Castro Halloween edition of night market draws costumed crowd

As the sun set in San Francisco’s Castro LGBTQ neighborhood on Halloween, 18th Street filled with goblins, aliens, beasts, witches, glow-rific attire, ghoulishly painted faces – and those wearing little to nothing at all. 

It was the scary, festive scene of the Castro Night Market’s Halloween bash, which took place from 5 to 10 p.m. The event, presented by the Castro Merchants Association, Civic Joy Fund, and CG Events, drew thousands.

Featuring nearly 70 vendors, a handful of food trucks, several stages with performers and live music, the San Francisco Pride Band, the city’s official band, playing songs like “Thriller,” and a “Glow in the Streets” blacklight-laden, neon art dance space from the group Comfort & Joy, there was something for everyone.

“I almost didn't come out tonight – I had a long week at work. I’m glad I did, though,” attendee Molly Smith shared with the Bay Area Reporter.

Smith, who identifies as bisexual, was channeling Rosie the Riveter with a red and white bandana tied around her head and a denim ensemble. A friend had told her about the night market, so she decided to check it out.

“I'm fairly new to the city – I've lived here almost a year,” Smith, in her 30s, said. “It just seemed like this would probably be the most fun and have the best costumes.”

About Halloween and its tie-in to the queer community, she added, “It's my favorite time of year. I can't wait to dress up, even if it's a last-minute costume, and get out and see everybody else just being happy and excited and having a good time.”

Highlights Friday night included a “Creature Feature” drag show and costume contest, emceed by Sister Roma of the drag nun philanthropic group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and drag artist and comedian Carne Asada .

“I’ve hosted this pretty much every month,” said Roma while onstage, referring to the regular night markets. “I think it’s so great that the Castro Merchants [Association] and the Civic Joy Fund are making this all free and accessible so that we can come together and be in community. That’s what we need right now, more than ever.”

The Castro Night Market is typically held on the third Friday of every month but was moved to the fifth Friday in October to coincide with the beloved queer holiday, as the B.A.R. previously reported . It was the final night market scheduled for the year.

As the evening progressed, the bars and designated dining areas that lined 18th Street filled to the brim with people sitting down for a bite to eat, imbibing in a beverage or two, and taking in the costumed event goers who passed by. People could also take their drinks with them in the footprint of the night market as the Castro’s entertainment zone was activated for the night. The street itself became a slow-moving procession of people heading from one stage or vendor to another, stopping for photos along the way.

Dressed as a “weed grinder,” Yvette Hernandez, a straight woman from Stockton, was a magnet when it came to people asking for details about her costume and wanting to pose for pictures. 

“I'm here with both of my sons because I support who they are and what they're about. I also love the idea of bringing the community together. So anytime I can bring those two facets together and enjoy it and just come out and have a great time, I'm totally on board. Plus, I get to dress up really cute,” she said to the B.A.R., adding her sons are gay.

Halloween festivities in the Castro returned in 2023 after a 16-year hiatus, as the B.A.R. previously reported . The city had shut down unofficial Halloween street parties in the neighborhood due to repeated incidents of violence, including the stabbing of four people in 2002 and the shooting of nine people in 2006.

In 2021, efforts to bring back Halloween festivities to the Castro were initiated by 
gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and is now its president, and then furthered by Yekutiel and the Civic Joy Fund in 2023, according to the B.A.R.

Yekutiel, a gay man, is the co-founder and former executive director of the Civic Joy Fund, which provides funding to San Francisco night markets and other cultural events. He’s currently running for District 8 Supervisor and has stepped down from leading the Civic Joy Fund after he announced his campaign. Now-Mayor Daniel Lurie was the other co-founder.

Hernandez, 54, attended that initial revamp effort, backed by the Civic Joy Fund, in 2023. The event included 40-plus storefront activations, a movie marathon, and a costume contest.

“It was really sparse,” she said. “This is a beautiful turnout in comparison to how it was a couple years ago.”

Kuntra Diction and Florgasm, two San Francisco drag performers and go-go dancers who took the stage Friday night, were glad to be a part of the event.

“I came to the Castro Night Market because of the effort they make to include trans and enby [nonbinary] people in the Castro community. I don't see as much representation of those groups, which I really love and want to raise up in the Castro,” said Kuntra Diction, a “timeless” nonbinary trans boy.

Florgasm, transmasc and gender fluid, shared with the B.A.R. that he had created pieces of the creature-esque outfits they were wearing. As a 25-year-old fashion designer, he’s found that the night market – and San Francisco in general – are a perfect fit for him.

“The reason I came to Castro Night Market is the whole reason I came to San Francisco in the first place: to be free and express my art and have it be a viable career for me,” he said. “[The city] has been a place for freedom not just in sexuality and expression, but in what you want to do with your life.”

Friday’s crowd was all ages, all genders and, in line with the event itself, all welcoming.

“This is our family — let’s celebrate each other,” Sister Roma told the crowd. “Let’s remember that this is the Castro. This is our sanctuary, our safe place.”