{"id":207215,"date":"2026-03-06T11:13:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T11:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/207215\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T11:13:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T11:13:13","slug":"fans-fest-2026-celebrates-oakland-sports-of-all-sorts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/207215\/","title":{"rendered":"Fans Fest 2026 Celebrates Oakland Sports of All Sorts"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the team\u2019s ownership decided to split for Las Vegas<\/a> (although currently making an extended pit stop in West Sacramento<\/a>), Leon and co. launched the \u201cSELL\u201d movement, a simple statement requesting A\u2019s higher-ups sell the team. The slogan has since been seen on shirts and signs in stadiums around the league. \u201cWe pissed off A\u2019s ownership, and the MLB,\u201d Leon says.<\/p>\n

When the Athletics stopped hosting their annual pre-season fan fest, the Oakland 68\u2019s took over. The first year brought about 700\u2013800 people and only a few vendors: Oaklandish<\/a>, Beast Oakland<\/a> and the newly formed Oakland Roots<\/a> soccer club.<\/p>\n

But Leon says the donated cleats and apparel from MLB players gave them something unique to raffle off to event-goers, and the community support gave them something to build on. \u201cIt really was grassroots level,\u201d he reflects, \u201cand now it\u2019s on its fourth annual.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SevenMembers of the Ballers baseball team address the crowd at a recent Fans Fest in Oakland. (Oakland 68’s)<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s event will bring out teams like the San Jose-based Bay FC soccer club<\/a> and Oakland\u2019s new women\u2019s tackle football team, the Golden State Storm<\/a>, both of whom play their season-openers later this month.<\/p>\n

The youth organization Oakland Genesis<\/a>,\u00a0the Oakland Girls Softball League<\/a> and the men\u2019s ultimate frisbee team, the Oakland Spiders<\/a>, will be present. Obviously, Leon says, the 2025 Pioneer League champion Oakland Ballers baseball team will represented as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year,\u201d he notes, \u201cbecause the FIFA World Cup\u2019s coming to the Bay, we\u2019re a little more heavy on soccer.\u201d Members of the Bay Area Host Committee and artist LeRoid David<\/a>, the San Francisco-raised illustrator who created the Bay Area\u2019s 2026 FIFA World Cup poster, are scheduled to attend Sunday\u2019s festival.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Roots are going to set up a full-on pitch,\u201d Leon says, adding that the newly revived semi-pro roller hockey team, the Oakland Skates<\/a>, will also have a net for anyone who wants to take a shot.<\/p>\n

In addition to a face-painting booth and a beer garden, the event will feature sets from Oakland\u2019s DJ Criddy<\/a>, and live performances from Stay Out<\/a>, J-Walt<\/a>, Banda La Iniciativa<\/a> and more.<\/p>\n

Hosted by Melissa Lockard and Rick Title, the event will also have a few guest appearances. East Bay raised, former Oakland A\u2019s baseball player Leon \u201cBip\u201d Roberts<\/a> will be in attendance, as will Shep Messing<\/a>, one of the original members of the 1978 Oakland Stompers soccer club<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As a community event, voluntarily organized by people who have regular jobs, Leon stresses that this is something done out of a sincere passion for athletic competition, and the place he calls home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just purely for the love of Oakland,\u201d he says, \u201cand Oakland sports.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans Fest 2026 is a free event that takes place Sunday, March 8, 11 a.m.\u20134 p.m. at Fruitvale Village (3301 E. 12th St., Oakland), just outside the Fruitvale BART station. For more information, check here<\/a>.<\/p>\n