Folsom Fair 2004 took place on a spectacularly sunny San Francisco afternoon in late September. It attracted over 300,000 enthusiastic visitors and raised about a quarter of a million dollars for numerous charities. Ah, but that sounds so dry, doesn't it? Nothing can compare to being shoulder to sweaty shoulder on a street packed with scantily clad fetishists-most in nothing but leather straps and D-rings-enjoying music, culture, cheap beer and sunshine!
The first people attendees encountered at the fair were The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, graciously accepting the minimum $5 donation for entry onto five blocks bracketed on each end by stages and a huge DJ/dance set-up just off Folsom on 10th Street. Stands selling beverages and food located on assorted streets and intersections helped everyone maintain their stamina and plenty of porta-potties were available for those who felt the, um, urge.
Winged Boy
Down the center of Folsom Street, about a zillion vendors were hawking everything from crystal dildos to crass t-shirts, the usual leather floggers and flavored condoms to the ubiquitous Utilikilts. My friend picked up a top hat and I was seduced by the jewelry at the "Really Cool Artist" booth, deciding upon a sterling silver corset charm. If I had endless cash to spend, I would've indulged in a real corset from Dark Garden, but alas, they cost about the same as a month's rent. In case anyone's interested, the black lace overlay style really struck my fancy!
Nestled between the vendors, people form information booths of every rainbow stripe were handing out condoms and pamphlets, including members of PFLAG, the Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, the Bay Area Bisexual Network and Transgender San Francisco. Political booths, such as The Alice B. Toklas Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club and the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, urged people to register and vote.
Stilt Boys
The Society of Janus had a huge spanking booth with all sorts of fetish furniture on which folks could choose to receive their charitable discipline. The folks from Mr S Leather took the day off from vending by hosting a booth just for shmoozing and general social play. And if you wanted to be photographed while being spanked by a diva drag queen, it would've cost you a $5 donation.
The performances were non-stop on two stages, making it impossible to see everything. I arrived around noon near the 12th Street stage and caught Kitten on the Keys as the crowd was starting to trickle in. About an hour later, on the 7th Street stage, I watched Erocktica; they're from New York City, so I'm intimately familiar with their shtick. Curvaceous cutie Pink Snow is the lead singer, and she struts her stuff while she belts out sexy songs like "Size Queen" and "38D." She also becomes increasingly more naked-or less dressed, if you prefer-with each selection. Her go-go girls engage in similar antics, and her back-up band performs in various stages of undress. I especially enjoyed their guitar player, who jumped off the stage to cavort in the crowd, balls to the breeze.
Sexy Sadie
Later in the afternoon, and after a few beers, I was back before the 12th Street stage, where things had picked up considerably. I'd missed my friend Coyote Shivers, who'd made the trip up from LA, but I was just in time to see Spanking Machine, a local goth/fetish band. They were followed by a few select acts from Trannyshack. And then Chicago's exuberant punk quartet Jinx Titanic totally rocked. I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I do recall all their songs being pump-your-fist-in-the-air anthems of the most rowdy, rousing sort. And wrapping up the afternoon was the new band fronted by San Francisco and Black Rock City celeb Adrian Roberts, Smash Up Derby. Their hilarious "smash ups" like "God Save Madonna" and "Smells Like Billie Jean" had the freaks and fetishists dancing in the street. Of course, they were already in the street...
Bicycle-Powered Dildo Chair
The high point of my day, however, was probably engaging in an improbable episode of gay anal bicycle sex. Huh? Said liaison occurred in Carol Queen and Robert Morgan Lawrence's Center for Sex and Culture booth, a worthy cause and definitely an inspiration for sex acts al fresco! Their bicycle-powered dildo chair contraption stopped me in my tracks even before I knew who was behind the nefarious machine. I immediately sat down and started pedaling, while Carol and Robert played carnival barkers, inviting "willing bottoms" - quite literally! - and "exhibitionist ass sluts." Eventually they convinced a fresh-faced young man who mounted the pink gel dildo chair. As I pedaled, the dildo went up and down-as well as in and out-to the amazement and amusement of the passing masses. Unfortunately I was too shy to snap a photo mid-shtup, but the camera-wielding crowd sure wasn't. So I'm sure my smiling, cycling, screwing face is available out there in cyberspace somewhere.
Jewelry, a sunburn and arm's length sex with a gay boy was definitely more than I expected, but leave it to Folsom Fair to deliver!
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