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 history, looks, parties, and people of the world’s largest kink and fetish celebration. Check www.48hills.org/folsom-2025 for updates.
As a 31-year veteran of the Folsom Street Fair who’s experienced everything from being accidentally locked in a nightclub cellar for two days to dancing in a full bunny suit in a cage suspended 30-feet above it all, Let me share a couple fool-proof tips for enjoying the world’s largest kink and fetish celebration.
- H.I.S.S.: Hydrate (with water), Ingest (some actual food), Sit (down for a minute or two), Sunscreen (all over)
- On Sunday afternoon, head up to the Oasis roof during the fair for a break and a cocktail and a great view of the chaos.
- Also on Sunday afternoon, dip into Cat Club for a dark break from all the sunshine and glares to dance to some New Wave/Goth/Industrial faves. You might even see a pack of furries on roller skates wizzing around the dance floor.
- Make a second home at my bar The Stud, which is hosting everything from latex meet-ups and lingerie pop-ups to a hardcore femme cruising area, a workwear fetish dance party, and a T4T hookup happy hour. Variety, sweetie!
- Seriously, H.I.S.S.
OK let’s dive into the good stuff:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
THU/25-OCTOBER 4: BALONEY FOLSOM We are so sad to see this masc-oriented strip/burlesque show bid adieu! But we know it’s going out with a splash and a bang—gather your waggling penile jollies while ye may! 6pm, Oasis, SF. More info here.
THU/25: YOUNGHEARTS X PROVOCATEUR FOLSOM Love the YoungHearts party (not just because they sometimes let me DJ) which really does paint a streak of youth through Folsom. They’re teaming up with the Provocateur crew to bring Musical musings by Suze Ijo, ISSA, KK (Nark) and Sammy Taylor to Public Works. 9pm-3am, Public Works, SF. More info here.
THU/25: LESBEAUX FOLSOM The name alone, and a hot femme party in the Castro, is worth any cover: “Step into your power at LESBEAUX FOLSOM: A Sapphic Folsom Pre-Party! an unapologetically queer, femme-forward celebration of sapphic desire, dominance, and liberation. For one night only at Beaux, we’re transforming the space into a lush playground for kinky dykes, dommes, themmes, and T4T cuties.” Dress to titllate: phone cameras will be covered on entry. 9pm-2am, Beaux, SF. More info here.
THU/25: SLURRP FOLSOM High-energy house, driving tech-house, breaks, and pulsing techno in two rooms with DJs Sequoixa, Galvanize, Luv-Le, and more will slake that thirst. 10pm-2am, DNA Lounge, SF. More info here.
THU/25-SAT/27: DANCE HOUSE I adore when nightlife comes into the performance space! This is not necessarily Folsom related, but it is hella fresh and hella queer and you should check it out. Saharla Vetsch AKA Major Hammy, Jhia Jackson AKA Miss Sparkle Jackson, Mudd the TwoSpirit, and Glamputee create a nightlife experience inside Counterpulse: “A transformative space led by four black queer drag and movement artists leaving it all out on the floor.” Support these fabulous local artistes. Counterpulse, SF. More info here.
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THU/25: DORK “By overwhelming demand, the newest party with the biggest attitude is back. The KNK Fraternity is bringing you a Dork filled with more bullying, more wedgies, and more ways to let out your inner dirtbag. DJ Goblyn returns with an aggressive punk-goth mix to beat to. When you’re rejected by our team of Varsity Dancers, cool off with a good pump in the dark locker room provided by The Communal Toy. And if that’s not hot enough for you, Rush KNK in the humiliation competition to see who is the biggest nerd of the night.” 9pm-2am, The Stud, SF. More info here.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
FRI/26: BEARRACUDA FOLSOM: HORSE MEAT DISCO The fearsome UK foursome helped bring disco and actual melodies back to the dance floor in the 2000s and they are still dropping fresh twists oil nostalgic bangers all these years on. Join the bears on the dance floor, but don’t catch too much fur in your teeth (or do). 9pm-3am, Public Works, SF. More info here.
FRI/26: MÜLL FOLSOM Our favorite Berlin-style underground returns with a lineup that will have you speeding your black lacy top and tiny wraparound sunglasses: Parisian Quelza bangs out the bangers, joining belocved residents Fawks and Kudeki, with LYDDO and CORPPO. 11pm-6pm, TBA, SF. More info here.
FRI/26: GRUNT FOLSOM They grow ’em big at this very popular party for the larger hotties among us. No need to bulk, just get down to DJs E. FELD (Dry Heat, Palm Springs) and Club Chow of Chicago Steamworks. 9pm-2am, The Stud, SF. More info here.
