Castro Street Fair Coming Up

The 41st annual Castro Street Fair is approaching, marking its first appearance in the neighborhood since the district's gotten wider sidewalks and other improvements.

This year's event is set for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, October 5 at Castro and Market streets and the surrounding area. An estimated 50,000 people are expected to attend.

Entertainment includes the rapper Big Dipper, performances from the cast of the Tony-winning musical Avenue Q , and choreographer Rory Davis.

"We are very excited about this year's fair," Fred Lopez, the fair's interim executive director, said in an email. "The Castro Street Fair has always been a neighborhood celebration and we have tried to reflect that in our plans. With all of the big changes to the physical landscape of the neighborhood, this year feels special in a completely unique way."

This year's fair will include some changes in scenery, including wider sidewalks and the addition of trees and street furniture along Castro. Much of the $6 million sidewalk widening project in the Castro has been completed, but some work remains to be done. [See related story, page 1.]

The alterations aren't expected to impact the fair. The footprint will be the same, but before the sidewalk expansion, two rows of booths had been placed in the middle of Castro Street. Now, booths will be placed on either side of the road.

"Attendees will have similar experiences as they've had in the past, just with wider sidewalks," Lopez said in an interview.

Fairgoers will also get to see the new rainbow crosswalks, which were installed at the intersection of Castro and 18th streets this week.

Slain supervisor Harvey Milk, a gay man who owned a camera shop on Castro Street, organized the first Castro Street Fair to drum up some excitement in the business district catering to the city's Eureka Valley area. In 1977 Milk later went on to become the first out person elected to public office in San Francisco only to be murdered in 1978, a year later.

Helping the Community

There's a suggested donation of $5 to $10 at the gate for the fair. Lopez said "the vast majority" of that money goes to beneficiary groups, which provide volunteers.

Organizers are hoping to raise at least $70,000 this year, similar to past revenues. The fair also helps fund the giant rainbow flag at Castro and Market streets.

Among this year's 23 beneficiary organizations is AIDS Housing Alliance-San Francisco.

Brian Basinger, the alliance's director, said his agency, which provides housing referrals, rental subsidies, and other services, would "probably" get about $1,500 from the event.

"For our organization, especially, the majority of our private fundraising comes from these community events," Basinger said. "Those dollars help us fill in the gaps for all of our services, and especially activities that are not paid for through our contracts."

Milky Way

Another change at the fair this year is that Barnaby's World of Wonderment, which had been curated by Max Barnaby, will be replaced by Milky Way, since Barnaby has moved. Milky Way will be curated by Uel Renteria and will feature artists' work on 18th Street between Noe and Sanchez streets.

"I plan on turning the Milky Way into a magical place, filled with worlds of wonder and art," Renteria said on the fair's website.

For more information about the fair, visit "www.castrostreetfair.org"

Full disclosure: The Bay Area Reporter is a lead sponsor of the fair and will have a booth there.