{"id":432327,"date":"2026-08-14T01:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T01:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/432327\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T01:56:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T01:56:13","slug":"oakland-pride-guide-heres-a-breakdown-on-what-to-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/432327\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland Pride guide: here’s a breakdown on what to expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now in its 16th year, Oakland Pride<\/a> has moved up its celebration from September to August. The day-long festival will take place this year on Sunday, Aug. 16, kicking off at 10:30 a.m. with a parade that starts at 21st and Broadway and ends at Clay Street. The ticketed festival, with four stages of live entertainment, will once again be held at Frank Ogawa Plaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oakland Pride Parade and festival<\/p>\n

When: Sunday, Aug. 16, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Parade: 10:30 a.m. to noon, kicking off at 21st and Broadway
Festival: Noon to 6 p.m., Frank Ogawa Plaza
Festival tickets: $12<\/a> and up; kids 12 and under free<\/p>\n

R&B singer and songwriter Amerie, best known for her 2005 single \u201c1 Thing,\u201d will headline the main stage, while Mexican popstar Fey, a singer songwriter best known for her \u201890s songs \u201cAz\u00facar Amargo\u201d and \u201cMedia Naranja,\u201d will headline the Latin stage. Other performers include singer and actor Terrell Carter, TikTok personality Chrissy Chlapecka, queer trans Black woman electro-pop artist Star Amerasu, and others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond the headliners, the festival will feature a variety of other stages and zones. The Mighty Real stage will be dedicated to House and Dance music with a performance by vocalist Lady Alma, plus sets by DJs like Charles Hawthorne and David Harness. The Sexy Town zone \u2014 for ages 18+ \u2014 will host fashion shows and wrestling. The Generations zone will offer an alcohol-free space with activities like yoga and line dancing. A health alleyway will allow attendees to get free HIV testing and receive information about health services.<\/p>\n

\"\"Singer-songwriter Amerie (left), and Mexican popstar Fey (right) will headline Oakland Pride. Credit: courtesy of Chris Pizzello\/Invision\/AP, Claudio Cruz\/AP<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s parade marshals include DJ LadyRyan; councilmember Rowena Brown; Valentino Carrillo, owner of the gay bar Que Rico; Joshua Huynh, owner of Town Bar and Lounge; Beatrix LaHaine and Mama Celeste, the co-founders of Oaklash, the drag festival; Rev. Kevin Mann, a member of the clergy delegation that went to Minnesota<\/a> to protest ICE violence; Monica Mosby, founder and executive director of the SMAAC queer youth center in Oakland; and 17-year-old Oakland student Ryan LaMarche.<\/p>\n

\"\"The parade will start at 21st and Broadway. Credit: courtesy of Oakland Pride<\/p>\n

\"\"The Oakland Pride festival will feature various stages and zones with activities like yoga, and line dancing. Also, free HIV testing. Credit: courtesy of Oakland Pride<\/p>\n

The event has emerged strong after some tough years. In 2021, the Bay Area Reporter reported<\/a> financial and leadership problems within the organization, and that year, the festival was cancelled. The nonprofit that then organized the festival dissolved earlier this year and the event is now housed under the Oakland LGBTQ Center<\/a>, with a new logo, a new website<\/a>, and new merch that will be available for sale the day of the festival and at the LGBTQ Center.<\/p>\n

Manifar Hwang, who is now director of sponsorships and strategic partnerships for Oakland Pride, said that this year\u2019s festival has received lots of funding support, including to help with upfront costs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re happy about that because it shows that there is a lot of support here in Oakland for the LGBTQ community,\u201d Hwang said.<\/p>\n

The festival took place at \u00a0Frank Ogawa Plaza<\/a> for the first time last year, but the location has a deep queer history. From 1997 to 2004, it was the home of East Bay Pride<\/a>, a predecessor to Oakland Pride.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is important for folks to know is when they buy a ticket to Oakland Pride, they\u2019re not just buying for the festival,\u201d Brandon Harami, Oakland Pride director of operations, said. \u201cAny additional revenue that we may earn will go back to helping the LGBTQ Center provide services.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since Donald Trump\u2019s reelection, anti-trans rhetoric has been mainstreamed and LGBTQ organizations across the country have lost critical federal funding<\/a> for programs like HIV prevention and services for the transgender community. The Trump Administration has also gone after gender-affirming medical care<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you come to Pride, you\u2019re also investing in those services and keeping them in Oakland,\u201d Harami said.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Latin stage at Oakland Pride brings attendees from all over the country. Credit: courtesy of Club Papi<\/p>\n

According to the organizers, the decision to move the festival to August was largely due to efforts to book a renowned artist \u2014 they landed on Fey \u2014\u00a0to headline the Latin stage, and may not become permanent. Carrillo, who co-produces the event\u2019s Latin stage, said September would clash with Mexican Independence Day, making it challenging to book artists from Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Latin stage has one of the largest turnouts at Oakland Pride,\u201d Carrillo said. \u201cIt sees people coming from all over the US.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harami said that having the festival at Frank Ogawa Plaza, home to Oakland\u2019s City Hall, puts it steps away from public transportation, and also transforms the event into an act of resistance.<\/p>\n

\u201cPride has always been about activism, protest and celebration,\u201d Harami said. \u201cWhat\u2019s really cool about doing this in front of the federal, state building and City Hall is that we are also making a statement that we\u2019re here, and we\u2019re not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

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