Up Your Alley and Folsom Street Fair Bootblack Signups 2025
Bootblacks Wanted!
Hey everyone!
Summer is almost here, and that means it’s time to start planning for Up Your Alley aka Dore Alley and the Folsom Street Fair! We are posting here to plan early and give our traveling bootblacks some extra time for scheduling
🖤 Dore: Sunday, July 27th, 2025
🖤 Folsom: Sunday, September 28th, 2025
If you’d like to bootblack at either of these events, read on and follow the instructions at the bottom of this email.
This year, we’re excited to partner with Folsom Street Events to combine our bootblack ticket donations with theirs, supporting the causes Folsom is championing in 2025. As always, you keep 100% of your personal tips. While digital tipping will be available, we’ll encourage cash tipping at the table. We’ll have $10 tickets for folks to get in line for a bootblack, and all proceeds from ticket sales will go toward Folsom’s 2025 fundraising efforts.
We’re working with Folsom Street to maintain a spacious and comfortable bootblack area. We’re aiming to run 7–8 stands, depending on turnout and interest.
Jesbian will once again be your concierge, making sure you’re hydrated and that there’s a steady stream of boots under your hands—and this year, we’re also looking for volunteers to assist with concierge services! If you’re interested in helping in tandem with a bootblack shift, let us know when you sign up. This is also a great opportunity for folks who are new and not quite ready for stand time—it’s a great way to get a feel for the pace and flow of the day. Shifts are: 11:00am–1:30pm, 1:00pm–3:30pm, or 3:00pm–6:00pm.
You’ll have access to volunteer-only rest areas and bathrooms. We take care of the line, the schedule, and the tickets—you just show up with your kit and get to work!
Shift schedule:
Setup: 8:00am–11:00am
1st Shift: 11:00am–1:30pm
2nd Shift: 1:00pm–3:30pm
3rd Shift: 3:00pm–6:00pm
Tear Down: 6:00pm–7:30pm
Each shift has a 30-minute overlap for smooth transitions. Please be on time and ready to go at the start of your shift!
We always welcome extra hands for setup and teardown—many hands make light work!
📦 We also need help with Load In and Load Out at our Oakland storage space:
Load IN – Oakland: Saturday before the fair, 4:00pm
Load OUT – Oakland: Sunday after the fair, 7:30pm
If you’re available for either, please let us know when you email—we’d be so grateful!
The Playground: We’re bringing back the self-run stands at the Playground for Folsom Weekend! These two stands are perfect for folks who enjoy a more independent setup while still being part of the community effort.
Shift 1: 11:00am–2:30pm
Shift 2: 2:30pm–6:00pm
These stands are self-managed, and guests will still be asked to donate before they sit. You’ll have a QR code to facilitate donations and signage to support the process. It’s a great way to bootblack while keeping the casual and spontaneous energy of the Playground alive.
📧 To sign up, email folsombootblacks [at] gmail [dot] com with:
Which fair(s) you’d like to participate in
Your preferred shift(s)
If you’d like to help with concierge support and/or Oakland Load In/Out
If you haven’t bootblacked with us before at Dore or Folsom, please include one community reference who can speak to your skills
Confirm you have read the separate “Welcome and Best Practices” Page.
Spots are filled on a first come, first served basis—so don’t wait too long!
We can’t wait to shine boots and build community with you again this year.
With love, polish, and purpose,
Your Community Bootblacks