[Photo Credit: Rylie Choe]

On October 5th, The 51st Annual Castro Street Fair was held in San Francisco's Castro District from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Castro & Market Streets,drawing visitors to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture, community art, and local vendors.

This year they requested a suggested donation of $10–$20 at the entrance, with proceeds benefiting local nonprofits and the Castro Merchants Association's maintenance of the iconic Rainbow Flag in Harvey Milk Plaza.

According to organizers, the event was an opportunity for "community to thrive, old friends to reconnect, and new friendships to flourish" around the theme of Radical Happiness this year.

There were multiple live music stages, DJs, dance performances, and local acts like DJ 80085, G-Funk, and Karlita B2B ALIGN.

Exhibitors and vendors lined Market, Castro, 18th, and 17th Streets, offering handmade crafts, diverse cuisine options, art displays, and community outreach booths.

“It was a milestone celebration for our community and an indication of its roots in activism and diversity," said director Maya Hernandez.

"For me, it's exciting to see people from all generations come together with my neighbors, my friends, and visitors in one location," remarked Julia Smith, a high school senior who attended.

This festival had its beginnings in 1974, founded by Harvey Milk as a way to promote gay-owned businesses and bring visibility to the community.

Last year, attendance was reported to be in the thousands, with local vendors seeing higher traffic and sales during fair hours.

Organizers are optimistic about next year’s event, aiming to  attract an even broader audience by showcasing more international performers and intensifying online promotion todraw visitors from beyond the Bay Area.