2026 Spring Fling Craft Show Celebrates 50 Years of Westchase Community

Local natural foods co-op Rainbow Grocery marks milestone anniversary with weekend festivities

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The 2026 Spring Fling Craft Show is returning to Westchase this weekend, marking 50 years since the founding of the neighborhood's beloved Rainbow Grocery Cooperative. The community event will feature live music, food, games, giveaways, and over 25 vendor booths showcasing handmade crafts, homemade goods, and local artisanal products.

Why it matters

In a city known for high retail turnover and the rise of big-box chains, Rainbow Grocery has remained a fixture in the Westchase community by embracing a unique worker-owned cooperative model and values-driven product selection. The Spring Fling Craft Show celebrates Rainbow's longevity and the enduring appeal of mission-driven, community-focused businesses.

The details

Rainbow Grocery Cooperative first opened its doors in 1975, born out of the 1970s natural food movement. Over the past five decades, the store has built a loyal following by offering hard-to-find organic produce, homeopathic remedies, specialty vegan items, and environmentally conscious brands - even weathering shifts in consumer buying habits during the pandemic. The Spring Fling event will showcase Rainbow's community-oriented approach, with local vendors, family-friendly activities, and a celebratory atmosphere.

  • Rainbow Grocery Cooperative opened in the summer of 1975.
  • The 2026 Spring Fling Craft Show is taking place this Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Rainbow Grocery Cooperative

A local natural foods grocery store, organized as an employee-owned co-op and born out of a 1970s grassroots natural food movement calling for access to nutritious and organic food.

Gordon Edgar

A 31-year employee who oversees Rainbow's cheese counter.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

In an era of private equity-owned supermarkets, San Francisco's largest independent natural food store remains worker-owned and committed to organic food—proving mission-driven retail can survive and community values can endure.