Chu, who found the Sunset Night Market beneficial but detrimental to some businesses due to early street closures, is also involved in creating Sunset After Dark. She is focused on running her business and creating an event that benefits her neighbours.
The merchants along Irving Street saw a need to fill a gap left by the cancellation of the Sunset Night Market and have come together to create Sunset After Dark. District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio is supporting the community-led effort for Sunset After Dark.
During a recent ride share conversation, Kenny Choi, not previously mentioned in relation to Sunset After Dark, discussed politics, the economic divide, and cultural differences. This conversation is not directly related to the event but sheds light on the broader issues being addressed by the event.
The Sunset Night Market, which brought in an estimated 20,000 people last year, is distinctly separate from Sunset After Dark and is scheduled to return in 2026. The decision to cancel this year's Sunset Night Market was made to iron out what works best and how the event should look for the community.
Lareina Chu and other small businesses are creating a smaller event called Sunset After Dark to address concerns from merchants and ensure a successful event for everyone in the neighbourhood. Rob Aiavao, an organiser with Dear Community, wants Sunset After Dark to be a community and small business event without city funding.
Sunset After Dark is poised to become a significant event in the San Francisco calendar, offering a unique opportunity to support local businesses and celebrate the vibrant culture of the Sunset District.
- The local advocacy group Dear Community, in partnership with Smokin D’s BBQ, has organized Sunset After Dark, a community-driven event aiming to celebrate business, food, and lifestyle in the Sunset District.
- Aboard a ride-share vehicle, Kenny Choi discussed politics, economic divide, and cultural differences, shedding light on broader issues being addressed by the community-driven event Sunset After Dark.
- Beyond the recently cancelled Sunset Night Market, Sunset After Dark promises to be a significant event in San Francisco's calendar, showcasing local food-and-drink, home-and-garden businesses, and various artisans while fostering a strong community connection in the Sunset District.
