Where is the Folsom Street Community Center

1286 Folsom Street at 9th Street in San Francisco. If you're interested in booking an event, making some media, or getting involved as a volunteer, drop a line to booking@folsomstreet.org

When are Folsom Street's events?

Our events, including our street fairs are listed here. Up Your Alley is on Sunday, July 30, 2023 and Folsom Street Fair is on Sunday, September 24, 2023. Our usual dates for our street fairs are the last Sunday in July and the last Sunday in September.

What about safety precautions?

The safety and security of our community is our highest priority, and Folsom Street Events is committed to ensuring that our events are as safe as possible for everyone who attends. To bring our events back we will be following all city, state and county COVID-19 restrictions. Click here to read our public health precautions As with all of our events, the following items are not permitted on the fairgrounds: weapons, knives, sharps, glass bottles, and cans.

Since our events are community events, safety is a community responsibility that is shared among fairgoers, vendors, law enforcement, and the Folsom Street board of directors, staff, and volunteers.

SFPD's perimeter presence will remain the same as in prior years, and SFPD will lend support inside the event only as needed.

Where are the events?

Both fairs take place in San Francisco’s South of Market district, also known as SOMA.

Up Your Alley will take place on Folsom Street between 9th and 11th, on 10th between Howard and Sheridan, and on Dore between Howard and Folsom.

Folsom Street Fair will be on Folsom Street between 8th and 13th Streets, from Howard to Harrison.

How much does it cost to enter?

At both events, our gates volunteers will welcome you and ask you for a donation. When you donate $10-20, you will receive a fair sticker. So, be generous – give ‘til it hurts!

What are the main attractions?

At Up Your Alley – The return of Steamworks stage will heat up the street and our amazing lineup of DJs and performers will make sure it's hot AND wet! Come celebrate the middle of summer by shopping at all your favorite vendors. A little retail therapy with your favorite artists, craftspersons and purveyors of fine toys will have you feeling ready to get back out there! (You’ve got all your shots, right puppy?) Visit our organizations and clubs, and get a COVID test so that we can all stay safe!

For Folsom Street Fair we’re taking you back to basics. Bringing you into the future. Giving you a vision of where we were and where we’re going on this journey of sexual liberation for ALL. This infamous event is all about COMMUNITY. We can’t wait to see you in the street, in your mask, from just far enough away to be absolutely tantalizing. Our four community stages will be amazing, our exhibitors will be spicy, and we will all be together! Don’t miss The Playground (on 9th Street between Howard and Folsom), a space for women of every kind, and all trans and non-binary folks. Follow us on social media to see who will be the stars on our stages!

Can I smoke? It’s outside, right?

Per San Francisco city ordinance, all permitted outdoor events must be smoke-free! Please respect your neighbors, and don’t smoke. At the same time, we know that some of you need a cigarette fix or maybe you’re a cigar aficionado; so, you have two options: 1. Exit one of main gates and re-enter when you’re done; or, 2. Find a smoke-friendly business on the fairgrounds.

Can I bring my pet? Can I bring my child?

Please do not bring pets of any kind to our events. Both events can be crowded and sometimes very hot; this is not an appropriate environment for any non-human animals. Please do not bring children less than 18 years of age to our street fairs; the environment is very much for adults only. If you want to expose your child to alternative sexualities, there are other ways to do it – read a book, watch a movie, or attend a conference. Our gates and security volunteers will stop you, discourage you from entering and reinforce our policy directly with you (repeatedly). Find a babysitter; and, enjoy a day with your adult friends.

Can I be nude at your events?

Yes, you may be naked at either or both of our street fairs. Per a law banning street nudity in San Francisco, permitted street fairs like ours are exempt. So please dress up to come on down and then strip down to whatever you like. We have coat and clothes check service on site. Nude is not lewd at our events.

What is the policy on sexual activity?

Folsom Street follows all local, state, and federal laws to the best of our ability and intervenes in any discovered instances of "lewd behavior". We have implemented and continue to enforce a three strikes policy on public sexual activity, as follows: Step 1 – Verbal warning. Our Security team may stop you and ask that you take your given activity (e.g., masturbation, oral/anal/vaginal sex) indoors to an appropriate local establishment; Step 2 – Ejection from the fair. Our Security team will escort you to the closest gate, requesting that you do not return. If needed, we will ask for SFPD assistance, and we will alert our gates personnel that you are not allowed to re-enter; and, Step 3 – Citation. If you are found back on the fairgrounds, we will turn the matter over to SFPD.

