Aztec Dancers Brave Rain at San Francisco's Rebranded Farmworkers Day Celebration

Ceremony continues despite lower turnout and recent allegations against Cesar Chavez

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:48am by

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A high-contrast silkscreen print in neon colors depicting the intricate feathers and shells of an Aztec dancer's ceremonial headdress, repeated in a grid pattern to create a bold, abstract pop art composition.The vibrant costumes and ceremonial dance of the Farmworkers Day Festivities bring a joyful energy to San Francisco's Mission District, even on a rainy spring day.San Francisco Today

Despite a downpour and lower attendance due to recent sexual assault allegations against the late labor leader Cesar Chavez, Aztec dancers from the ceremonial group Danza Xitlalli performed at San Francisco's Farmworkers Day Festivities on Saturday. The annual celebration, previously known as the Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Day Festival, was renamed and rebranded after the revelations about Chavez's past misconduct.

Why it matters

The Farmworkers Day Festivities are an important annual event honoring the contributions of farmworkers and the labor movement in the Bay Area. The decision to remove Cesar Chavez's name from the celebration reflects a broader reckoning with the late activist's troubled legacy, as well as an effort to uplift the work of Dolores Huerta and other overlooked figures in the farmworker rights movement.

The details

Despite the rain and lower-than-usual attendance, the Aztec dancers of Danza Xitlalli were the stars of Saturday's Farmworkers Day Festivities in San Francisco's Mission District. Wearing vibrant costumes with 2-foot-tall feathered headdresses, the dancers twirled and shimmied through the streets to the beat of drums, undeterred by the cold downpour. The annual celebration, previously known as the Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Day Festival, was rebranded this year after a New York Times investigation revealed allegations that Chavez had sexually assaulted young women, including his longtime colleague Dolores Huerta.

  • The Farmworkers Day Festivities took place on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed April 10, 2026 as Dolores Huerta Day and renamed March 31 as Farmworkers Day, removing Cesar Chavez's name.

The players

Danza Xitlalli

A ceremonial Aztec dance group that performed at the Farmworkers Day Festivities.

Pia Bacascu

A 23-year-old spectator who praised the Aztec dancers despite the rain.

Eva Royale

The director of the Farmworkers Day Festivities, who said she was glad the rain caused several bands to cancel, saving her $15,000.

Dolores Huerta

The co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, who recently accused the late Cesar Chavez of sexually assaulting her.

Cesar Chavez

The late labor leader whose name was removed from the annual San Francisco celebration after sexual assault allegations against him were revealed.

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What they’re saying

“It's wonderful to see the dancing, even in the rain!”

— Pia Bacascu

“It's refreshing!”

— Gigi Munoz and Sofia Aviles, Dancers

“But it's more important to continue moving forward to protect the labor movement and frontline workers' than to focus on any individuals”

— Armando Barbosa, Member, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 260

“I'm thanking her for speaking up. Sometimes it takes a lifetime and it still doesn't happen. I think this will ease her soul.”

— Larry Nelson, LGBTQ and senior rights activist

“He was a good organizer. He was an ordinary man.”

— Raymond Martinez, Former United Farm Workers mechanic

What’s next

The Farmworkers Day Festivities are expected to continue annually, with a focus on honoring the work of Dolores Huerta and other overlooked figures in the farmworker rights movement.

The takeaway

The Farmworkers Day Festivities highlight the resilience and community spirit of San Francisco's Mission District, even in the face of challenging weather and a reckoning with the complicated legacy of a once-revered activist. The event's rebranding reflects a broader societal shift in acknowledging and addressing past harms, while still uplifting the important work of the labor movement.