A lot of people don’t think of being gay as being an art form. But if you live in San Francisco long enough it becomes understandable. Even if you aren’t gay there are some great San Francisco festivals to express your inner drag queen or drag king. Please note this is not a top 8, just 8 festivals…

1 Burning Man (Last Week in August)

Originally founded by San Francisco as an affordable event for artists. Burning Man now attended mostly by Los Angeles folk. From Wikipedia: “Burning Man is an event held annually in the western United States at Black Rock City, a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada, approximately 100 miles north-northeast of Reno.” From the Burning Man web site “Burning Man is not a festival! It’s a city wherein almost everything that happens is created entirely by its citizens, who are active participants in the experience.” Actually that statement is not quite true. The prices of tickets in 2019 were $1200, a far cry from $200 when we went. At $1200 a head there aren't many genuine artists spending weeks out of work and whole pay checks to build instillations. Those that can afford the tickets now pay people to do that. A girlfriend was on on of the 2019 paid teams to build and manage a camp.

2 How Weird Street Fair (May)

How Weird started as a bunch of ravers from local underground warehouse parties. It grew every year until being co managed by the Gay Pride folks. From the Weird wsite ”The faire, the area, and the participants represent the convergence of art and technology, the fusion of creativity and possibilities. How Weird is a place where evolutionary ideas can form, paving the way for fresh perspectives and new ways of viewing the world. We ask that everyone come to the faire in costume. Come as the You you’ve always wanted to be. Multiple music stages featuring cutting-edge electronic music and some of best daytime dancing you will ever find in the middle of the street, the unique vendors from around the world showcasing the new styles for the upcoming festival season, the visionary artwork displayed by local artists, and the colorful costumes and dazzling performances that make How Weird so much fun. ”

The following sourced from SF Travel:

3 Frameline43 - The King of Queer Film Festivals (June 20-30)

Lights! Camera! Action? Frameline43, San Francisco's International LGBTQ Film Festival, features screenings of more than 150 movies, shorts and documentaries at different venues all over the city. From their web site “Frameline's mission is to change the world through the power of queer cinema.  As a media arts nonprofit, Frameline's programs connect filmmakers and audiences in the Bay Area and around the world.”

4 Fresh Meat Festival (June)

What Frameline is to LGBTQ cinema, the Fresh Meat Festival is to live art. The Transgender and Queer Performance Festival features acts that run the gamut from opera to boy bands and ballroom dancing to hula hooping. Each show ia followed up by drinks, dancing and DJs. The Fresh Meat Festival makes a point to be inclusive, offering a wheelchair-accessible venue and American Sign Language interpreted performances.

5 San Francisco PRIDE (June 29-30)

San Francisco's PRIDE festival. This celebration is a great introduction to all the area has to offer. Started in 1970 on the one-year anniversary of the infamous Stonewall Riots in New York, the theme this year is "Generations of Resistance." The event starts on Saturday in downtown's Civic Center Plaza featuring a festival of more than 20 community-produced performances, from Homo Hip Hop to Gray Pride, and culminates in the 49th Annual SF LGBT Pride Parade on Sunday morning.

6 Up Your Alley Street Fair (July 28)

If you like leather, body hair, and a healthy dose of filth, then the Up Your Alley Street Fair is for you. This all-day event starts in front of the Powerhouse Bar on Dore Alley and stretches all the way to 10th Street. A precursor to the more famous Folsom Street Fair, Up Your Alley is a summer festival targeted to fetish enthusiasts and fans of BDSM with more than 50 adult vendors and close to 15,000 participants every year.

7 Folsom Street Fair (Sept. 29)

"The World's Biggest Leather Event" for nothing. An all-day event covering 13 city blocks, the Folsom Street Fair attracts more than 400,000 participants every year and offers a little bit of action for everyone. Want toys and gear? More than 200 vendors will be displaying their goods. Want electronic or alternative music? The fair boasts an line-up of music, dancing and live art. Not for the faint of heart, this event can be celebrated in leather or nothing at all. The event also offers food, beer, liquor and The Playground, a space for women and genderqueer folk.

8 Castro Street Fair (First Weekend in October)

Castro Street is arguably the most famous and iconic of all LGBTQ neighborhoods. Launched into fame in the early 1970s and influential in electing Harvey Milk, the first openly gay official in the city, the Castro District is fully open about its heritage. In fact, the annual Castro Street Fair was founded by Milk himself in 1974. The fair is located in the heart of the Castro District, centered around Market and Castro streets. With vendors, dance parties, arts and crafts, live performances and more, the Castro Street Fair donates its proceeds to local charitable organizations.

Stay Happy My Friends :)