It's festival season- woo hoo!
It's my favorite time of the year again- festival season! Every year starting at the end of May you can begin to find a festival happening almost every weekend somewhere around the Bay Area. Below is a comprehensive list of some the season's best festivals, some that have already happened, and some that are on the way! You can click the link on each of their names to be connected to their page. My personal favorite top ten...
1. Malcolm X Jazz Festival- I have said it many times before but this is my favorite event of the year! I literally mark it on my calendar and look forward to it for months. This event takes place the Saturday closest to his birthday (May 19th) every year. It is always held in San Antonio Park in Oakland and put on by Eastside Art Alliance. The whole day is good music, good food, and good vibes. Everyone comes to have a positive time and you can feel the spirit of all of those attending. Plus all my favorite local vendors come together to sell their wares in one place. Children are welcomed and nurtured through positive interactions. I have been going to this event since I was in high school and am so happy now to be taking my children with me.
2. San Leandro Cherry Festival- The first Saturday of June in downtown San Leandro. This is a fun local event that San Leandro puts on every year. Many blocks are shut down in the downtown area and host everything from live music to kids rides. Last year the music even featured Jon B! There are vendors, San Leandro community programs, art, and food lining the streets. Best of all there is a kids corner with rides, games, and bounce houses.
3. Eastlake Music Festival: This festival happens Memorial Day weekend and is a free concert on the lovely Lake Merritt. This was the first year that I have attended and I was really glad that I did. The festival was alive with family fun and community. My girls enjoyed dancing to the music, jumping in a bounce house, and chasing bubbles with other kids on the lawn. There was vendors, food, and lots of music! We all had a good time in the sunshine.
4. Temescal Street Fair: Coming up this Sunday June 11th. Many blocks of Telegraph are shut down and filled with vendors, food, music, dancing, kids rides, art, jewelry, and more. I love how much children activities are provided. There are many rides, slides, and bounce houses to occupy little bodies. Last year we walked up on a magic show as well as a children's acrobatics show which all of the kids enjoyed. Not only are there food vendors on the street but all of the many restaurants on Telegraph are open for business- so there are plenty of food options to choose from!
5. Carnaval: Carnaval is an exciting time of the year in the Mission district of San Francisco! Held on the last weekend of May, Carnaval is an event not to be missed. The Carnaval parade is a colorful melee of dancers, drummers, musicians, and floats. Sure to excite any child. The parade stretches for many blocks so if it is too crowded where you see it, try walking a few blocks over and see if you can get a clearer view. After the fun of the parade head down a few blocks to find vendors galore! Blocks and blocks and blocks of people selling their food, goods, food, crafts, food, clothes, food- did I mention food. There are literally blocks on end of vendors- we walked til we couldn't walk anymore.
6. Berkeley Kite Festival: The Berkeley Kite Festival is a one of a kind uniquely Berkeley affair. Lasting two days the last weekend of July every year this event has gotten really popular over the years since I was young. As the name suggests your children will be thrilled by all the kites everywhere- big kites, little kites, colorful kites, animal kites, twirling, whirling, crazy kites, kites with tails, and kites with sails. So many kites and plenty of chances for you and your child to fly one as well, whether you bring your own from home, get to hold a professionals, or try your hand at the small free kites. There is lots more to do there as well for children including a petting zoo, pony rides, ball rolling, bungee jumps, face painting, and inflatable everything. There are inflatable slides, bounce houses, and obstacle courses galore! But this is where it starts to get expensive. But it is free and to get the most out of that bring a big blanket and park your patootie on the grass for some hours of oogling at the kites flying high and doing tricks.
7. Art & Soul Festival: This is happening the weekend of August 19th-20th this year. The Art and Soul festival is as synonymous with Oakland as the Kite Festival is to Berkeley. It is an annual event you can count on to keep coming back year after year. I went to my first Art and Soul event when I was in high school. Back then it was a free event with one stage wrapped around a few corners of downtown Oakland. Today it is a much bigger event! There are now four stages with live music, a giant kids zone complete with rides and bounce houses, a BBQ competition, too many food vendors to choose from, adult beverages, and literally blocks and blocks of craft vendors. Oh did I mention you now have to pay just to get in the gates? A lot has changed over the years but the heART and soul of it have not. The event still brings out Oakland's most talented artists both on the stage and in the stands. You can find any type of novelty you are looking for. The Kids Zone has so much stuff going on, your kids will be entertained all day, or two days. The event is for the whole weekend so if you miss out on things on Saturday you can go back for another round on Sunday. It can get a little expensive with tickets, food, kid rides, and a vendor that catches your eye- so just know that going in to the situation. No matter how much money you end up spending, it is an afternoon worth spending with your friends and family.
