Thanks for checking out Folsom Street East! We are the largest outdoor Leather/ Rubber/ BDSM/ Fetish festival on the East Coast and we are in our fourteenth year of bringing the kink onto the streets of NYC.
The information we’re providing you on this page is intended as general info for potential Folsom Street East attendees, participants, exhibitors and volunteers. We also link to quite a few other sites below to provide additional info, but we cannot be held responsible for any misinformation they’re dishing out. If you have a specific question that isn’t answered below, by all means shout out to us at info[at]folsomstreeteast.org and we’ll do our best to answer it for you.
Q: When is Folsom Street East?
A: Folsom Street East takes place every year on the third Sunday of June, landing on June 20, 2010. The gates open at 2pm and the festivities run until 8pm Check out the Events Page to find out about the other events happening during New York’s Leather Pride Week, including the official Folsom Street East Friday and Saturday night parties: BULLY and Bad Apple.
Q: Where is Folsom Street East?
A: Folsom Street East takes place in New York City. The street festival fills the block of 28th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, and is within walking distance of the Metropolitan Transit A, C, E, 1, 2 and 3 subway lines. Click the map to the right to be directed to a more detailed Google map of the neighborhood.
Q: How much does it cost to get into the street fair?
A: Admission is free to the Folsom Street East street festival with a suggested donation of $10.
Q: What does the $10 go for?
A: Proceeds from the street festival go to support The Anti-Violence Project, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, and The Center, New York’s LGBT Community Center. Basically, it’s a token of appreciation the work that these groups do the other 364 days a year so we can enjoy this one day of sexual freedom on the streets of NYC. For more info, check out the About page.
Q: So what kind of rules does Folsom Street East have about nudity and street sexiness?
A: As much as one might like Folsom Street East to be a hedonistic, Dionysian kinkster’s playland, the street fair does take place within the City of New York and we want EVERYONE to have a fun, safe time, so we have outlined a few rules in the
FOLSOM STREET EAST CODE OF CONDUCT:
1. All participants at Folsom Street East will be respectful of fellow participants, FSE staff and volunteers, performers, and others at all times.
2. All participants will abide by the laws of New York City, including the following:
- No public sexual activity
- No complete public nudity
- No exposure of genitals
- Alcohol is restricted to designated areas only, consumed by adults 21+
3. Adequate space must be cleared and prior consent must be given by all participants in any demo or “scene.”
4. Even with consent, no demo or “scene” involving blood or other fluids will be permitted.
5. Set your limits – and respect those of others – have fun, and enjoy the day!
Q: I’m coming in from out of town; how do I get to Folsom Street East?
A: Mmmm… fresh meat. Welcome to New York!
From JFK Airport
You can take the Air Train light rail to connect to the E train subway at Jamaica Station in Queens for $7 per person ($5 for the airtrain and $2 for the subway), and the E will bring you to Penn Station, just one block from the Ball and several hotels in the Penn Station/Madison Square Garden Area.
You can also use the Super Shuttle bus service that takes you to the Port Authority for about $12 per person on average.
A taxi ride will run you $45 plus tolls and tip.
From LaGuardia Airport
You can take the M60 city bus to either the N train subway stop in Queens and transfer to the 1-2-3 line at 42nd St. OR 125th St. in Manhattan and connect to the 2-3 subway train to Penn Station for $2.
There is an Express Bus service that will take you to Penn Station available for about $12 per person.
A taxi ride will cost you about $35 plus tolls and tip.
From Newark Airport
Use the Super Shuttle buses to Port Authority, which run about $12 per person, then take the C or E train to 23rd Street and it’s a short walk from there.
Q: Folsom Street East sounds awesome. Can I volunteer?
A: Absolutely! It takes a lot of hands to make this event happen, and we love volunteers of all shapes, sizes and talents. Hit up the Volunteer link in the sidebar for more information about opportunities.
Q: I’d like to be an exhibitor at Folsom Street East. How do I make that happen?
A: We love to have a wide variety of vendors and community groups represented at the Folsom Street East festival. Click the Exhibitor link in the sidebar to download an Exhibitor Application and check out some of the other exhibitors we’ve got lined up.
Q: How can I sponsor Folsom Street East?
A: The more sponsors we get, the more money we are able to turn back to our community, so we’re thrilled that you want to get involved. There are many levels of sponsorship available with Folsom Street East.
If you are interested in being a part of the kinkiest street festival in New York City, please check out the Sponsors link or send an email to Joey[at]folsomstreeteast[dot]org for more info.
