FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Founded by Harvey Milk, San Francisco’s legacy street fair returns Sunday, October 4, celebrating the Castro as a place of joy, freedom, community and belonging
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — June 1, 2026 — On this first day of Pride Month, the Castro Street Fair announces “Where We Belong” as the theme for its 52nd annual celebration, taking place Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro District.
Founded by Harvey Milk in 1974, the Castro Street Fair began as a celebration of gay-owned businesses and the vitality of the Castro neighborhood. More than five decades later, the Fair continues that legacy by bringing together LGBTQIA+ people, neighbors, families, artists, performers, merchants, community organizations and allies for a joyful celebration of queer life and community connection.
This year’s theme, “Where We Belong,” honors the Castro as a place where generations of LGBTQIA+ people have found community, safety, visibility and joy, and affirms that the neighborhood remains a beacon of freedom and diversity today.
The theme also creates space for a broader declaration of belonging: Where trans people belong. Where drag belongs. Where chosen family belongs. Where hope belongs. Where we belong.
“‘Where We Belong’ is both a celebration and a promise,” said Redge Roberts, Castro Street Fair board president. “The Castro has long been a place where people come together, find community and live more openly and joyfully. This year’s Fair invites everyone to gather in that spirit with pride, courage, connection and the belief that every member of our community deserves to belong.”
Located at Castro and Market streets and throughout the surrounding neighborhood, the Castro Street Fair features local artisans, community organizations, food vendors, queer and ally entertainers, live performances and dancing in the streets. The annual Fair is a neighborhood-centered celebration that welcomes both longtime San Franciscans and visitors to experience the creativity, history and spirit of the Castro.
The Castro Street Fair is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, with proceeds benefiting charitable causes important to the Castro community. Since 1998, the Fair has distributed more than $1.6 million to local nonprofit beneficiaries. The Fair also supports the Castro Merchants Association in the purchase and maintenance of the Rainbow Flag flying in Harvey Milk Plaza.
The 52nd Annual Castro Street Fair will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.Admission is open to all, with a suggested donation of $10 to $20 to support community beneficiaries.
Media Contact
Riley Manlapaz | Secretary, Board of Directors | Castro Street Fair
riley@castrostreetfair.org
Click here for photos
Photo Credit: Bradley Roberge