Iconic SF Festival “How Weird Street Faire” Says Farewell After 25 Years
Thanks to SF Gate for sharing the news the unfortunate news that San Francisco’s iconic “How Weird Street Faire” is saying farewell.
After more than two decades of bringing eccentric costumes and electronic beats to San Francisco, the How Weird Street Faire announced it will not apply for a permit to hold the event in 2025. In a statement shared with SFGATE, the festival’s producers cited skyrocketing permitting fees and production costs as the primary reasons for the decision.
Since its humble beginnings in 2000 as a small block party on Howard Street (with “How Weird” being a playful nod to its location), the event grew into a beloved San Francisco tradition. Over the years, How Weird expanded to feature multiple stages, attracting thousands of attendees in elaborate costumes—ranging from fur suits to full-on TV sets—all dancing to electronic music under the city’s open sky.
Despite its success, the festival has faced growing financial challenges in recent years. In 2020, the pandemic forced the event to cancel, and the organizers reported losing thousands of dollars. This year, they hoped to host a “Star Wars”-themed party on May 4, but a rainstorm caused a postponement. A rescheduled event took place on September 21, celebrating the autumnal equinox, but the costs of production still exceeded the festival’s earnings.
Founder Brad Olsen reflected on the challenges in the statement: “Outwardly, the event this year appeared as a raging success, and in many ways it was—with thousands of costumed revelers and no major incidents. But the risk of producing independent outdoor events like How Weird without sponsorship or grants is just too overwhelming.”
While the decision marks the end of an era for this iconic street festival, organizers hope the event’s spirit might continue under new management. They suggested that a professional production team might take over the festival, bringing in sponsorships to cover the risks of large-scale events like How Weird.
“It has become too big for too few of us to manage as a grassroots street fair,” the statement reads. “Thank you, San Francisco, for all the weird times!”
The announcement comes at a difficult moment for the broader music festival industry, which has seen several major events in California, including Lucidity Festival, Desert Daze, and Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, cancel due to rising costs and lower attendance. How Weird’s organizers are hoping that with a new model, the festival’s unique blend of art, music, and community can continue in the future.
While this may be the final chapter for How Weird in its current form, its legacy as one of San Francisco’s quirkiest and most beloved events will live on in the memories of the thousands who danced in the streets over the years.
“Thank you, San Francisco, and all our How Weird patrons over the years,” Olsen wrote. “It was a fantastic time. We are sure the music will play on.”
