Not Just Another Festival: Queer Joy at Outside Lands 2025

Paige K. Parsons

Outside Lands is back for its seventeenth year, and this one is looking extra glittery. Sure, Doja Cat, Hozier, and Tyler, the Creator are holding down the main stages, but if you’re paying attention, the real heartbeat of the festival is pulsing from three spots: Duboce Triangle, Dolores, and City Hall.

First up, Duboce Triangle. This brand-new stage is named after the tiny San Francisco neighborhood tucked beneath the Castro, and it lives up to the intimacy its name suggests. Located in McLaren Pass and shaded by eucalyptus trees, it’s got lounge energy with a side of come-as-you-are. You’ll find genre-hopping sets from Mayer Hawthorne, INJI, and Kate Bollinger, plus daily surprises hosted by local favorites Rainbow Girls. For the first time ever, fans can submit to perform in an open mic contest. Yes, that means you or your roommate’s acoustic emo act could play Outside Lands. Stranger things have happened in this city.

Meanwhile, the Dolores Stage continues to be the queer epicenter of the weekend. What started as a niche dance floor has become a must-visit institution. Curated by nightlife powerhouses FAKE and GAY, OASIS Arts, and Polyglamorous, it’s stacked with drag, DJs, and performances that range from high camp to high concept. Expect sets from Rebecca Black, Chase Icon, Father Figure, and the ever-unpredictable OASIS crew. You’ll dance, scream, sweat, maybe cry a little, then do it all again ten minutes later. It’s that kind of space.

Then there’s City Hall, nestled outdoors under the trees, where festival-goers can get legally married or renew vows on-site. The setup is intimate but stylish, with options for private receptions, Wine Lands toasts, and even cabana upgrades. Whether it’s a spontaneous ceremony or something you’ve been planning since the lineup dropped, this is a rare chance to tie the knot inside a music festival. Best of all, part of the proceeds go to Lambda Legal, making it not just sweet but significant.

While others chase the headliners, this is where the real culture is happening. Outside Lands is building entire stages, platforms, and rituals in honor of queer folks this year. From the thump of techno at SOMA to the vows exchanged under eucalyptus leaves, 2025 is serving up something that feels personal. Something that feels like us.