Let me tell you, we are very, very, er, very excited for Folsom Street Fair (Sun/29, 11am-6pm, Folsom Street between 8th and 13th Streets) around these parts. The naughty international affair that started as a SoMa neighborhood anti-gentrification protest and grew to be the world’s largest festival of kink is one of those truly “SF” moments that gives our civic pride a refreshing little spank and brings in tons of funds for local businesses and organizations. (I can’t wait to see how the mayoral candidates campaign at it.)
Need to whip up some inspiration? Check out a couple of our scandalous slideshows of past years’ events here and here.
As an owner of the recently reopened Stud—that’s my disclaimer for this guide!—I know the bars and nightclubs of the neighborhood and beyond can’t wait to show you a good time, so grab your friends and hit up these parties, or just go for a beverage and latex-clad shimmy at any queer watering hole in town (I love the newly opened ZHUZH in the Polk and the newly reopened Ginger’s downtown).
As usual, there’s a bounty of night-time and other-time happenings: Here are my picks to stay on the somewhat edgier, underground, and more diverse side of things:
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26
BALONEY DOES FOLSOM I adore this everything-friendly man-identified strip show/burlesque extravaganza, and you will too, probably, as the Baloney Boys get you hot ‘n bothered just in time. Thu/26 through Sun/28, 7pm, Oasis, SF. More info here.
DOMMY MOMMY Kitty Kapoww and hex SF present a night of performance and playfulness for Femme Dommes and the submissives who love them. Hosted by Glamputee. LFG! Thu/26, 6:30pm-9pm, The Stud, SF. More info here.
BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT Need a shot of gay pop heat as fall hits? Welsh singer-songwriter Bright Light Bright Light has toured with Elton John and the Scissor Sisters — catch him on the wee back patio of El Rio bar for an extra energy boost. Thu/26, 8pm, El Rio, SF. More info here.
CIGARS & GUITARS Smoking on the patio and live rock inside—there’s definitely a throwback aspect to this Eagle party, with performances by Dead River Rebels, Mondo Freaks, and Watch This Drive, but I’m here for it. Thu/26, 9pm-2pm, Eagle, SF. More info here.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
FORCED FEMME DJs on this one make it a must: Cali Rose, Sevyn 0000, Finishher, more: “The Premier Transfemme Folsom Street Fair Party, featuring 10 transfemme DJs and live performers, live pole dancers, a dungeon, and more hot trans people than you’ve ever seen in one place.” Fri/27, 9pm-2:30am, DNA Lounge, SF. More info here.
DIRTY BOOTS New slutty hookup party at the Stud, for admirers of western wear, work wear, classic men’s wear and everything else masc-coded, after the Orville Peck concert, even.. DJs Beverly Chills, John Fucking Cartwright, and Devin Jay polish you up. Fri/27, 10pm-2am, The Stud, SF. More info here.
CRUCIAL FUNCTION: KEY TO KEY Oh hey, the infamous key parties are back at tiny but mighty Driftwood Bar, and this time some truly freaky DJs and artists—The Baptist, Loftus, Clark, Succubus, GIA—battle it out behind the decks and on the performance platform (if there even is one!). Fri/27, 10pm-2am, Driftwood, SF. More info here.
SQUISH: FOLSOM A Folsom party about the music—energetic underground house DJs Peach and Shanti Celeste go B2B while properly lauded Laurel Halo and BASHKKA get freaky. Our own brown Angel, Miloš, likeholywine, and nonsuit back it all up. Fri/27, 9pm-4am, F8, SF. More info here.
BEARRACUDA: HORSE MEAT DISCO Hirsute pursuit party Bearracuda kicks off the weekend for the big boys with UK’s tremendous Horse Meat Disco DJs, lighting things up with old-school vibes. Fri/27, 9pm-3am, Public Works, SF. More info here.
STANK X FOLSOM Folsom is the pits! Stinky ones that is. Hit up this party for the “pit crew” of manly smelling creatures (sniffing contest at midnight!), stay for the dancing by DJ Fawks, Zander, and more. Fri/27, 10pm-2am, Powerhouse, SF. More info here.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
HARD X GAY Read our interview with Peaches here, and join the Hard French and Fake + Gay party crews for a nitght with her and Chicks on Speed (DJ Set) at Regency Ballroom. Which shall be wild. Sat/28, 10pm, Regency Ballroom, SF. Tickets and more info here.
HEAD GAMES For a more intimate feel, head up to the excellent Underground SF in the Haight, as Bogota’s DJ Leeon and our own lovely Yeezy bang out some tunes for the cute, throbbing crowd. Sat/28, 9pm-2am, Underground Sf. More info here.
