Weekend Planner: May 3rd
You’ve worked hard all week, and now Friday’s here again! It’s time to start planning your weekend! Welcome to Weekend Planner, your weekend update on fun.
Every Friday we put together a list of the weekend events we think look most interesting and provide them here. Keep in mind there is always a lot more going on, and all it takes is a little digging to find something that will be the perfect activity for you.
Click on any of the event titles for a link to the event.
Friday, May 3rd
Telegraph Ave., Oakland
5 PM, All Ages
Free
Oakland First Fridays is an immersive art and community experience on the first Friday of each month from 5-9p. for five huge blocks on Telegraph Avenue from West Grand to 27th Street.
Oakland’s KONO district (Koreatown/Northgate) springs to life with for this event, with galleries, artist collectives, street artists, local culinary artisans, performers, musicians, dancers, DJs, and poets gathering for Oakland First Friday events.
Closest BART – 19th Street
Rain sometimes cancels – They typically make an announcement by Wednesday – Check Facebook for updates
Thousands of people come from across the Bay Area and beyond to see and experience art, be inspired, eat great food, enjoy live music, and stroll through the amazing, eclectic city of Oakland. An economic impact report shows that the Oakland First Fridays has a major, positive economic impact on the KONO community.
What else is going on? How About Art Murmur! Taking place at the same time is the Oakland Art Murmur, a collection of galleries and mixed-use venues many of which are open First Friday evenings. The range of artistic exhibitions is inspiring.
Most of the venues are open from 6–9 pm. Many of the galleries are adjacent to the Telegraph Avenue site of Oakland First Fridays on 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th Streets going east toward the hills.
Festival FAQ
Is there an entrance fee? Oakland First Fridays is free and open to the public! But we rely on community support to keep our festival alive! You can make a donation online here, or at our festival entrance on West Grand & Telegraph Avenue.
When does the street festival start / end? Oakland First Fridays Street festival happens on the first friday of each month, from 5pm – 9:00pm. If the event becomes cancelled due to rain, an announcement will be made Wednesday the week of the event. Check back on our website or facebook page for updates.
Where is Oakland First Fridays located? Our festival entrance is located at the intersection of West Grand and Telegraph Avenue, and spans 5 blocks down to 27th Street in Oakland’s KONO District. View the location on google maps here.
Accessibility Info: Our festival is wheelchair accessible and family friendly. People of all ages are welcome to attend. If bringing a dog, it must remain on a leash at all times. Our events bring over 30,000 attendees, so expect large crowds, and amplified sound from our multiple stage and performance areas. There are Porta Potties available on 23rd St, 24th St, 25th St and 26th St. For exact locations, check out our festival map here.
Public Transportation: We recommend taking public transportation to Oakland First Fridays. The closest Bart Station is the 19th Street stop, which is only a few blocks away. The 12 (Grand Ave. & MacArthur Blvd.), 51A (Broadway), and 6 (Telegraph Ave.) AC Transit buses also come right to the KONO District. On weekdays and weekend evenings, the free Broadway shuttle runs every 12-15 minutes up and down Broadway from 26th to Jack London.
Parking: Oakland First Fridays’ pick up and drop off location is located on Valley and 23rd street. Limited Metered parking is available on side streets near Telegraph Avenue, so make sure to bring quarters! If you chose to park on the street, we advise you to not leave any valuable items inside your car. If you’d rather park in a garage, here is a list of garages close by.
Alcohol Policy: Alcoholic beverages are served exclusively within our Sake Garden, located in front of Gogi Time at 23rd St and Telegraph Avenue. Otherwise, no alcohol is allowed at the street festival. We do not tolerate the consumption of alcohol in our festival streets. If you’re interested in drinking alcohol, we advise for you to visit our Sake Garden or one of the many bars and restaurants in the KONO district. Drink Responsibly.
