Despite weather, revelers will party Up Your Alley

San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood is gearing up to welcome leatherfolk and kinksters to this year’s iteration of the Up Your Alley street fair Sunday, July 27. The smaller event is a warm-up for the larger Folsom Street Fair in late September.

This year, perhaps the biggest obstacle to the fair are weather conditions, as the city’s traditional “No-Sky July” has become the most literal it has been in decades. Only two days this summer have been above historic averages, and weather instruments at San Francisco International Airport have measured the coldest beginning to summer since 1965.

Downtown San Francisco should be partly cloudy, with a high of 66 degrees, on Sunday, according to Apple’s weather forecast. The cloud cover should dissipate mid-afternoon. 

“It looks like it’s going to be medium spring for anywhere else in the country,” Folsom Street Executive Director Angel Adeyoha, who is queer and nonbinary, said in a phone interview. “I always tell people to bring layers. Whether or not they listen, it’s San Francisco. Make sure you have a hoodie in your bag, or it can be a little chilly – but that means wearing latex is really on! You won’t overheat.”

The Folsom Street nonprofit that produces Up Your Alley also puts on the more attended Folsom Street Fair, which this year will be September 28. 

Robert Goldfarb, a gay man who’s the executive director of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District in SOMA, said, “We will be out there, rain or shine.”

“I don’t think we have any direct contingency plans. I’ve been going to Dore Alley since 1989,” Goldfarb said, using the street fair’s informal name. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a weather event so terrible anything has to close.”

Up Your Alley, centering on Dore Alley, will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., bound between Howard Street on the north, Harrison Street on the south, Ninth Street on the west and 11th Street on the east. 

There have been a few changes from prior years, Adeyoha said.

The fair originally started on Ringold Street in 1985 and moved to being centered at Dore in 1987, which had led to the small alleyway being used as the event's colloquial nickname by kinksters and BDSM enthusiasts the world over.

Coat check will be near Powerhouse, at Dore and Folsom Street. Powerhouse is also serving drinks, along with Folsom Street Foundry, for attendees to consume in the event’s gated footprint. 

Adeyoha said that parking may be “even trickier” this year because of construction on Folsom Street, due to the ongoing Folsom Streetscape project.  

“We’re having a walk through to make sure it’s as clear as possible, but there’s still digging,” along Folsom, Adeyoha said. The project, which began in May 2024, is expected to take more than two years to complete.

“The project scope of work consists of sewer and water replacement, curb ramp reconstruction, pavement renovation landscaping, street lighting, and traffic signals,” San Francisco Public Works stated. “We are aware of the inconvenience caused by construction and apologize in advance. We will do everything possible to minimize the impact of our activities on your neighborhood.”

Public Works stated that demolition and grading of the corner sidewalks, as well as curb/gutter replacement, should be done by July 25 on Folsom Street between Eighth and 11th streets. Work on demolition and restoration on the curb and gutters on the north side of Folsom Street began July 22.

Asked of any major differences from prior fairs, Adeyoha said this year there are more exhibitors, so much so that, “We are considering expanding the footprint next year.”

Leather district’s gear swap
Goldfarb said that the leather district's booth – which will be on Folsom Street between Dore Alley and 10th Street, across from the Hole in the Wall Saloon – will have a gear swap.

“People can donate items or give us items for consignment, and there are used items available for purchase at reasonable prices, so it’s an opportunity for people to have their leather move on to other people who may use it more, or the younger generation,” he said.

There will be bondage and kink performances on stage from 1 to 5:30 p.m. More information is available on the Folsom Street website.  

Gay Supervisor Matt Dorsey, whose District 6 includes the fair footprint, told the B.A.R. he “actually used to live on Dore Street, and I think it’s a great event.”

“Years ago, Dore Alley was marketed as the Folsom Street Fair’s ‘dirty little brother,’ and I’ve occasionally borrowed that line to describe District 6 as the *other* LGBTQ+ district when I’m in District 8 with board President Rafael Mandelman,” Dorsey stated, referring to his gay colleague. “Folsom Street Events does such great work, and they’re responsible for a lot of economic activity that’s incredibly important to our city and especially the neighborhoods I represent.”

Of course, the fair brings in revelers from all over the world for the weekend, and there are several popular house music and circuit parties, such as BRÜT at The Great Northern, 119 Utah Street, on July 26, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., and ROMP T-Dance: Animal Farm at 1015 Folsom Street on July 27, at 6 p.m.

The cost of admission to the street fair is free, but donations at the gate of $10-$20 are suggested.