The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and San Francisco Krampus will hold their annual Krampus pageant Saturday, December 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. at El Rio, 3158 Mission Street.
The pageant honors the scarier side of the holiday season, a news release stated. The Sisters, a philanthropic drag nun organization, stated that this year’s event will benefit Larkin Street Youth Services, a nonprofit that works to end youth homelessness and serves LGBTQ youth.
Krampus is a horned half-goat, half-demon figure from Central and Eastern Alpine folklore who accompanies Saint Nicholas to punish children who have misbehaved. The name Krampus comes from the German word Krampen, which means claw.
The pageant will feature spooky drag performances, DJs, amazing costumes, and live music. People are welcome to enter the Krampus contest, where the winner will take home a special effects makeup gift package. “Other top contestants will receive unique prizes to help them through the holiday season … if you catch our drift,” the release stated.
Contestants will be judged in three categories: costume, all interpretations of Krampus or other evil beings are welcome; talent act, a short piece such as lip synching, dancing, a speech, or something else; and a question-and-answer session where they will respond to simple questions “from our panel of stern judges,” as the release put it.
Those interested in entering the contest can sign up at krampus-pageant-info.
The event is for those aged 21 and older. A suggested donation of $10 to $20 is requested at the door (cash, Venmo, and PayPal accepted). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
The release noted that last year’s event raised over $6,000.
For more information, see the above website or the Facebook page, “SF Krampus Pageant 2024.”
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Tenderloin Tessie will have its annual Thanksgiving dinner for those in need Thursday, November 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin Street (at Geary Boulevard) in San Francisco. A news release stated that all are welcome.
In addition to the meal, there will be entertainment, free haircuts by a pop-up barbershop, a free gift bag, and free clothing from Tenderloin Tessie’s partner, the St. Anthony Foundation, according to the release.
As in past years, Michael Gagne, president of the Tenderloin Tessie board, stated that volunteers are needed for the event. Shifts are available on Thanksgiving from 9 a.m. to noon, noon to 4 p.m., and 3 to 6. People must show proof of COVID vaccination and ID to help out, the release stated.
Helpers are also needed Wednesday, November 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, November 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both stints are for truck workers to get items from storage and then return them after the dinner, Gagne noted.
To volunteer contact Gagne at (415) 584-3252 (landline, no test), or email tenderlointessie@gmail.com
Spread holiday cheer to seniors via letters
People looking for a way to give back this holiday season can check out Sonoma County Library’s Send Our Seniors Mail program. The letter-writing campaign encourages kindness and support for senior citizens in the community during the holiday season and beyond, a news release stated.
Community members are invited to create cards, postcards, drawings, or letters and mail them to any of the participating local senior centers, where the facilities’ staff then distribute the mail to seniors deemed most in need of human connection provided by the cards and letters, the release noted.
Sonoma County Library Director Erika Thibault called letter writing “a time-honored way of communicating” with people, especially during the holidays. “This program provides a wonderful way for community members to connect with local seniors in a positive, upbeat and personal way,” Thibault stated.
Local senior facilities report that seniors welcome the unexpected mail. “The letters and cards bring a smile to our seniors and brighten their day,” stated Anna Miller, resident manager at Sonoma’s FAHA Manor. “They all love getting mail.”
Mary Lockhart, resident services coordinator of senior properties at Burbank Housing, noted, “Isolated seniors are often without family connections and this small act of kindness lets them know somebody cares. Residents also share their cards with each other and the little heartfelt messages — especially those written by children — bring them great joy and laughter.”
For letter and card guidelines and the list of participating senior facilities, visit sonomalibrary.org/sendmail. If people know of a potential Send Our Seniors Mail facility, they can email the library at sendourseniorsmail@sonomalibrary.org
Sonoma County Library has more than 780,000 physical items at its 14 libraries, three special collections, and a mobile library van. During its most recent fiscal year (2023-2024), more than 1.4 million people visited a library, and total book and online circulation reached 4.4 million, according to the release.
Leather district updates on sidewalk plaques
The Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District has provided an update on its sidewalk plaque initiative. The sidewalk markers, which help commemorate leather history in the city’s South of Market neighborhood, were approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2021.
This year’s LeatherWalk, held September 22, served as a fundraiser for the plaques, with donations continuing to be accepted through early October. This month, the leather district noted that the effort “marches on.”
“So far, our Leather Legacy Landmarks sidewalk plaque initiative has raised over $13,000. A great response from our community,” the district’s newsletter stated. “Now, our goal is to raise an additional $9,000 to install all of the sidewalk plaques we have planned for 2024-25.”
The first 17 plaques are expected to be installed in conjunction with San Francisco Public Works’ upgrade to Folsom Street, which is underway, according to the cultural district. A total of 77 plaques are planned.
Cal Callahan, a gay man who’s manager of the cultural district, stated in a Facebook message that the first six plaques are expected to be installed in the spring as part of the Folsom streetscape project.
People can still donate to the sidewalk marker initiative. To do so, go to sflcd.org/plaques.
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