As Outside Lands unveils its official 2025 lineup, one of the most anticipated highlights — Dolores’ — is back with a bold celebration of queer and trans nightlife culture. Located in Golden Gate Park’s famed Polo Field, this vibrant, open-air dance space is a festival within the festival: a joyful homage to Bay Area queer history and underground dance-party energy, curated by three local collectives across three transformative nights.
What is Dolores’?
Named in affectionate tribute to the city’s queer-rich past, Dolores’ is Outside Lands’ dedicated queer and trans dance space. After establishing itself as a luminous highlight at last year’s festival, Dolores’ returns for its second year. It brings together DIY drag, dance music, and community, spotlighting the energy and resilience of underground queer venues that long championed safe spaces for celebration and creative expression.
Outside Lands says that all are welcome, but its programming is deeply rooted in Bay Area LGBTQ+ joy, activism, and identity. Hosted across three evenings (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), Dolores’ is curated by three powerhouse local groups — FAKE and GAY, Oasis Arts, and Polyglamorous — each offering a unique take on queer nightlife and culture.
Why You Should Attend: Three Nights, Three Vibes
Friday, June 21: FAKE and GAY
The experience begins with FAKE and GAY, the party collective known for groundbreaking, pop-forward club bookings across the Bay. Expect a lineup packed with drag-led performances, electro-pop hits, and a rave-influenced stage presence that pulls from international drag, underground DJs, and local queer talent.
Friday’s lineup includes:
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DJ Fcukers delivering throbbing club beats
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Chase Icon, the electrifying pop queen, performing live
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Drag sets from Memphy, Dangerous Rose, Beverly Chills, Mama San, and more
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Hosted by Nicole Paige Brooks, famed for her work on RuPaul’s Drag Race
If you’ve ever craved the atmosphere of a neon-lit toast to queer pop culture, Friday delivers that and more.
Saturday, June 22: Oasis Arts
On Saturday, Oasis Arts takes control. This nonprofit collective has shaped queer arts in SF for over a decade — a force behind creative development, mentorship, and cross-disciplinary queer expression. At Dolores’, they present performance art, drag, music, and DJ sets by LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists.
Saturday’s highlights include:
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PRINCESS, solo artist with Tito Soto & Snaxx
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REPARATIONS (Nicki Jizz), with Miss Toto
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BALONEY & FRIENDS, featuring D’Arcy Drollinger and others
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Music support from DJ Bella Spreads and DJ Subeaux
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Additional sets and art performances yet to be announced
Oasis brings conceptual flair and a focus on creative continuity, drawing from roots of community building while projecting bold, contemporary expression.
Sunday, June 23: Polyglamorous
Closing out the weekend, Polyglamorous — the drag-party-slash-underground-event collective led by Benjamin Bellayuto and Mark O’Brien — delivers a night of pumping beats, drag glitz, and joyful mayhem.
Sunday’s star-studded lineup includes:
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A DJ set by pop icon Rebecca Black
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Performances from Father Figure, David Harness, Jen DM, Chelsea Starr, Mouthfeel, and more
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A back-to-back headlining set from BEYA and Mark O’Brien
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Drag performances by Vivvy and a host of undisclosed artists
Think sparkle, sequins, raw energy, IRL queer celebration — all in a space designed to dance until dawn.
Why It Matters
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Rooted in Queer Culture — Dolores’ is more than a dance tent: it’s a living tribute to the DIY queer nightlife that flourished in Slack-area clubs, basement venues, and house parties across San Francisco. It brings that spirit back into Golden Gate Park at one of America’s biggest festivals.
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Spotlight on Local Creatives — Each night features curators who’ve been critical to the Bay Area’s queer arts ecosystem. From Oasis Arts’ advocacy and mentorship to Polyglamorous’ legendary drag ragers and FAKE and GAY’s border-pushing roster, the programming honors, uplifts, and empowers the region’s LGBTQ+ talent.
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Inclusive, Political, Joyful — In turbulent times when queer rights remain under threat, Dolores’ offers a political statement through revelry. It’s a space that affirms identity, creativity, and community — and reaffirms that visibility is resistance.
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Accessibility Meets Artistry — Offered within the general access of Outside Lands (GA, GA+, VIP, Golden Gate Club passes), Dolores’ ensures fans can enjoy cutting-edge queer art, performance, and dance without breaking the bank — or needing to seek out after-parties outside festival grounds.
Extend the Pride with a Pre-Party Worth Queer Shout-Outs
Outside Lands doesn’t just keep Dolores’ contained to weekend nights. On Saturday, June 28, they host BAY AREA PRIDE AMPLIFIED, a pre-party at The Independent bar in SF. This event features:
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DJ sets from local queer party stylists like Pillowprince, Medscool, DJ n0be, and more
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Live sets from Emily Afton and Cardboard People
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Drag performances by Aurris X Lilith, artists from The Gregangelo Museum, and other go-go dancers
It’s a perfect warm-up for Dolores’, serving to kick off Pride weekend proper and give those of us craving live local queer art a head start on the celebration.
Tickets and Logistics
Interested? Here’s the breakdown:
Dolores’ access is included in Outside Lands passes:
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General Admission
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GA+ (which includes priority viewing options)
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Golden Gate Club (VIP-level festival experience)
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Gold Payment Plan tiers
Tickets are available exclusively at www.sfoutsidelands.com. Early-bird pricing and payment plans are available but moving fast. Pre-party tickets for Pride Amplified at The Independent are also available on the same site.
More Outside Lands Highlights
If Dolores’ isn’t enough queer sparkle for you, the rest of Outside Lands 2025 is just as dazzling:
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SOMA Tent — Returning with redesigned staging and outdoor vibes, featuring Black Coffee, Claude VonStroke, Floating Points, Nico Moreno, and more
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Golden Gate Club — A luxe VIP lounge with elevated culinary experiences hosted by local chefs Melissa King, Tyler Florence, and Dana Younkin & Nancy Oakes
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City Hall Weddings — Intimate outdoor ceremonies for couples seeking to tie the knot in a festival setting
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Taste of the Bay Area, Wine Lands, Beer Lands, and Cocktail Magic — curated food and drink trails celebrating regional flavors
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Grass Lands — the festival’s first licensed cannabis area, tailored for safe and legal consumption
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Fan-favorite stages — featuring art, education, late-night DJs, and more
A Summer Must-Do
Between Dolores’ electric nights and all the festival’s other offerings, Outside Lands 2025 becomes an essential stop on the summer calendar — especially for LGBTQ+ audiences seeking a joyful, liberatory experience.
Whether you’re dressing up in sequins, seeking communal transcendence on the dancefloor, or just curious to see what makes Bay Area queer nightlife tick, Dolores’ is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.
