SoSF: San Francisco’s New Pride Music Festival is coming to Pier 80
San Francisco is about to get a whole lot louder and prouder with the launch of SoSF, a groundbreaking music festival hitting Pier 80 on Saturday, June 28, 2025. It takes place during SF Pride Weekend. Taking over the same industrial waterfront spot as the Portola Festival, SoSF promises a day of performances, perfectly timed to kick off the iconic Pride Parade on Sunday. I am actually surprised that an event like this didn’t pop up years ago considering the huge amount of poeple coming to SF for Pride every year. Given the interest so far, we expect this to not only do great this year, but also become an annual event that adds to the already eventful weekend. Headlined by R&B superstar Kehlani, genre-blending hitmaker Tinashe & Grammy-winning pop sensation Kim Petras, this 18-and-over event is set to be a landmark moment for San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ music scene. With a lineup that mixes local flavor and global stars, plus immersive art and dance floors, SoSF is ready to make waves.
SoSF’s headliners are a dream team of acts, each bringing their own fire to Pier 80’s sprawling stages. Kehlani, raised in Oakland and a graduate of the Oakland School for the Arts, is a hometown hero whose soulful R&B anthems like “Nights Like This” and “Sucia” have earned Grammy nods. As a festival partner, not just a performer, Kehlani’s vision shapes SoSF’s inclusive spirit, celebrating San Francisco’s role as in tne LGBTQ+ movement. Tinashe, riding high after her 2024 viral smash “Nasty,” blends alt-R&B with pop swagger, promising a set that’ll have the crowd moving. Kim Petras, the first transgender woman to win a Grammy for her Sam Smith collab “Unholy,” brings her high-energy pop bangers like “Heart to Break,” ready to turn Pier 80 into a wild dance party.
But the headliners are just the start. The lineup digs deep into queer and local talent, featuring reality TV star Heidi Montag (yeah, that one from the Hills), whose campy charm fits Pride’s playful vibe. Rapper FineA$$ Lanecia adds Bay Area edge, while DJs like Tinzo + Jojo, Noodles (who is Kehlani’s tour DJ) and Adam Kraft from SF’s Fake and Gay party keep the beats flowing. Expect a silent disco by Electroluxx, a performance from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus as well as a drag show by Reparations, the city’s all-Black drag collective led by Nicki Jizz.
SoSF lands on June 28, traditionally known as Pink Saturday, which is the night before San Francisco’s massive Pride Parade takes place on Market Street. The festival will take place at Pier 80, a working pier turned festival hub in the Dogpatch’s Central Waterfront. It’s the same location that’s hosted Portola’s EDM raves since 2022. Last year’s Above & Beyond event drew 15,000 to the same spot, and SoSF aims to match that buzz. While no event is a slam dunk (you never know whether a new event will draw huge crowds), we would suggest grabbing tickets early because it is very possible that it will sell out.
The festival runs from 2PM to late night. Organizers Non Plus Ultra, XOXO, The Midway plus Kehlani herself promise “immersive experiences,” from neon-lit dance zones to pop-up drag shows. A portion of proceeds benefits the LYRIC Center for LGBTQ+ Youth, supporting queer kids in the Bay Area. Presale tickets went on sale April 9, so you can grab some tix anytime.
“SF partystarters will gather to dance, love, and be free,” the festival’s website declares, echoing the Haight-Ashbury’s 1967 Summer of Love while looking forward to a more inclusive future.
SoSF arrives when San Francisco Pride needs a boost. Some Corporate sponsors have pulled back from Civic Center’s events, but Pier 80’s massive setup offers a bold alternative. It’s a chance to celebrate queer artistry on a grand scale, with Kehlani, Tinashe + Petras leading a lineup that screams fun. For locals, it’s a fresh way to party during Pride. For visitors, it’s a reason to hit the Bay Area during one of its most electric weekends.
Event Details:
The 1st Annual SoSF Festival
Date & Time:
June 28, 2025 | 2PM
Ages:
18+
Where:
Pier 80
401 Cesar Chavez St
San Francisco, CA 94124
Lineup:
Kehlani, Tinashe, Kim Petras, Noodles, Heidi Montag, Fineasslanecia, Tinzo + Jojo, Adam Kraft
Special Features:
Heavy Petting Zoo Art Car, Electroluxx Silent Disco, Reparations Drag Show, SF Gay Men’s Choir and more
Tickets:
Available at sosf.co
General Admission: $110+
VIP: $211+
Group Rates: $100+
