Event Dates
From: Sunday, September 22, 2024
To: Sunday, September 22, 2024
San Francisco’s Leather Walk is one of the most diverse marches in the city.
San Francisco’s Leather Walk is one of the most diverse marches in the city and mixes a party atmosphere with an important charity raising event, while promoting the leather community and all its attractions. People walk together to celebrate leather, kink, family and community — all while raising funds for three great agencies.
- Visiting San Francisco for Folsom Fair? Stay at the Hotel Via, Our readers have rated this hotel as “Fabulous” with spacious rooms offering amazing views of Bay bridge. The rooftop bar is a great place to kick start your weekend in San Francisco.
The Leather Walk
- The annual Leather Walk takes place on every year in September in the lead-up to the Folsom Street Fair. Each year, hundreds of Leather Walkers take over Market Street and march from the Castro to SoMa.
- On-site registration and check in begins at 10:00am at 440 Castro. Each marcher received a collectable Leather Walk pin.
- While you’re waiting for the action to get started, grab some breakfast at The Cove on Castro, San Francisco’s favourite local diner.
- Entertainment starts at 11:30am at Jane Warner Plaza. The walk itself plans to start moving at 12:00pm from the front of Castro Theatre. The walk features performances by some of San Francisco’s most amazing vocal and drag talent.
- The Leather Walk will include the following stops stops: Stop 1: SF Oasis, Stop 2: Powerhouse, Stop 3: Mr-S-Leather, Stop 5: The Lone Star Saloon, Stop 6: SF Eagle Final Stop.
- Events continue at the Leather Pride Festival at Eagle Plaza with the Flag Raising and Beer Bust.
San Francisco’s Leather Scene
- The Leather community in San Francisco is quite diverse. The city has a designated Leather and LGBTQ District in part of the city’s South of Market neighbourhood.
- The neighbourhood remains home to gay and kink bars and the popular Folsom Street Fair, which draws thousands of people every year to celebrate leather sexuality.
- Stay close to the Eagle at the InterContinental San Francisco, with a great gym, stunning views and delicious breakfast and just a 5 minute ride away from the bar.
History of the Leather Walk
- Leather Walk was founded in 1992 by Art Tomaszewski, former AEF Board President, Bare Chest Calendar Man and former Mr. Headquarters Leather.
- Art was inspired to start an event that would raise visibility, comradery and funds for AEF. In 2001, Sandy ‘Mama’ Reinhardt, a tireless community fundraiser and founding advisor at BCEF, took over event production of Leather Walk. Each year, Mama and Mama’s Family hold Leather Walk fundraisers across the country.
- Today, Leather Walk raises vital funds for Folsom Street Events and Positive Resource Center.
Where to Stay?
- San Francisco is divided into several neighbourhoods. The Castro and Soma are home to the city’s bustling gay neighbourhoods.
- Soma is home to Folsom Street and most of the leather and fetish bars.
- Other popular neighbourhoods include Mission District. As the modern hub of San Francisco’s most vibrant district, Valencia Street is home to some of the city’s hottest destination eateries, funky independent shops, most crowded watering holes, and eye-popping murals.
- Stay close to all the tourist attractions in some of the best hotels in the city, in the downtown/union square district
Recommended Hotels
The following hotels are close to the gay bars and the city’s top attractions:
InterContinental Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott , Palace Hotel, Hotel Zelos,
Where to stay close to all the gay bars
Our top 4 selections with the best rates.
The W Hotel is our preferred hotel close
to the gay area with a gym & large rooms
For further information and advice on
San Francisco Leather Walk website
We have divided the map into two areas, the Castro, San Francisco’s world famous gay district and SOMA, the are where the Folsom Street Fair takes place each September.
Map of Gay San Francisco (SOMA)
Map of Gay San Francisco (The Castro)
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We have chosen hotels in San Francisco that keep you close to all the shops,restaurants & bars
Leather Walk 2017, SF Folsom Kick-off
San Francisco is a vibrant and inclusive city with a long history of LGBTQ+ activism and culture. Here are the most popular neighbourhoods, including gay hot spots and districts close to the city’s most popular attractions. It is worth noting that the best-rated hotels are close to Union Square
One of the world’s most famous gay districts since the 1960s, a focal point for LGBTQ+ culture.
South of the city centre, known for its colourful murals, hipster culture, bars and restaurants.