I’m 18, 19, or 20. Can I come to your events?

Yes please come to the fair. There is much to see and learn and you’re an adult! You can’t drink and please don’t even try to. All of our partner bars are LEAD-trained by an ABC-certified trainer, and you will be carded upon any and every purchase of alcohol. That said, we do have lots of non-alcoholic options (e.g., water, juice), and you can enjoy all of the entertainment and educational opportunities that we have to share with you.

Is accessible parking available?

If you are disabled and require accessible parking, it is available (i.e. “blue zones”) at both fairs. At Up Your Alley, the four spots are located on Howard at Dore. You will see a clearly posted sign that spans the duration of the fair. At Folsom Street Fair, there are fourteen spots in total – the same four spots from Up Your Alley (Howard at Dore), and then ten additional spots on Harrison – Harrison at 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th. Please refer to our fair maps for the exact locations.

What if I lose something at an event?

The fair headquarters (HQ) is located on Dore at Folsom. Our Safety team is stationed here. If and when items are turned into us, they may be found at Safety in HQ. If the fair is over (after 6:00 pm), you may have to wait until the Wednesday after the fair. Our Lost and Found makes its way onto our trucks and then makes its way back to our office. You may leave a message at 415-552-3247 with a description of your item, and we will do our best to get it back to you. If you lose your wallet (even temporarily), we encourage you to cancel all of your debit and credit cards for the sake of added security and for the prevention of identity theft.

What’s the best way to get around?

If you’re traveling around the SF Bay Area (particularly from SFO or OAK), use Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). The average cost from the airport is between $7 and $10. Within San Francisco, you can use Muni, our municipal transportation system of railway cars, buses, and trolleys. The system shuts down at night, so you may have to rely on alternative forms of transportation like cabs or ride services like Homobiles or Lyft.

What kind of weather can I expect?

The infamous Mark Twain quote “I’ve never spent a winter colder than a summer in San Francisco” couldn’t ring truer! So, even though you may be tempted to pack shorts for Up Your Alley in July, we don’t advise it. Typically, San Francisco is cool in the traditional summer months (June – August); however, things heat up in September – both figuratively and literally. San Francisco often enjoys a late summer in the second half of the month. Regardless of when you visit, always layer your clothing; at a minimum, carry a light jacket to protect from the breeze. If you forget one, you can buy a new FOLSOM STREET zip-up hoodie at our merchandise booth. Alternatively, if it’s hot and sunny, our First Aid booths have sunscreen.

What should I see and do in San Francisco?

South of Market: SOMA bars like Powerhouse, Lone Star Saloon, Hole in the Wall, and The SF Eagle are famous as part of the fabric of our leather and kink communities. They each feature a particular slant on the community’s interests – Powerhouse is our traditional leather/Levi bar with lots of hosted club nights and great underground music, The Lone Star Saloon is the ultimate bear bar, Hole in the Wall is the seediest of dive bars, and The SF Eagle features stiff drinks, rock ‘n’ roll and a sprawling patio for hot summer nights. Looking for a fun drag show and a great queer scene? Head to SF Oasis to see the best drag San Francisco has to offer.

Castro: Bars like 440 Castro (formerly Daddy’s) and The Edge make up the heart of leather Castro. Fur fans will relish in Sunday Furry Sunday or any number of other parties at 440 Castro. It’s a great “go-to” bar where you’re guaranteed a fun time. If you’re in the Castro by day, get one of THE BEST cuts, trims or shaves you’ll get in your life at Daddy’s Barbershop. The staff is one of the most talented and hottest in town.

Downtown: For a bathhouse/sex club experience, check out Eros. Eros is located at 132 Turk St. in the Historic Transgender District, just a couple blocks from the Powell St. station. And, yes, that was Eros that was featured in the HBO series “Looking” – just like Folsom Street Fair!

As you head into the final weekend of SF Leather Week, shopping for gear and toys at Mr. S Leather is a ritual for leather folk from all over the world. This exciting shop will get your blood pumping and work you up for a taste of the good stuff! Then, head on down to grab a coffee and some cake at Wicked Grounds, one of the world’s only BDSM cafés. The café plays host to inspirational artwork and cultural events (e.g., music, poetry) around both fairs.