DADDY DAYCARE It’s probably my favorite name of a Folsom party after Dommy Mommy (see above), and yes it’s during the day on the Eagle patio, and also yes the DJs are from DAD (Dudes and Disco) and they are cute. Sat/28, 2pm-8pm, Eagle, SF. More info here.
SXTPS Best of the Bay best DJ winner Charles Hawthorne takes over the DNA’s dazzle Room! “Sxtps is a body and sex positive dance party for Black and Brown Queer and Trans people. We bring the sounds and vibes of the underground club and rave scenes from LA, NYC, and Chicago into a melting pot of escape and pleasure.” Sat/28, 10pm-2:30am, DNA Lounge, SF. More info here.
ELECTROLUXX FOLSOM The Electroluxx party has exploded into the big time—DJ Eric Sharp and queen Violet Chachki headline for a young and fun crowd, dancing amid dazzling art installations. Sat/28, 9:30pm-4am, Public Works, SF. More info here.
BARK BEFORE DARK Be a good boy and join the pack at Oasis’ exclusive puppy, pet and handler happy hour. Ruff! Sat/28, 5pm-9pm, Oasis, SF. More info here.
SUBDOM Let your 18+ freak flag fly as techno DJs Fantom Cat, Lil Bebe Cyborg, Pinche Queer and resident Snaq turn up the heat and tie you to the dance floor. Sat/28, 9:30pm-2:30am, DNA Lounge, SF. More info here.
GRUNT Trend alert! There’s a literal ton of parties for the big boys this year, but this newcomer brings the underground music vibe with DJs Carlous Souffront and Jumper. Last installment was packed, so get ready. Sat/28, 9pm-2am, The Stud, SF. More info here.
ROGUE PRESENTS CELLBLOK Not a huge fan of incarceration fetishization, but still a firm believer in queer subversion as a social statement if it’s done the right way, which this party seems to be leaning toward. Mostly, I am super-excited about the music: DJ Victor Rodriguez of LA’s ecstatic Bears in Space party and Perfect Lovers of Mexico City’s Por Detroit shebangs will be bringing their magic to the Eagle dance floor. Sat/28, 9pm-2am, Eagle, SF. More info here.
PRINCESS FOLSOM: KATYA This one sold-out instantly, and I’m not sure what the perennial RuPaul Drag Race sprite has to do with Folsom, but listing this just in case you see a wild Russian queen named Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova running around the fair. Sat/28, 10pm, Oasis, SF. More info here.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
DISCO DADDY DOES FOLSOM DJ Bus Station John, our resident wizard of disco, soul, and funk vibes, snaps us to the dance floor with a seven-hour marathon set of fabulous old school tunes. Sun/29, 7pm-2am, Eagle, SF. More info here.
HONEY DIJON The ultimate mixtress is dropping her house on us and battering us into beat submission in a surprise just-announced appearance, with DJ Rolo opening up. This one’s for the groove kids. Sun/29, 10pm-2am, Audio, SF. More info here.
DEVIANTS 9 hours, 5 floors, 3 stages, 2 play spaces, and great techno DJs like Boris and Clarisa plus a slew of locals—this post-Folsom extravaganza has seen many changes over the years, and its current all-gender/sexuality inclusive incarnation is huge enough to have you on your knees. Sun/29, 6pm-3am, Storek, SF. More info here.
POWER SNATCH OK the lineup for this party of underground queer/trans DJs, vendors, and hosts at this Folsom after party at El Rio is off-the-charts, but I’ll pick three to def check out: Infinite Jess and The Baptist on the decks; Chihiro Suzuki Hashimoto and Olivia Krause on vending; and Dolly Rose as go-go extraordinaire. Sun/29, 5pm-1:30am, El Rio, SF. More info here.
LES FEMMES: NOIR “Dolls, Twinks & Bimbos Unite! Come worship the femme side of Folsom. Cruise, play and show off your gear, at our popular femme unity party.” OK, then! Sun/29, 8pm-2am, The Stud, SF. More info here.
VAMP X FOLSOM DJs Your Muther, Dreams, and Ethical Drvgs of the sweet Vamp party provide an afternoon space for queer women and trans folks during the fair and beyond. Sun/29, 2pm-9pm, DNA Lounge, SF. More info here.
CAT CLUB FOLSOM SUNDAY Last but certainly not the latex polish you can’t get off your fingers for another month, this is my favorite daytime drop-in during the fair. Literally my first Folsom when I popped in here for a cocktail and a rest, a huge contingent of femme-doms on rollerskates wheeled in and proceeded to tear it up to crazy trance remix of Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out.” It’s that kind of time, pretty much all day. Noon-9pm, Cat Club, SF. More info here.