How do I become a volunteer? Volunteering is a great opportunity for you to connect with your community, work as a member of a team, meet new people, and gain references for future employment or academic advancement. You’ll also get free food and a t-shirt for volunteering. We have in-office and day-of-event volunteer positions. For more information, visit: http://oaklandfirstfridays.org/volunteer/ or check out our volunteer orientation video!
What to do after the Festival? Oakland First Fridays street festival ends at 9:00 pm, but nightlife within the KONO district still goes on! Visit one of the many bars, nightclubs or restaurants in the neighborhood. For a list of locations and events, check out the Koreatown-Northgate Business Directory: http://www.koreatownnorthgate.org/shop-dine/
East Bay
All Day, All Ages
Free
Celebrate the East Bay Regional Park District’s 85th Anniversary. The Park District has planned a number of special events and programs including free swimming at all of the their regional parks.
Park entry and other fees will be waived every Friday in 2019 from April to December to celebrate the Park District’s 85th Anniversary. Park entrance and fees for day use parking, swimming, dogs, horse trailers, boat launching, and fishing permits will all be waived.
There are plenty of swimming opportunities for you with six open-water lakefront beaches, three chlorinated lagoons, two pools, and two bay shoreline beaches.
Swimming Locations include:
Read more about the Park’s Rules & Regulations. Before heading out, check out the Park’s Swimming Facilities information page for locations, opening hours, lifeguard hours, and great information about the specific location like whether it has a sandy beach, warm water, or sheltered from the wind. Some swimming facilities are open year round.
Free Swimming Fridays | East Bay Regional Parks
The sun’s out and it’s a perfect time for a swim…especially a free swimming outing.
Many of the East Bay Regional Parks’ swimming facilities are now open and the lifeguards are now back to work as well.
Saturday, May 4th
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton
12 PM, Ages: 21+
$45
Dreaming of a BBQ feast, bangin’ beats and whole flock of funky friends? That’s right, it’s time for DIRTYBIRD BBQ BAY AREA!
LINEUP:
• CLAUDE VONSTROKE • JUSTIN MARTIN • J.PHLIP • CHRISTIAN MARTIN • WORTHY • ARDALAN
As always, we will be heading home to the Bay for an awesome day filled with food, music and fun. This year we have found a brand new space at the beautiful Alameda County Fairgrounds. With its lush green fields and spacious landscape this will be the perfect spot for a Dirtybird BBQ!
The BBQs are a time-honored tradition here at Dirtybird. We love returning to our roots and sharing the vibes that started the label with our fans! Our Best In Show contest is returning as well so be ready to show off your creativity and get weird with us!
Make sure to also grab a BBQ FEAST TICKET to enjoy some delicious grilled eats in honor of our dear friend Grillson! We have both traditional and vegetarian options available.
Miwok Meadows, San Rafael
9 AM, All Ages (21+ To Drink Beer)
$45
Ales and Trails brings mountain bikers and trail enthusiasts together to support Access4Bikes advocacy work in Marin County. This year we’re pulling no stops to host the best Ales & Trails event EVER! With a star studded cast of brewers pouring trail side that you will only see at Ales & Trails. Our Beer Garden will feature: Faction, Fieldwork, HenHouse, Cellarmaker, Indian Valley and Iron Springs Breweries (and more), plus cider, kombucha and root beer for the kids. The barbecue grill loaded with ribs & chicken plus all the sides (veggie options available too!) by smoke master Sven Revel of Mauro’s Pasta, blew people away last year. No one leaves hungry!
Don’t just drool over the brewer’s list, we also have a host of bicycle industry partners on hand to help you with the ride of your dreams. Demo bikes will be on site from: REI, Specialized, Orbea, Whyte Bicycles, Ritchey, Santa Cruz provided by Mike’s Bikes, and more to be announced.
This is a family friendly event (12 and under free) with a skills course, free bike clinics by Single Track Mind, live music, the famous kids race, and 400 of your closest friends to celebrate the efforts of opening and maintaining more trails for mountain bikers. Don’t just take our word for it, see it for yourself on May 4, 2019. See you there!
All of this for ONE INCLUSIVE PRICE!
