Castro Winter Wonderland
A magical extravaganza will take place at San Francisco’s Castro Winter Wonderland for kids of all ages.
Sunday, December 3rd, 2023
11am-5pm, free
Noe @ Market
The Castro comes alive to quench our eternal thirst for enchanted wonders, delights and mysteries with creative and performing arts including epic stage celebrations and interactive fun all day.
The third annual Castro Winter Wonderland unleashes a Holiday ArtMart, dragsters galore, story-
hour, photos with Santa, and the Grinch, a petting zoo, and Passport & costume competitions
for kids and adults.
'Twas the block party before Xmas, & all through the ‘hood,
Costumed kids of all ages were naughty and good;
They got their Winter Passports and visited merchants galore,
In hopes of treats and visa stamps from each & every store;
The winners got prizes for filled passports, and wearable art,
Costume contests for kids & adults awarded prizes for stylish smarts;
Clever youngsters vied for best Winter WonderKid,
While adult Sexy Elves wowed the judges to see who outdid,
All explored The Castro and visited with Santa, and The Grinch,
While thousand$$ in prizes made merry holiday gift-giving a cinch.
—[By Sister Kitty Catalyst in homage to the iconic original from Clement Clarke Moore]
Passport & Costume competitions:
● Kids & adults get Winter Wonderland passports and collect stamps at dozens of merchants while getting stocking-stuffer treats; then show them to win great prizes!
● Costume contests:
○ Winter WonderKid (kids), &
○ Sexiest Elf (adults), with celebrity judges and $1,500+ in cash & prizes! ALL finalists get prizes from our generous sponsors. We thank them for supporting the community and creative arts!
Emcees / Performers:
● Our stage will embrace the magic, inform and inspire with wish-granting dragsters of delight led by our spell-conjuring emcees Per Sia & Mary Vice!
○ Per Sia is an iconic Esta Noche veteran; and the first and regular performer in the nationally acclaimed Drag Queen Story Hour as well as an educator in residence at the Children's After School Arts (CASA) program in San Francisco, @Per_Sia
○ Mary Vice has a background in burlesque and drag fashion infusing performances with old school glamour and seduction. With her drag mother, Mr. David Glamamore, she hosts Pillows at Powerhouse, and also emcees SF’s longest-running drag show, Hot Boxxx Girls at Aunt Charlies. @ItsMaryVice
Featured Artists & Installations
● DJ Tweaka Turner is on deck to ring our jingle bells and make the Yuletide gay! @TurnerTweaka
● Ma Shugganuttz is a San Francisco / Oakland based dragster always looking for new challenges. Known as The Eternal Hostess, she is sweet, and quick with a fierce side eye. Some of the shows she works on are Polesexual, Fan-DUMB and Cocktailgate. @FrightenGale
● Sheena Rose is a San Francisco drag queen who stars weekly at Aunt Charlie's Lounge for the Hot Boxxx Girls show, the longest running drag show in the Bay Area. She is also a legendary singer with many songs including on her new album, ‘Mrs. Santa Claus’. @SheenaRoseOfficial
● Linda Summers, Miss Castro Country Club 2022-3 and Miss Gay San Francisco 2020-1, her favorite colors are yellow, orange, and white—the aura of the giant fireball in the sky—because she loves dancing under the sun to feel the heat! From big smiles to death—dropping she loves giving and helping build communities. @MissLindaSummers
● The Grinch luckily had his heart grow much bigger and will visit for photo-ops with anyone from Whoville.
● Santa has promised to stop by as well to offer holiday cheer & hope.
● Holiday ArtBazaar has local artists unique creations for all your gift-giving needs!
Sexy Elf Contest
After you visit our Passport Merchants, check in to claim your prizes and get ready for the legendary Sexy Elf contest with more prizes for the finalists, and $500 grand prize!
● Create your Sexiest Elf costume and turn on your ho ho ho-ness, adding sparkling holiday cheer ... convince the audience & our celebrity judges why you are the Sexiest Elf.
● “San Francisco loves creating stunning costumes so our celebrity judges will be looking for elves with supercharged flair!” advises Sister Kitty Catalyst, judge liaison.
● Everybody is welcome.
The Castro Merchants are committed to supporting our businesses while welcoming everyone to San Francisco's most iconic neighborhood!
This event is brought to you by the Castro Merchants and Office of Workforce & Development. Organized by Artyhood SF—creating opportunities for artists to thrive, and Co-hosted by the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association.
🚭This is a smoke-free event.