FRI/26: SQUISH x SUZIO FOLSOM SF’s queer underground addicts Squish are at it again, teaming up with the Suzio crew to bring in incredible DJs CCL and Manuka Honey, plus Dinamarca + Meth Math present Pachamami and more all night long. 10pm-4am, F8, SF. More info here.
FRI/26: FREAK CURIOUS WITH CAIN CULTO Wild moments with hot-hot performer Cain Culto with DJs LBXX, Subeaux, Del, and more. 9pm-2am, 888 Garage, SF. More info here.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
SAT/27: POLYGLAMOROUS PRESENTS SNEAKS The ultimate sportswear underground techno dance party is back, filling the vast bowels of the SF Mint with neon streaks of Adidas and Nike—and also the sounds of DJs Shyboi, Feminist, Club Chow, Infinite Jess, and the Polyglam Crew. Dress code strictly enforced. 10pm-4am, SF Mint. More info here.
SAT/27: CHUNK FOLSOM The big boy parties continue to roll out over Folsom, and this one with LA disco-house lovers bears in Space will be lovely on all fronts. NYC’s DICAP, Palm Springs’ Dr. Time, and Seattle’s Freddy Kop join resident Mr. Pickles for some dance floor shake. 10pm-4am, F8, SF. More info here.
SAT/27: EW! FOLSOM Adorable party in Lower Haight will bring all the hip and colorful queer kids out, dancing to Cay Horiuchi, Trevor Sigler, and Five. 8pm-2am, Underground SF, 424 Haight Street.
SAT/27: DADDY DAYCARE FOLSOM EDITION On Folsom weekend, the Eagle Bar expands into Eagle Plaza and becomes a mega-club. Join the dance-loving dudes of the DAD crew in whipping up a Folsom furor. 3pm-8pm, SF Eagle. More info here.
SAT/27: ELECTROLUXX FOLSOM This cute party puts art on par with music, filling all of Public Works with colorful works and fur stages of electronic music DJs. Plus: Foam pit, cuddle puddle, performances, video games, face painting, all the fun.” 9:30pm-4am, Public Works, SF. More info here.
SAT/27: SOFT PLAY This one is my wild card—I love this outspoken UK punk duo, and if you prefer a mosh pit to a dark room on Saturday this is your best bet to let out some wild energy. 8:30pm, August Hall, SF. More info here.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
SUN/28: DISCO DADDY DJ Bus Station John’s wild Sunday capper is an institution, restoring old school cruising and tunes to their rightful place atop the Folsom agenda. It’s also one of the weekend’s more affordable affairs, and worth every penny to see young leather queens dance their hearts out to Donna Summer. 7pm-2am, SF Eagle, more info here.
SUN/28: POWER SNATCH A dyke-centered Folsom party at El Rio that turns it up to 11, with DJs Gavilán Rayna Russom, Infinite Jess, JenDM, and the Baptist, plus tons of performances and snatchy treats. 7pm-1am, El Rio, SF. More info here.
SUN/28: DEVIANTS ADULT ARCADE So much adult fun, packed into a huge former car dealership! Presented by Folsom Street itself, partnering with Hard French and QT Cruising, and featuring DJs Ariel Zetina, Deezy, Fatherhood, with a live performance from Cain Culto. Plus: a live showcase from Dark Entries Records with Brown Angel, Josh Cheon, and Triple Five Sol. 7pm-2am, SVN West, SF. More info here.
SUN/28: LA FEMME A brilliant shot of femme energy to round off the weekend, with DJs Chelsea Starr, Sammy, and more, plus drag from Bettyie Jane and Angel Food Cakes. Dolls, Twinks, Bimbos unite! 9pm-2am, The Stud, SF. More info here.
SUN/28: DNA LOUNGE FOLSOM SUNDAY can’t get more simple or fun than this: DNA LOUNGE is open all day long with free admission, house music, queer energy, and a nice dance floor on which to decompress a wee bit. 2pm-9pm, DNA Lounge, SF. More info here.
SUN/28: FOLSOM STREET FAIRE DAY AT F8 SF legend Steve Fabus has been steaming up dance floors since the 1970s—he’s joined by a host of darling DJs for this casual all-day drop-in and dance a bit affair on the Folsom route. 1pm-9pm, F8, SF. More info here.
SUN/28: HARD RESET FOLSOM My favorite Sunday night come-down rave-up in the Castro is pulling out the Folsom stops with DJ Jesus Montanez electrifying the crowd back to its senses with a high-energy house set. Jim Hopkins and Giovanni Saenz back it all up. 10pm-2am, Q Bar, SF. More info here.
