Witness Bay Area creativity in overdrive when SFMOMA’s Soapbox Derby returns to McLaren Park for the first time in more than 40 years! The original artists’ derbies from the 1970s are legendary events in our history. Between the two races in 1975 and 1978, the museum commissioned cars and trophies from more than 200 artists — including Ruth Asawa, Robert Arneson, Ant Farm, Viola Frey, Mike Henderson, Mary Lovelace O’Neal, Richard Shaw, and Carlos Villa — and thousands gathered to watch the races unfold.

Experience the excitement for yourself on April 10 when a new crew coasts down the curving hill of McLaren Park’s Shelley Drive. Each racer gets their star turn on the track as they descend one-by-one and compete for artist-designed trophies and delightfully unusual accolades, such as “Most Colorful” and “Most Amorphous.” Emceed by KQED’s Pendarvis Harshaw and ABC7’s Kumasi Aaron, the 2022 race includes dozens of local artists, organizations, and community members who have all been asked to dream big and design their own custom soapbox cars. If their art-on-wheels can roll, steer, and stop, anything is possible!

SFMOMA’s Soapbox Derby at McLaren Park is free and open to the public. Expect fun for all ages including music, food, family activities, and more. Stay tuned to meet this year’s racers—including some familiar faces from derbies’ past!

Race begins at 11 a.m. Trophy ceremony commences 15 minutes after the last timed trial.