Thousands gathered to celebrate San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ legacy, support local nonprofits, and mark the Castro’s new Entertainment Zone debut
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The 51st Annual Castro Street Fair filled the neighborhood with Radical Happiness on Sunday, October 5, 2025, as thousands of attendees danced, donated, and celebrated in the heart of San Francisco’s most iconic LGBTQ+ district.
The Fair’s beneficiary program continued its 50-year tradition of giving back — supporting local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations through vendor proceeds and attendee donations. Early estimates indicate that the 2025 Fair raised $25,000 to benefit this year’s nonprofit partners.
This year’s Fair amplified the Castro’s small businesses and creative community more than ever — with neighborhood bars, restaurants, and retailers anchoring a re-energized footprint that doubled as the unofficial debut of the Castro’s designation as a City-recognized Entertainment Zone. The new zone allows for expanded outdoor music, community activation, and nightlife vibrancy that reflects the Castro’s unique role as both a cultural and economic engine for the city.
“We wanted this year to be both a love letter to the Castro and a promise for its future,” said Riley Manlapaz, Board Member for the Castro Street Fair. “Every vendor, every tip jar, every smiling volunteer helped show that San Francisco’s queer spirit is alive, thriving, and still leading with joy.”
Among the day’s highlights were performances across multiple stages, blessings by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and a fiery appearance by Cleve Jones, who rallied the crowd with chants of “F— Donald Trump!” and a heartfelt call to defend democracy and San Francisco’s progressive values.
City leaders Senator Scott Wiener (California State Senate, District 11) and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman (San Francisco Board of Supervisors, District 8) joined the festivities, underscoring the Fair’s enduring civic and cultural importance.
The Castro Street Fair Board extends heartfelt thanks to its sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, entertainers, and especially the hundreds of volunteers who made the event possible. “This Fair is powered by people who love the Castro,” said Board President Redge Roberts. “It’s an act of joy, resistance, and community — all at once.”