PHOTOS: Art & Soul Festival and more
Oakland Events
Events listed below are held in Oakland, unless indicated otherwise.
JANUARY
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations
Oakland honors the great civil rights leader; rally, march, and candle light vigil; http://norcalmlkfoundation.org
FEBRUARY
Black History Month
Various events celebrating Black history and culture held throughout San Francisco; http://www.sfnoir.org
San Francisco Independent Film Festival
San Francisco; http://www.sfindie.com
Chinese New Year Festival
Annual San Francisco event attracting thousands of spectators; huge parade down Market Street is the event highlight and other events in Chinatown; http://www.chineseparade.com
MARCH
San Francisco Jazz Spring Season
Series of concerts, films and family matinees featuring jazz legends and the rising stars they have influenced; performers include Branford Marsalis Quartet, Shirley Horn, and Ahmad Jamal; various San Francisco locations; http://www.sfjazz.org
APRIL
San Francisco International Film Festival
More than 100 films and videos from 30 countries will be showcased during this annual festival; Spike Lee makes frequent appearances; San Francisco; http://www.sffs.org
Oakland International Film Festival
Annual festival featuring a collections of films that support Oakland Talent; various Oakland locations; http://www.oaklandinternationalfilmfestival.com
MAY
Cinco de Mayo Festival and Parade
Featuring Gala Parade and live entertainment on two stages; International Boulevard (between 47th and 33rd avenues); Oakland; http://www.oaklandcvb.com
Carnaval
San Francisco’s version of Mardi Gras; featuring exotic carnival dancers with a mixture of Latino, jazz, samba, Caribbean, and more; Harrison Street between 16th and 22nd Streets, San Francisco; http://www.carnavalsf.com
JUNE
Juneteenth
Celebration of the African American culture; Atlanta, GA http://www.juneteenth.com
San Francisco Black Film Festival
Celebration of African American cinema and the African Cultural Diaspora; films include features, shorts, narratives, and documentaries; San Francisco; http://www.sfbff.org
Ethnic Dance Festival
Three weekends of performances showcasing the best of world dance and music representing cultures from around the world; Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco; http://www.worldartswest.org
Monterey Bay Blues Festival
One of the largest blues festivals on the West Coast; past performers include Little Richard, Neville Brothers, James Brown, Keb Mo; Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey; http://www.montereyblues.com
Stern Grove Music Festival
Free series of concerts featuring R&B, jazz and world music; Stern Grove, San Francisco; http://www.sterngrove.org
JULY
Fillmore Street Festival
Featuring three stages of jazz performances, over 300 artists booths, and international food courts; Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy Streets; San Francisco; http://www.fillmorejazzfestival.com
North Beach Jazz Festival
Annual festival featuring local and national artists with an emphasis on Latin Jazz and New Orleans Jazz; North Beach, San Francisco; http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com
AUGUST
Afro Solo Festival
Celebrate the African American experience through solo performances ranging theater, dance, music, poetry and spoken word; San Francisco; http://www.afrosolo.org
SEPTEMBER
Art & Soul Festival
Annual festival featuring art, dance, music, food and more; past performers include Angie Stone, Wayman Tisdale, Rickie Lee Jones; Downtown Oakland; http://www.artandsouloakland.com
Monterey Jazz Festival
World’s longest running jazz festival; Featuring over 500 artists on 7 stages; past performers include Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Regina Carter, Branford Marsalis; Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey; http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org
San Francisco Blues Festival
One of the oldest blues festivals in America, Fort Mason, San Francisco; http://www.sfblues.com
OCTOBER
Black Cowboy Parade
Celebrate the cowboys who helped settle the West with a parade of cowboys and cowgirls in traditional attire; West Oakland and Downtown Oakland; http://blackcowboyassociation.org
San Francisco Jazz Festival
One of San Francisco’s largest musical festivals featuring local, national and international jazz artists performing in various locations; San Francisco; http://www.sfjazz.org
NOVEMBER
Holiday Harmony Celebration and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Pier 39, San Francisco; http://www.pier39.com
Jack London Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
Featuring 70-foot holiday tree, entertainment, arts and crafts; Jack London Square, Oakland; http://www.jacklondonsquare.com/events
DECEMBER
Oakland Holiday Parade
Annual parade featuring giant helium balloons, popular cartoon/storybook characters, marching bands, creative floats, and performance groups; Broadway(between 11th Street and 20th Street), Oakland; http://americas-holiday-parade.com
Black Nativity
Annual production of Langston Hughes musical; Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, San Francisco; http://www.lorrainehansberrytheatre.com
Cinderella
Annual holiday production; African American Shakespeare Company, San Francisco; http://www.african-americanshakes.org
Kwanzaa Celebration
Begins 12/26; annual 7-day celebration of African American culture at various venues around the San Francisco Bay; http://www.soulofamerica.com/events/kwanzaa-celebrations
