The summer fun continues at Jack London Square with two free events on Oakland's vibrant waterfront destination-the Taste of Oakland festival series on August 4 and September 1,
The Eat Real Festival combines a state fair, a street-food festival and a block party.
Published: August, 2018
The summer fun continues at Jack London Square with two free events on Oakland’s vibrant waterfront destination—the Taste of Oakland festival series on August 4 and September 1, and the Eat Real Festival, Oakland’s premiere craft food and beverage celebration, from September 14 to 16!
The signature Taste of Oakland event celebrates the city’s and Bay Area’s unique culture of independent and iconic musicians, culinary talents and innovation in technology. The event is produced by Oakland’s own Dwayne Wiggins, a member of R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! and founder of Youth Aid, a nonprofit that provides free music lessons and business fundamentals to youth in Oakland.
The event adds a new dimension to the standard music and food festival format by providing youth internship opportunities whereby local students shadow the production team for the day, assisting in all aspects of creative development and production. Taste of Oakland is free to attend, with all proceeds from the festival benefiting Youth Aid.
In support of affordable, delicious and regionally sourced food, Jack London Square will host the 10th annual Eat Real Festival from September 14 to 16. Founded in 2008, the Eat Real Festival combines a state fair, a street-food festival and a block party. Its mission is to help revitalize regional food systems, build public awareness of and respect for the craft of making good food and to encourage the growth of American food entrepreneurs.
Working with street food trucks and carts, the festival offers a wide variety of food from tacos, BBQ, curry and falafel to salads, sandwiches, and grilled meats and vegetables. Attendees can learn where food comes from, who grows it and how they make it. Eat Real’s urban homesteading program also educates attendees on what it takes to get in touch with their inner farmer, brewer, baker and much more. New highlights at this year’s festival include ticketed DIY classes, special ticketed food and drink tastings, and more free live music and entertainment throughout the span of the festival.
Newly opened restaurants including Belcampo Oakland, Farmhouse Kitchen, and Dyafa will also be open—perfect for attendees to enjoy before or after the festivities. These festivals are only a taste of the summer fun at Jack London Square! Visit jacklondonsquare.com to learn more about additional free, family-friendly events such as Second Saturdays, Waterfront Flicks, and Dancing Under the Stars.