Camping at Back Ranch Campground has just been added as an option on May 3 and May 4. Price is $10 per person per night. Location is a short 1 mile bike ride or hike from Miwok Meadow.
Dream Give Away: We are giving away a 2019 Specialized S Works Stumpjumper FSR ‘Soil Searching’ build (MSRP $9500). Tickets available now at:
FAQs
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
No, but if you want to drink beer you must bring your ID to prove you are 21
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
You are encouraged to ride your bike to the event. Parking is available on North San Pedro Road about 1/4 mile from the festival. Bring your bike! Or, leave your bike at home and demo one at the event.
What can I bring into the event?
Yourself, Your family, a chair/blanket, your dog on leash, your bike, and your enthusiam for a great time
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Sunday, May 5th
Presidio Picnic: Easter Sunday
Main Post Lawn, San Francisco
11 AM, All Ages
Free
San Francisco’s favorite family picnic is back for 2019. Presidio Picnic brings together the best of the Bay Area food scene with the beauty of this national park site and views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Held on the seven acre Main Parade Ground lawn, this weekly community event features food and drink from more than 30+ international mobile food creators representing the best of San Francisco’s multicultural food scene curated by Off the Grid.
But it’s not just about the grub; visitors can enjoy an ever-changing array of free activities including yoga classes, lawn games, a Presidio photo booth, free kids bike-riding lessons from the Presidio YMCA, and nature-based arts and crafts for kids in the Presidio Adventure Zone tent.
Grab a blanket and head to your national park for Presidio Picnic. This great family event takes place on the Presidio’s beautiful Main Parade Ground, a seven-acre lawn with views of the park, the city, and the San Francisco Bay.
Presidio Picnic Every Sunday | March 31-October 20, 2019 | 11 am to 4 pm Main Parade Ground, The Presidio, SF FREE
A rotating lineup of 30+ international mobile food creators representing the best of San Francisco’s multicultural food scene curated by Off the Grid
Free Yoga class from LubbDubb every Sunday from 11 am to 12 noon
Free Presidio Y Bike learn-to-ride lessons for kids every 1st Sunday of the month. Bicycles and helmets provided
Cultural Dance Performance every 3rd Sunday of the month at noon to 2 pm.
Food Trucks & Pop-Ups
The rotating lineup of 30 of the Bay Area’s best mobile food concepts at this year’s Presidio Picnic includes: (New to Presidio Picnic this year are Off the Grid mobile food creators)
Beans N Barbells: mobile pop café serving specialty coffee beverages Bowl’d Acai: made-to-order juices, smoothies and acai bowls Estas Manos: just-launched artisan coffee roaster proudly based in San Francisco Fruity Moto: organic, all-natural, fruit-centric craft beverages Gio Gelati: traditional Italian gelato made with impeccable California ingredients Horn Barbecue: much-lauded authentic Texas barbecue with a cult following The Base Co: LA-based natural sweetener company serving guilty-free, plant-based beverages in refillable “happiness jars” that feature designs by local artists La Santa Torta: Tacos, tortas, elotes and more that showcase the gastronomy of the Jalisco region of Mexico Lobsterdamus: Southern-California shellfish favorite serving up Maine lobsters on a mesquite grill Mi Morena: La Cocina entrepreneur offering fresh Tacos de Guisado on housemade tortillas Milk & Waffles: authentic Liège waffles topped with imported pearl sugar MOMO Noodle: high octane sauces and toppings on traditional Asian noodles On a Roll – Calcutta Style: Indian kathi rolls fusing traditional and modern flavors Pye: savory meat and veggie pies made in small batches with honest ingredients Spunbyss: classic, made-from-scratch sliders, fries and sides with vegetarian options that include a plant-based burger patty from Impossible Foods Turontastic: crunchy and irresistible Filipino desserts with inventive fillings like ube mochi, and strawberry-Nutella
Participating alums from Off the Grid’s 24-month mobile food incubator in partnership with Google, Instrucktional, include:
Bollocks: Globe-spanning spherical delights from meatball master Greg Spangler. Manjé: Haitian Caribbean cuisine from entrepreneur Dimitri Lilavois.
