The maiden voyage of FOB was GAYborday weekend of 1991. The name ‘Festival of the Babes’ was brainstormed by the San Francisco players (AKA the FOB Squad) planning to host the inaugural event. The motivation was to reunite with the ‘babes’ they’d met at the 1990 Gay Games in Vancouver. It was called a "festival" to mean more than just a soccer tournament, and "babes" for the hot lesbians they were planning to invite.

FOB 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the tournament (1991 – 2019 and oops we skipped a few years). We are excited to be RE-Boot(y)ing the FOB annual tradition of costume-clad soccer mayhem.

Each year, veterans and new teams alike join in the fun, (re)learning what it is to be FOB-ly, making friends (and making out) — occasionally all at the same time.

The festival registers up to 24 teams (12 players per team) that bring approximately 300 players, and draws host-city community and fans galore. Games are small-sided (7 v 7) with full-sized goals (for extra scoring) and referees who oversee every game. Parties are held nightly to bring us all just a little bit closer. Trust us, it’s worth a visit.

Although primarily lesbian players make up the teams, the tournament is open not only to lesbians, but to anyone who does not mind being mistaken for one.