Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Arts & Culture
Published on June 22, 2016
Castro Week: Events & Survival Guide To A Successful Pride WeekendCelebrating marriage equality in the Castro last year. (Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline)

At this year's Pride, the 49 lives lost and 53 people injured in Orlando will be on the minds of many. After such a tragic event, it will be difficult to party and have a good time without thinking about what happened—but it reminds us that the LGBT community has plenty to continue to fight for, even after achieving marriage equality last year.

Security has been stepped up, so if you're heading to Civic Center this year for the festival on Saturday or Sunday, be prepared for longer lines, as visitors will be screened through metal detectors or handheld wands. There will also be additional inspections of possessions, including bags. For a full list of what is and isn't allowed, check out SF Pride's website.

And a safety reminder: if you see any suspicious persons or activity while out and about for Pride, SFPD encourages you to report them to event staff or a police officer.

This year, there will be no organized Pride event in the Castro on Saturday, as Pink Saturday/Pink Party has been cancelled. With large crowds anticipated for the Dyke March on Saturday evening, you can expect an effect on traffic once the march reaches the Castro. There will be no street closures this year, but streets may be temporarily shut down as the crowd disperses.

Pink Triangle installation on Twin Peaks.
Photo: Steven bracco/hoodline

There's always plenty to do on Pride Weekend, and it can be overwhelming. While the Castro is at the center of it all, there are plenty of events going on across the entire city. Pride Weekend is a great time to explore everything our city has to offer, so here are a few event highlights both in and outside the Castro.

Kick things off tonight at the Pilsner Inn with Pullin' Pork For Pride!, hosted by the Harvey Milk Club and 48Hills. Sneaky's BBQ will be serving food (with veggie options, too). 

On Friday, head over to Dolores Park to participate in the Trans March. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Compton's Cafeteria riots in the Tenderloin, and the march will end with a rally at Turk & Taylor, in commemoration of the riot.

Wake up bright and early Saturday morning to help install the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks. This symbol, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, is a visible reminder of "man's inhumanity to man"—it was originally used by Nazis in concentration camps to identify and shame homosexuals, but has been embraced by the gay community as a symbol of Pride. In light of the shooting in Orlando, this symbol is an important reminder of the hate and intolerance our community still faces. Volunteers are advised to bring a hammer, gloves and closed-toed shoes.

If dancing the night away is what you're in need of for Pride, look no further than XOXO Presents San Francisco Pride Main Event Saturday night at The Warfield. The Warfield will be transformed from a concert venue to a circuit party venue, with the promise of lasers and jaw-dropping LED visuals.

Juanita MORE! Pride Party 2015.
Photo: steven bracco/hoodline

On Pride Sunday, you can expect Juanita More's Pride Party to be the place to be. Now in its 12th year, More's outdoor party takes place on the patio of Jones in the Tenderloin, and benefits Queer Lifespace, a nonprofit counseling agency. Tickets will be available at the door, but get there early, as the line tends to get long.

Frameline40 wraps up Sunday, with the red-carpet premiere of HBO's Looking: The Movie. The film takes place a few years after season two of the series ended, with Patrick (Jonathan Groff) coming back to San Francisco for a wedding. Groff, Russell Tovey (Kevin), Murray Bartlett (Dom), and other cast members are expected to be in attendance. Tickets are sold out, but you might have luck standing in line to get a rush ticket.

The Monday after Pride is an unofficial holiday for many people, who take the day off in order to recover from a weekend full of partying. If you've still got some energy left—or need a place to relax with a cocktail—head over to Lookout for their annual Pride Recovery.

Here's the full rundown of Pride events. Check out many more events from around the city at hoodline.com/events—and to see your event featured in an upcoming events roundup, submit it here.

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