48 Hills is proud to be the 42nd annual Folsom Street Fair‘s exclusive San Francisco media partner. Up until the Fair itself on Sunday, September 28, we’ll be guiding you through the layout, history, looks, parties, and people of the world’s largest kink and fetish celebration. Check www.48hills.org/folsom-2025 for updates.
It’s easy to get lost in the shiny, spanky spectacle of Folsom Street Fair—here a strangled cry of delight is heard, there a whipcrack tears through the air. But beyond the at-times overwhelming pageant of proud perversity, there’s shopping, dancing, performance, refreshment, and friendly socializing to be had! Here are 5 things I’m looking forward to on Sun/28. And stay tuned for my annual Quick ‘n Dirty Party Radar guide coming this week.
HORROR DRAG: TERROR VAULT TAKE-OVER Dark dark doyenne Peaches Christ and her merry band of ghouls terrify the SF populace every year with their immersive fright fest at the SF Mint, Terror Vault (here’s a sneak peek). But first they’re going to scare up some fun at the Stud Drag Stage with a cavalcade of “wickedly filthy shows filled with perverted delights” inspired by this yer’s Terror Vault shoe “HEXED.” Don’t worry, Peaches will help you scrub off all that wicked filth afterwards. Eighth Street between Folsom and Howard. More info on stages here.
ENTERTAINMENT: FOLSOM STREET LIVE! Curated by one of our favorite queer punk rockers Fureigh, this live wire stage crackles with local and international talent, including “worship-pastor-turned-queer-renegade-provocateur” Cain Culto; Black Gold Sun, “a high-intensity Black girl punk trio rooted in San Francisco’s underground, with members who’ve played with Iggy Pop and stormed stages across Europe and China”; and Thrown Out Tits, “a swaggering rock band with snarky lyrics, funky bass lines, and nothing to lose.” Ninth and Clementina Streets. More stage info here.
REFRESHMENT: THEE LEMONADE STAND Those clever Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence don’t miss a trick; they’re at the fair all Sunday to make sure you stay hydrated after all that fun in the sun. Putting the “p” (for pink!) in refreshment, the nuns of the above say, “Stop by our super cute & sexy Lemonade Stand and grab a cup for yourself and a friend! We know you’re very THIRSTY!!” Folsom and Sore Streets, next to Powerhouse Bar.
DANCING: DJ JUANITA MORE In a sea of daddies, you’re gonna need a Mother to turn things out. Local drag goddess Juanita More may have just sold her vinyl record collection to benefit queer youth, but she’s armed with the USBs to soundtrack your BDSM. Find her and tons more decks-wreckers at the DJ & Go-Go Stage on 8th Street between Folsom and Howard. More info about stages here.
SHOPPING: TIED BY THE SEA I adore perusing Folsom’s rows of vendor booths for everything from naughty corkscrews to high leather looks. Tied By the Sea offers gorgeous full-color bondage and fetish photos that could and should hang in any gallery or office, but definitely belong in the privacy of your own home. In their own words, “Pioneering large-scale shibari fine art, TBTS transforms intimate moments into striking, never-before-seen wall pieces. Our work celebrates vulnerability, strength, and the depth of human emotion.” Check out more here.
