From community gatherings and drag performances to nightlife events and the city’s signature Pride celebrations, San Francisco is hosting dozens of events throughout Pride weekend. Here’s a guide to some of the biggest ones happening from June 25 through June 28.
Thursday, June 25
SF Pride Human Rights Summit
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Commonwealth Club World Affairs, 110 Embarcadero
Cost: Free
The annual Human Rights Summit brings together activists, organizers, policymakers and community leaders to discuss issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities in San Francisco and beyond.
Pride NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences
When: 6 p.m.
Where: California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park
Cost: $25
The Academy’s adults-only NightLife series gets a Pride makeover, with themed programming, music, drinks and after-hours access to exhibits.
Big Leap Pride at El Rio
When: 8 p.m.
Where: El Rio, 3158 Mission St.
Cost: $10 to $20
The Mission’s beloved queer-friendly venue hosts a Pride-themed edition of Big Leap, featuring independent queer bands, drag sets, dancing and community celebration.
After Dark: Queer Science at the Exploratorium
When: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Exploratorium, Pier 15 Embarcadero
Cost: $23
The Exploratorium’s After Dark series explores the intersection of science, identity and LGBTQ+ experiences through interactive exhibits, presentations and special programming.
Tenderloin Pride Bar Crawl
When: 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Bourbon & Branch, 501 Jones St.
Cost: Free with registration
Drag queen tour guides will lead a bar crawl through four locations in the Tenderloin, which has a deep LGBTQ+ history and is home to the city’s Transgender Cultural District. Come out, hear stories about neighborhood activism and community, and enjoy a drink special at each stop.
Trans History Walking Tour
When: 7 to 7:45 p.m.
Where: Timbri Hotel, 33 Turk St.
Cost: Free with registration
Historian and advocate Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer leads a walking tour on transgender history in the Tenderloin, the heart of the Transgender District. The tour runs ahead of the TRANSMARSH vertical performance.
TRANSMARSH Preview Performance
When: 7 to 10 p.m.
Where: Timbri Hotel, 33 Turk St.
Cost: Free
TRANSMARSH kicks off Pride weekend by “rewilding” the Transgender District, drawing on the trans history and ecology rooted in the Tenderloin’s soil. The free outdoor “vertical” dance performance — staged on the Taylor Street facade of the Timbri Hotel — features B Dean/BODYSTORM, Pangaea and tome. Thursday’s preview, presented with the Tenderloin Museum, includes a trans history walking tour of the Turk and Taylor neighborhood, a performance by Skywatchers and GRAVITY Access Services.
Oaklash Block Party
When: 8:30 to 10 p.m.
Where: Timbri Hotel, 33 Turk St.
Cost: Free
To finish off the first night of TRANSMARSH, Oakland-based arts nonprofit Oaklash is bringing drag performances to the Timbri Hotel’s outdoor plaza, with performances from Mojo Carter and a DJ set by 7000COILS.
Friday, June 26
Trans March
When: 3 p.m. at the park; march at 6 p.m.
Where: Mission Dolores Park
Cost: Free
One of San Francisco’s most anticipated Pride traditions returns to Dolores Park. Attendees can browse information booths and community vendors, watch performances and gather for the annual march to Turk and Taylor streets, the heart of the Transgender District.
Women & Nonbinary Morning Bike Ride
When: 7:15 a.m.
Where: McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan St.
Cost: Free
Early risers can kick off Pride Weekend with a ride through Golden Gate Park, billed as an inclusive ride for women and nonbinary cyclists. Helmets and smiles required.
Pride Kickoff Celebration
When: 8 to 10 p.m.
Where: Embarcadero Plaza
Cost: Free
San Francisco officially kicks off Pride weekend along the waterfront with drag performances, live music, roaming entertainers and special guests. The lasers down Market Street run from sunset to sunrise all weekend, starting Friday evening.
Drag Me Downtown: Merchants Exchange
When: 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: 75 Leidesdorff St.
Cost: Free with RSVP
The downtown drag series returns with performances by Bobby Friday, Curveball and Hennessy Williams. Jax, from Season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, will make a special appearance, and local businesses will offer food and drink specials throughout the evening.
Hella Gay Pride Comedy Festival
When: 5 to 7 p.m. happy hour, shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Where: The Function, 1414 Market St.
