11 pics from Folsom Europe to get you in the mood for Folsom San Francisco
Folsom Europe attracted thousands of leather lovers to Berlin, Germany.
Mark
The long-running Folsom Street Fair returns to San Francisco this weekend (28/9). It’s one of the biggest dates in the calendar for queer lovers of leather and kink.
Folsom Street Fair dates back to 1984. It has grown in size and reputation and now regularly attracts around 10,000 people. It’s also led to the smaller annual celebration: Up Your Alley, each July.
Folsom Street Fair was also the inspiration behind Folsom Europe, which first took place in Berlin in 2003.
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This year’s Folsom Europe took place at the end of August/beginning of September. The street fair took place at the intersection of Welserstrasse and Fuggerstrasse.
Other events included walking tours for leather and rubber devotees, A ‘Puppy Walk’ that attracted 600 pups, workshops, a multitude of dress-code club events, and art shows.
“Inclusive”
PJ McNulty (above), co-owner of Darkroom Brand clothing, had travelled from Scotland for the event. He told GayCities, “Folsom was a lot of fun this year. The weather held up as it took place earlier this year. It’s very inclusive and caters to everyone’s fetishes without judgment. Berlin is definitely the heart of fetish in Europe.”
Joachim Beckert (@leather_hamburg) told GayCities, “I have been attending the Folsom Europe Berlin event for nine years now, and it is always an experience, as you meet many people you know from social networks in person, and lasting friendships are formed. Additionally, many events are offered, including the street festival and many parties.”
Next year’s Folsom Europe has already announced its dates: September 10-13, 2026.
The 2025 Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco takes place this Sunday (September 28) between 11am-6pm.
Related
PHOTOS: Up Your Alley in San Francisco, Folsom Street Fair’s flamboyant cousin
The event evokes similarities to the much larger Folsom Street Fair. The major difference is that Dore has more of a queer male focus.
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