With summer in full swing, there is no better destination than Oakland’s waterfront at Jack London Square to enjoy the best of the season and escape the heat.
BC Staff Report
Published: July, 2012
With summer in full swing, there is no better destination than Oakland’s waterfront at Jack London Square to enjoy the best of the season and escape the heat.
The month of July kicks off with one of the most exciting celebrations of the summer: 4th of July! Perfect for families, Jack London Square is holding a 4th of July Family Fun Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the Square. The event will feature an array of outdoor games and entertainment for kids, including a giant slide, bounce houses, hands-on arts and crafts, magicians, hula hoops, a petting zoo, jugglers, live music and plenty of festival food.
If you’re looking for a special way to top off the holiday evening, there are several ticketed 4th of July evening cruises departing from Jack London Square. The new Bay Voyager, a Navy Seal-style RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat), is offering an intimate cruise and close-up viewing of the San Francisco Bay fireworks for a party of 12, including local gourmet treats. For tickets and information, visit www.bayvoyager.com. The USS Potomac and Celebrations on the Bay are also offering holiday cruises, complete with beautiful views and epicurean delights. Visit www.usspotomac.org and www.celebrationsonthebay.com
to book your tickets.
Keep the celebratory mood going after Independence Day with two popular Jack London Square events on Friday, July 6: Jack’s Night Market and Dancing Under the Stars. Kick off the evening at 6 p.m. at Jack’s Night Market (from 6 – 10 p.m.), an eclectic open-air evening shopping bazaar with live entertainment. It’s a celebration of Oakland’s First Fridays. Then, head to the bottom of Broadway for Dancing Under the Stars, Jack London Square’s weekly dance series. Enjoy a free lesson of East Coast Swing at 8:30 p.m. courtesy of Linden Street Dance Studio, followed by a dance party for all until 10 p.m. Make it a night of dinner and dancing by visiting one of the many local restaurants at Jack London Square.
On July 12, pack up your blanket, grab your family and friends and head to the Market Lawn for the first night of the popular outdoor film series, Waterfront Flicks, where the evening’s feature is We Bought A Zoo. The movie begins at sundown. Arrive early for trivia games or to buy delicious treats from the East Bay Bike Coalition. Bike to the movie and receive a free gift.
Animal lovers will delight in the return of the annual East Bay SPCA Adopt-a-thon on Sunday, July 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year’s event will feature more than 100 adoptable animals from over 20 Bay Area rescue groups and shelters, including cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and reptiles. Also on hand, an "Ask the Trainer" advice booth, watch dog-training demonstrations, and an array of local animal supply vendors—selling everything from organic food to specialty pet accessories.
For further details on the above and the many weekly events and specials offered at Jack London Square, please visit www.jacklondonsquare.com/events.
