Many people will take advantage of their day off to celebrate Juneteenth, a national holiday since 2021 that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. For the roundup, we are highlighting a “cookout” at OMC, where you’ll get the chance to get food from chef Michele McQueen of Town Fare while enjoying the gardens at the museum. Over in downtown, Kinfolx, the coffee shop and community hub on Telegraph Avenue, will have four days of activities to celebrate, including a networking mixer with other Black entrepreneurs.
And here’s a bonus event for you all: Lakefest is taking over Bellevue Avenue this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with live music, a silent disco, a beer garden, and much more. Get your tickets now.
If there’s something you’d like me to consider for this weekly list, email me at azucena@oaklandside.org. And if you want to promote something on our calendar, you can use the self-submission form on our events page.
Hella Juneteenth “The Cookout” at the OMCA gardens
Chef Michele McQueen of Town Fare and chef Byron Hughes of Last Supper Society, Sobre Mesa, and Smokin’ Woods are two of the local Black chefs participating in the “cookout.” While tickets for the chefs’ plated food are sold out, attendees can still grab food from Town Fare or bring their own. The event includes live music by DJs Fat Tony, Kenzo, and Darling Cool, line dancing, wine tasting, and more. Ticket prices include entrance to all the galleries.
Wednesday, June 19, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., $10-$75, OMCA gardens, 1000 Oak St.
Juneteenth week at Kinfolx
Kinfolx, the coffee shop and community space in downtown Oakland, will hold events from Tuesday to Friday to celebrate Juneteenth. The first event will be a networking mixer hosted by Toasted Life. The lifestyle brand curates social networking events nationwide for young professionals of color.
Tuesday, June 18, to Friday, June 21, check Instagram for a list of events
Oakland Black Pride week
Founded in 2020 by Oaklander and cultural strategist Olaywa K Austin, Oakland Black Pride is a local nonprofit that supports Black LGBTQ+ members in underserved areas of Oakland and the Bay Area. From Thursday, June 20, through Sunday, June 23, the organization will host a series of events kicking off with a financial guide webinar, a queer pub crawl, and more.
Thursday, June 20, to Sunday, June 23, check website for a list of events
‘El Espiritu de Fruitvale: The Legacy of Oakland’s Chicano Movement through the Revolutionary Art of Malaquias Montoya’
OMCA isn’t the only place where you can find the artwork of Malaquías Montoya, a public-serving artist, activist, and community leader who has taught at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and California College of the Arts in Oakland and led countless community workshops in East Oakland. His artwork became a visual tool for the Fruitvale community, which, in the 1960s and 1970s, became a hub for political organizing. Eastside Arts Alliance will have the exhibit El Espiritu de Fruitvale through August 31. The East Oakland organization will host events around the exhibit for the next three months.
Saturday, June 22, to Saturday, Aug. 31, opening reception on Saturday, June 22, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 2285 International Blvd.
The Center for ArtEsteem Open House
The Center for ArtEsteem, founded in 1989, works with West Oakland schools to create murals. The center is behind the Oakland Super Heroes Mural Project. This Saturday, the organization is celebrating the grand opening of its new building.
Saturday, June 22, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., free to attend, RSVP online, 3111 West St.
Hot tickets in the Town this week: Shreya Ghoshal
One of Bollywood’s megastars will perform at the Oakland arena as part of her All Hearts Tour.
Saturday, June 22, 8 p.m., $40-$300+, 7000 S Coliseum Wy
Coming Soon to the Town: Juvenile at the Fox Theater
New Orleans rapper Juvenile is best known for bringing Southern rap to the national stage. He is also known for his work with the rapper Birdman’s label, Cash Money Records, during the 90s and 2000s. At the height of his career, he released the multi-platinum album 400 Degreez, which includes the now-classic tracks Ha and Back That Azz Up (featuring Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne.) Last year, those who grew up with his music flocked to the Fox Theater to watch the rapper perform with a live band playing off the hype of his NPR Tiny Desk concert. The rapper is coming back to Oakland, this time on Halloween, for another round to celebrate this now classic album. Thursday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m., $69.50 to $269.50, 1807 Telegraph Ave.
