SAN FRANCISCO — The Castro Street Fair returns Sunday, Oct. 4 for its 52nd year, bringing local vendors, food, performances and street dancing to the Castro and Market Street area.
The organizer lists the fair from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Admission is open to all, with a suggested donation of $10 to $20 supporting the fair and community beneficiaries.
Which streets close for Castro Street Fair?
SFMTA says the following streets will be closed from 2 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4:
- Castro Street between 16th and 19th streets
- Market Street between Noe and Diamond streets
- 17th Street between Hartford and Castro streets
- 18th Street between Noe and Eureka streets
- Hartford Street between 17th and 19th streets
- Collingwood Street between 19th and Market streets
- Diamond Street between Market and 18th streets
The fair itself runs 11 a.m.–6 p.m., so the traffic restrictions begin well before the event opens and continue after it ends.
Which Muni routes are rerouted for Castro Street Fair?
SFMTA’s 2026 event advisory lists six affected services: F Market & Wharves, K Ingleside Bus, 24 Divisadero, 33 Ashbury/18th Street, 35 Eureka and 37 Corbett.
| Service | Current event-day change |
|---|---|
| F Market & Wharves | Switchbacks before the Castro terminal; SFMTA lists the event service pattern for Saturday and Sunday. |
| K Ingleside Bus | Detours around Market and Castro from 6 to 8 a.m. Sunday. |
| 24 Divisadero | Detours around the event area from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| 33 Ashbury/18th Street | Detours via nearby streets from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| 35 Eureka | Uses a switchback pattern around the closure from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| 37 Corbett | Detours around Market and Castro from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
SFMTA’s event page contains the stop-by-stop detour details and alternate-stop locations. Riders should check the live advisory on Sunday in case operations change.
How do you get to Castro Street Fair by Muni?
Transit is still the most practical way to reach the neighborhood, but riders should not assume every service will reach its normal Castro-area stop during the closure window. The fair is centered around Castro and Market, while the F, K bus, 24, 33, 35 and 37 all have event-specific changes.
Check the route-specific advisory before leaving and allow additional time for walking from an alternate stop. SF News Today’s Transit desk also tracks current service changes.
Is the Castro Street Fair free?
There is no fixed admission charge. The organizer asks for a $10–$20 suggested donation; its June announcement says admission is open to all.
Food, drinks and merchandise from individual vendors are separate purchases.
What happens at the fair?
The 2026 theme is “Where We Belong.” Organizers describe local artisans, community organizations, food vendors, queer and ally entertainers, live performances and dancing in the streets.
The Castro Street Fair dates to 1974 and was founded by Harvey Milk as a neighborhood celebration. The modern fair operates as a nonprofit and shares proceeds with community beneficiaries.
What about parking?
Street parking around Castro and Market is constrained even on ordinary weekends. With the fair occupying several blocks, drivers should expect fewer curb spaces and more local traffic.
If you drive, plan to park outside the event footprint and walk. Do not rely on a normal curb approach until SFMTA’s final 2026 traffic plan is published.
Can you combine the fair with SF Open Studios?
Yes. SF Open Studios Weekend 2 includes the Castro on Oct. 3–4. Visitors interested in both should plan around the fair crowds and the fact that artist studios are distributed across individual addresses.