Amid bridal drag queens, a sassy Cat in the Hat and grown men in little gold lamè suits were wholesome little girls and boys who would usually be left out of ostentatious events like the Castro Street Fair.

But on Oct. 4 they were able to join in on the playful event as the child friendly experience, Family Garden, kicked off in the Castro for the first time.

Nestled in the corner of 18th and Noe Streets, the Family Garden invited families to participate in a safe and fun space for their children to play at the Fair. The hopes are that events like these will provide a good image of what LGBT families are about, according to Joseph Peralta, the community programs coordinator of the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center.

"In light of the marriage equality movement, we want to have a focus and visibility around LGBT children and families, especially in the Castro neighborhood," Peralta said of the Family Garden.

"We want to make the street fair and neighborhood family-inclusive, and that it's not only just a party scene -- that's not the only thing people come here for," he said.

A collaboration between Our Family Coalition, Children Of Lesbians And Gays Everywhere and the SFLGBT Community Center, Family Garden was created to highlight family involvement in the community, according to Monica Canfield-Lenfest, program coordinator for COLAGE.

"There are a lot of LGBT families in the Bay Area and they want to come out and be a part of the festivities," said Canfield-Lenfest. "But with kids it's a bit difficult, so we want to provide a family space -- because our families are fabulous."

Situated in the colorful and playful World of Wonderment, the whimsical interactive entertainment area of the fair, Family Garden was invited in an effort to include everyone in the Castro Street Fair.

"I stress the importance of play in our culture and try to integrate large portions of our community to come play," said Maximus Barnaby, director of the World of Wonderment. "We're welcoming every group to the table."

Patrick Lan, 37, who attended with his partner and son, came specifically for the Family Garden.

"Without the garden, I don't think I would've come out," Lan said. "I think when there's a street festival, there's a lot of liquor and foot traffic so it's not very comfortable to go through a crowd with a stroller."

At the Garden, children had a plethora of activities to partake in, such as face painting, button making, an area to create wearable wings and a headband-making station, along with kid-friendly food and refreshments.

Julie Sontag, with her partner Sandy Hawke, stood off to the side to watch her daughter, Jory, get her face painted in bright, hot pink. Appreciative of the family space, Sontag thinks it's important for her kids to see other families just like theirs.

"My kids live in the suburbs, so it's nice for them to see that they belong," Sontag said. "It's easier for them to normalize their own family -- it's good for them to know that families come in all shapes and sizes."

"That's all anyone needs to know," chimed in Hawke. "That love comes in all forms."