Cost: Free with two-drink minimum
Some of the Bay Area’s top LGBTQ+ comics — from Cobbs, Sketchfest, Punchline — will be cracking jokes for two nights on Pride weekend.
SF Opera Pride Event
When: 8 p.m.
Where: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave.
Cost: $29+
The San Francisco Opera Orchestra and featured artists kick off Pride weekend with a high-energy concert celebrating LGBTQIA+ composers, performers and anthems — with music by Michael Tilson Thomas, Offenbach, Brandi Carlile, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder and more. Drag performer Sapphira Cristál hosts, with soloists Nikola Printz, Melody Moore and Reginald Smith Jr. under conductor Robert Mollicone. Stick around for a post-show dance party with Juanita MORE!
Trans History Walking Tour
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Timbri Hotel, 33 Turk St.
Cost: Free with registration
Before the TRANSMARSH performances kick off, the Tenderloin Museum is hosting a walking tour through the heart of the city’s Transgender District.
TRANSMARSH
When: 8 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: 33 Turk St.
Cost: Free
Catch a preview of TRANSMARSH, a free outdoor “vertical” dance performance over the Turk and Taylor intersection, in the heart of San Francisco’s Transgender District. The performance is on Friday evening.
Saturday, June 27
Trans Ally March and Rally
When: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Embarcadero Plaza
Cost: Free
Supporters and advocates gather in solidarity with transgender communities for this annual march and rally. Dress in pink and blue to show your allyship.
SF Pride Celebration
When: noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Civic Center
Cost: Free
The centerpiece of Pride Weekend returns to Civic Center with multiple stages, community organizations, vendors, food and entertainment throughout the day.
Dyke March and Rally
When: noon gathering, 3 p.m. rally, 5 p.m. march
Where: Dolores Park, 18th and Dolores streets
Cost: Free
Dykes and queers and all friends are invited to hang out in Dolores Park for the decades-long dyke day tradition. There’s no permit or programming in the park, just fun before the rally and march.
Hella Gay Pride Comedy Festival
When: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Where: The Function, 1414 Market St.
Cost: Free with two-drink minimum
Night two of the Bay Area LGBTQ+ comedy showcase. (See Friday for the happy-hour kickoff.)
Eden SF Pride Party
When: 9 p.m.
Where: Public Works
Cost: $15 – $20
One of the weekend’s larger nightlife events, Eden SF’s Pride celebration features DJs, dancing — and a bunch of things we can’t write about — at Public Works.
Sunday, June 28
Dykes on Bikes
When: 10:30 a.m.
Where: Market Street (steps off at Beale and Market, ends at Civic Center Plaza)
Cost: Free
This iconic motorcycle contingent returns to lead the Pride Parade — you know Pride has begun when you hear the roar of hundreds of bikes.
SF Pride Parade
When: 10:30 a.m.
Where: Market Street
Cost: Free
Hundreds of community organizations, nonprofits, elected officials and corporate sponsors make their way down Market Street for the city’s signature Pride event. Spectators watch, celebrate and dance at the stages along the way. This year’s headliners are Aly & AJ and Kamaiyah.
VIP Asian Art Museum Pride Party
When: noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Asian Art Museum
Cost: $100+
The Asian Art Museum joins Pride festivities with special programming, performances and after-hours activities celebrating queer artists and communities for the city’s VIPs.
Juanita MORE! Pride Party
When: noon to 7 p.m.
Where: 620 Jones St.
Cost: $75
One of San Francisco Pride’s longest-running parties returns for another year, typically featuring DJs, dancing and fundraising for local LGBTQ+ organizations.
Bar Bibi x El Chato Pride Party
When: 1 to 7 p.m.
Where: El Chato, 2301 Bryant St. (at 21st Street)
Cost: Free
Bar Bibi and El Chato take over the corner of 21st and Bryant for a Pride Sunday street party. The lineup features queer winemakers from Spain and California — Anónimas, Emme, En Cavale and Ruth Lewandowski — plus drag from God’s Lil Princess, Kochina Rude and Mary Vice, and DJ sets from El Chato’s faves.
Pride Parade Afterparty
When: 2 p.m. to midnight
Where: Public Works
Cost: Free with RSVP
Keep the celebration going after the parade at Public Works, where DJs and performers help close out Pride weekend through the night.
If you think your event should be on this list, let us know! Email us at info@missionlocal.com.
There’s also Queer Country Pride at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell on Saturday from noon to 4! And pride amplified at the Independent on Thursday night