Next weekend, the city will play host to the international bear community for the Hairrison Street Fair, the newest member of San Francisco's LGBT-oriented summer festivals. Now in its second year, Hairrison is billed as "the world's largest bear celebration," and promises four days of special events throughout the city.
The festivities take place starting Thursday, August 18 and culminate with the street fair Sunday, August 21.
According to Hairrison organizer Pete King, the event's goal is to celebrate the bear community, fostering fellowship and pride. He said that local businesses and community organizations are getting on board as well. "More and more people are getting involved, which is growing events around the fair. As the event draws more people in from out of town, they're looking for more things to do."
The schedule of events boasts five separate opening parties on Thursday, and a "Bears Behind Bars" theme party on Friday. Saturday brings various socials, beer benefits, a bar crawl, country-western and circuit party dance events, a Castro walking tour, and receptions at Under One Roof and the GLBT Historical Society.
As for the street fair itself, King said that the organizers have focused less on exhibitor booths in favor of providing unique entertainment areas. The fair, which begins at the intersection of 10th Street and Harrison, in the South of Market District, features a live music main stage, four separate dance areas, and a "Camp Hairrison" pool party at the Best Western Civic Center Motel on 9th Street.
New this year, the organizers of Hairrison have established a nonprofit organization called PrideWorks, which works in tandem with other charity and community groups to raise money through the festivities.
"Now that we're incorporated as a nonprofit," said King, "we've been able to institute a beverage partner plan with other community groups." Modeled after other fairs including Pride and the Folsom Street Fair, this plan invites other nonprofits to staff the fair's beverage booths in exchange for a percentage of the proceeds as well as tips and donations received at the booths.
Entrance to the fair costs $5, but organizers are encouraging those who wish to attend multiple events throughout the weekend to purchase a "Bear Tag" for $95. Bear Tags cover the cost of admission to each official Hairrison event, and come with a goodie bag that includes a cap and T-shirt, maps and information, condoms and lube, and a coupon book worth over $50 in discounts and drink tickets for area bars and restaurants.
Critics have argued that San Francisco's LGBT street fairs put too much emphasis on selling sponsorships and alcohol, and that the recent death of a man at a SOMA street fair showed that not enough emphasis is placed on providing a safe space for attendees. At last month's Up Your Alley fair, Richard Aagaard, 60, apparently suffered a heart attack and collapsed while dancing with his partner. King said that guest safety has always been of paramount importance, and that the main thrust of the Hairrison event is about fun and celebrating community.
"I can only speak for the Hairrison fair," he said, "but from the very beginning our plans have included onsite EMTs and a dedicated safety lane so that emergency vehicles can get to anyone with a serious medical condition in minutes."
"At its core, this event is about having fun - respecting and celebrating the diversity of our community, which is what gay pride's all about. The bear culture is unique within the LGBT community, and has special meaning for us. But this party is not just for bears, it's a party for everyone that's thrown by the bears. I'm not Irish, but I love celebrating St. Patrick's Day. In the same way, even if you're not a bear, be a bear for a day and come have a good time with us."
For more information about the Hairrison Street Fair, or to purchase a Bear Tag, visit www.hairrison.org, or call (415) 255-8658.