Before the carnival parade began there was the usual blessing at the intersection of Bryant and 24th Streets. Here was one of the participants bent over a smoldering cauldron, his face separated from his feather headdress by smoke.

Grilled food has been the rage at fairs for years. Here was a traditional grill heaped with cuts of beef. What appears to be smoke is mostly steam from water sprinkled on the coals to help cook the meat.

In October, the sea fog begins to retreat further into the Pacific Ocean as the Central Valley begins to cool for winter. Thus, the sunny summer days arrive late to San Francisco, but just in time for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. Behind the Foggy Bottom Cafe a worker grilled meat on sticks for the hungry public. Oddly, here distantly between stages, the eating area was somewhat quiet and peaceful.

The fog had finally burned off leaving behind hard blue skies and a lingering chill. Behind the line of vendor tents, a barbecue prepared grilled pineapple and pork on a stick. The surrounding sounds were a mix of hundreds of conversations and amplified Hawaiian music.

As one of the dancers dipped just out of frame, the remaining smoke nearly hid the audience watching from the sidewalk. Not evident from this shot was the loud pounding beat of music and the aroma of pine scented embers.

Many South, Central, and North American native groups performed in the Carnival Parade. Here was one group which swung cauldrons of smoking coals while chanting and dancing.

Every street festival offers food. Here, the usual grilled meats and vegetables were being prepared for the hungry dancing public.

During late night rehearsal, cigarettes smoldered in an ashtray. The closed, over-heated room filled with snakes of smoke.