The Folsom Europe street fair happens on the Saturday of the September weekend in Schöneberg — and it is unlike anything else in Europe. Several city blocks around Fuggerstraße and Motzstraße are closed to traffic and transformed into a public leather, rubber, and fetish festival. Tens of thousands of people fill the streets: some in full gear, some in almost nothing, some just watching. The atmosphere is celebratory, sexual, and deeply communal — a rare combination.
The fair is free to attend and runs through the afternoon and evening. There's no admission, no wristband, no VIP section — just the street. Stage performances, vendors selling gear and merchandise, food stalls, and an ocean of extraordinary people. Dress code is leather, rubber, fetish, or variants thereof — the street is not the place for jeans and a t-shirt, but there's no enforcement, only culture.
Folsom Europe is really a long weekend, not just a Saturday. Official and affiliated club nights run from Thursday evening through to Sunday (and Monday morning in some cases). Berlin's leather bars — Hafen, Prinzknecht, Eagle Berlin, and others — run themed nights and takeovers throughout the weekend. Major club events include the Folsom Eve party on Friday and multiple closing events on Sunday night.
The weekend is also when Berlin's broader leather and kink community hosts private parties, fetish brunches, and community events that aren't officially affiliated with Folsom but happen in its orbit. If you're connected to the scene, your network will surface these. If you're new, check the Folsom Europe website and associated Telegram or Facebook groups for the full programme.
Book accommodation in Schöneberg or the surrounding area well in advance — ideally 3–6 months ahead. The neighbourhood fills up fast and prices spike significantly around Folsom weekend. Being able to walk back to your room at 6am after a night out is worth the premium. Packing gear in checked luggage is the easiest approach for international visitors — most airlines have no issue with leather clothing as long as it's packed appropriately.
September in Berlin is pleasantly cool (14–20°C during the day, cooler at night). This makes the outdoor street fair genuinely comfortable — far better than trying to wear leather in August heat. Bring a layer for the evenings. The streets will be busy with traffic diversions on Saturday, so plan your movements around the fair footprint.
Schöneberg is one of Berlin's most pleasant neighbourhoods to be based in during Folsom — walkable, central, and entirely within the scene. Hotels along Motzstraße and Eisenacher Straße put you a short walk from the main action. The neighbourhood also has excellent cafés, restaurants, and a Sunday morning market at Winterfeldtplatz that makes for a very civilised way to begin your recovery day.
The 2025 edition takes place across a weekend in Schöneberg, with the main street fair on the Saturday. Surrounding club nights and pre-parties run Thursday through Sunday across venues citywide.