SoMa StrEat Food Park, San Francisco
11 AM, All Ages
$20
This Cinco de Mayo, the Bay’s best taqueros are competing to win over your taco-loving soul — celebrate in true fashion with tacos, cervezas frías, and lucha libre!
The competition begins outside the ring with classics like asada, carnitas, fried fish, cochinita pibil, and fresh, flavor fusions like adobo, fried avocado, vegan al pastor and more. Over 15 mouthwatering tacos will be blessing your taste buds and fighting to be crowned the ultimate taco throwdown champion!
Come and devour tons of tasty tacos and witness a spec-taco-lar wrestling showdown where lively luchadores rumble, tumble, and flying scissor kick their way to taco glory. Get ready for a barrage of exciting wrestling moves, bright masks, and a ton of tacolicious specials all day.
Your palate won’t be the only one taco-ing a walk on the wild side. Experience the action-packed spirit and spunk of 20+ luchadores vibrantly rumbling, tumbling, and battling it out in the ring for thrill-seeking fans.
Event Highlights
SF’s Most Awesome Food Truck Taco Festival
Live Lucha Libre Wrestling Show
15+ taco vendors
Latin drink specials
All ages, dogs welcome, rain or shine
– BAR MENU – + Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza + micheladas + agave-wine margaritas
– VENDORS + TACO SPECIALS – *vegan special available
Beyond the Border* + Avocado tacos: beer-battered avocado, cabbage, sour cream, corn salsa, chipotle lime vinaigrette, & lime + Pacific Rockfish tacos: beer-battered or grilled, chipotle lime vinaigrette + Chimichurri skirt steak tacos + chipotle chicken tacos + orange-roasted pork, jack cheese, & chipotle lime vinaigrette tacos + shrimp tacos: grilled or fried + garlic black bean tacos + vegan spicy chorizo tacos
Canasta Kitchen* + Impossible Meat al pastor-style taco
Cochinita SF* + Cochinita Pibil tacos: Yucatan pulled pork marinated in achiote & citrus juices, topped w/ pickled onions + Pollo Pibil tacos: Yucatan pulled chicken marinated in achiote & citrus juices, topped w/ pickled onions + Relleno Negro (the Mayan Mole) tacos: chicken cooked in a black charred chile sauce, topped w/ pickled onions & hard-boiled egg + Poc Chuc tacos: grilled marinated pork in citrus & pepper + Picadillo tacos: ground beef, carrots, potato, olives, & spices + Panuchos: fried handmade tortillas stuffed w/ black beans (vegan option available) + Salbutes: fried fluffy handmade tortillas (vegan option available)
Domingo’s International Kitchen* + choice of al pastor, lengua, chorizo, asada, chorizo, chicken, shrimp, carnitas, or suadero, w/ cilantro, onions, radishes, & salsa + vegan taco: black beans, brussel sprouts, baba ganoush, & guac + Aztec taco: chorizo, shrimp, cheeese, guac, corn, peppers, pico de gallo, & sour cream
Chef’s Truck + shrimp tacos: pico de gallo, cheese, chipotle aioli, & romaine lettuce + fish tacos: fresh tilapia, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese, chipotle aioli, & coleslaw + chef’s specialty tacos: asada, pollo, & carnitas tacos w/ pico de gallo, cheese, & chipotle aioli
Kokio Republic + fried chicken taco
Gyros on Wheels + lamb and beef taco w/ sour cream, & guac
Nucha Empanadas + carnitas empanadas + carne asada empanadas
Street Meet
Sarap Shop + taco baby: crispy taco shell layered w/ garlic cheese spread, & pita, filled w/ your choice of pork belly adobo, bbq chicken, tofu sisig, laing, or dynamite lumpia; topped w/ pico de gallo & more cheese!
Firetrail Pizza + carne asada pizza
U~Scream4IceCream + choco tacos + paletas de agua y leche