The Folsom Street Fair (FSF) is an annual BDSM and leather subculture street fair held on the last Sunday in September and caps San Francisco's "Leather Pride Week". The Folsom Street Fair, sometimes simply referred to as "Folsom", takes place on Folsom Street between 7th and 12th Streets, in San Francisco's South of Market district.
The event started in 1984 and is California's third largest single-day, outdoor spectator event and the world's largest leather event and showcase for BDSM products and culture. It has grown as a non-profit charity, and local and national non-profits benefit with all donations at the gates going to charity groups as well as numerous fundraising schemes within the festival including games, beverage booths and even spanking for donations to capitalize on the adult-themed exhibitionism.
The coordination agency, Folsom Street Events (FSE) is a registered charity and has also started similar events in Canada and Germany. In San Francisco they also manage Up Your Alley Fair and special events like the "Folsom Street Fair Formal Leather Gala" with Joan Rivers which celebrated the 25th anniversary, thee annual circuit party "Magnitude" (Official Saturday Night Dance Event) which has a leather subculture focus and a relatively new Official Closing Party called "DEVIANTS".
Read more about Folsom Street Fair: Origin of The Leather Subculture, History of The Leather Community in San Francisco, Beginnings of The Folsom Street Fair, Atmosphere, 2007 Poster Controversy
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)