This article was published on September 30th, 2017
Now in its 34th year, Folsom Street Events put on another amazing weekend of events that attracted thousands of people from all over the world to celebrate kink, leather, and fetish in San Francisco. Known internationally as the festival of festivals for sexual expression and freedom, Folsom 2017 was fetishism and frolicking at its finest!
The 3rd largest festival in California, Folsom visitors turn the entire City by the Bay rainbow and leather. Festival organizers throw a slew of circuit parties over the course of the weekend from the Tenderloin to the Mission. Bearracuda opened the festival weekend Friday night with a great kickoff party. Magnitude was Saturday night’s official party. And Folsom 2017 closed out the weekend with the Deviants party Sunday night. If you weren’t at one of the big parties, the bars in the Castro were also popular choices throughout the weekend.
The icing on the Folsom 2017 cake was the Sunday Folsom Street Fair. For a $10 suggested donation, Folsom opened its judge-free, adult-only environment doors to all revelers and kink enthusiasts. All body and sex positive types are welcome and everyone is encouraged to come dressed to their own comfort level: shorts and t-shirt were perfectly acceptable, all the way to being completely naked. Jockstraps and harnesses are the typical and quintessential gear worn by many.
Hundreds of people could be seen wearing jock straps, rubber, vinyl, denim, singlets, masks, hoods, collars and leashes, etc. in the sexually charged environment. They key to Folsom is showing respect to others and not judging.
Folsom is a great event to learn about leather, kink, and fetishes. For example, if you’re curious about bondage, there are rope tying demonstrations. There are guys getting pissed on if you want to explore the world of water sports (WS).
If puppy play is something you’ve been interested in, there are plenty of pups and masters to talk to. Most Folsom attendees are very open and will stop to talk to you about their kinks and fetishes. It’s what makes Folsom a safe place to learn, participate, and get off!
Folsom is also hosted on Sunday Funday, which means cocktails and beer were flowing all day long. Lined moved quickly in the festival and at the surrounding bars. There were an abundance of toilets around too, with almost no lines.
Throughout the festival grounds there were plenty of exhibitors with everything from sexy toys, bondage gear, and harnesses, to condoms, sex aids, massages, and even opportunities to sign-up for PrEP.
Folsom Street Fair annually attracts thousands of people to San Francisco. If people aren’t coming for the Sunday street fair or circuit parties, or total takeover of gayness in the city, there is still plenty of things to do and ample amount of places to explore. Spend a weekend exploring new and old kinks with a group of friends or fly solo—just make Folsom the weekend you want to. From fisting parties to circuit parties, bars and fun vacation activities, Folsom is a weekend to mark down onto your gay calendar. Don’t miss out Folsom Street Fair in 2018!
