Zoë Steiner

The Castro Theatre is an icon of the Castro District, one of the first gay neighborhoods established in the United States. It was recognized as San Francisco Historic Landmark #100 in 1976 after more than five decades of contribution to the vitality of the surrounding community. (Edited by Nathan Kaito Morris)

The 51st Castro Street Fair turned San Francisco into a kaleidoscope as the city’s most colorful community gathered for its annual celebration of joy, visibility and unity Oct. 5.

Former human rights leader and San Francisco politician Harvey Milk founded the fair in 1974 to illuminate the dynamic and diverse spirit of the Castro neighborhood. As the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, Milk was particularly concerned with the discriminatory policies of local merchants and created the fair in part to promote queer-owned businesses. 

Now, hundreds of thousands of people gather in the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ cultural district on the first Sunday of every October for the fair, both as a reminder of and a celebration of the community’s continued resistance through resilience. 

This year’s theme, “Radical Happiness,” was a direct response to the recent slew of discriminatory federal policies targeting queer and other disadvantaged communities, according to the fair’s website.

The website states, “We believe that joy itself is a radical act. To dance, to gather openly, to support one another… it’s a declaration of resilience, solidarity, and love.”

The all-day event offered entertainment for everyone. Three stages were stationed throughout the Castro, hundreds of local vendors lined the sidewalks and dance parties pulsed down the alleyways.

Local musicians, DJs and drag artists electrified the atmosphere with performances that welcomed weirdness and cast shame to the side. 

Cheer SF, the first-ever LGBTQ+-identifying cheerleading team, presented their stunning feats and held interactive games throughout the day. The all-volunteer nonprofit raises money for charities that support people living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and other life-threatening diseases. 

Between shows, attendees browsed the artisan stalls offering everything from locally made queer art to free STI testing kits. 

Representatives from Strut, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s health and wellness center, handed out prizes to those who correctly answered questions about queer history and sexual health; the booth had free fentanyl test strips, Narcan and contraceptives available. Nestled in the Castro, Strut provides free sexual health services, substance use counseling, community events and more, according to its website. 

“We want people to know we’re here, and that they have access to free health services,” said a Strut worker at the booth.

Strut, along with organizations like HRC San Francisco, Felton Institute and Castro Merchants, represents the broader community’s decades-long dedication to activism, awareness and aid. Since 1998, the 501(c)(3) organization has distributed more than $1.6 million to local nonprofits, and all proceeds go directly to causes important to the Castro community, according to the fair’s website.

Proceeds from the fair also support the maintenance of the rainbow flag that flies proudly over the intersection of Castro and Market streets. The flag is replaced every three to four months due to weather-impacted wear and tear, and each one costs about $1200.

The Castro Street Fair will return next October to a community that never left. 

Gallery • 29 Photos

Zoë Steiner

A member of the Harvey Milk Pride Colorguard smiles as they nail yet another spin in one of the group’s well-rehearsed routines at the Castro Street Fair on Sunday Oct. 5, 2025.