One of the most popular fall outdoor parties in San Francisco, every year the Castro Street Fair draws tens of thousands to the Bay Area's Mecca for gay culture to enjoy food, drink and campy entertainment. First organized by the late Harvey Milk in 1974, the fair is both a heartfelt tribute to his memory and chance for the local community to come together and celebrate the advances made for gay rights.

A fund raiser for numerous worthy causes (AIDS Housing Alliance SF, Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and the SF Gay Men's Chorus among others), the Castro Street Fair gathers merchants selling unusual wares, a wide range of vendors dishing up culinary delights and a parade of drag acts and left field bands you're not likely to see anywhere else in the world.

This year's acts include over-the-top drag tribute act The Ethel Merman Experience, indie-electro/hip hop band Le Vice, well-known DJs Ellen Ferrato, DJ Twist, Jim Hopkins and DJ MC2, indie songwriter Darius Lux, and local alt-rock favorites Roosevelt Radio, Rubber Side Down and French Cassettes. Attendees should be aware that there are numerous street closures on the day of the fair between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. including Market Street between Noe and Eureka, Castro Street between 16th and 19th, and both 17th and 18th between Noe and Diamond. While public transportation is recommended, there will be some limited paid parking available at Everett Middle School (northside of 17th Street between Church and Sanchez). For more information, please visit the Castro Street Fair website.

Castro Street Fair
Sunday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free (donations requested)
Castro Street