In previous years I was always disappointed not being able to attend First Friday's as it's now something I look forward to every month and every year. I tell everyone I know even though I live outside of Oakland it's an experience worth coming too. They always have various vendors and that's part of what makes coming here so unique and worth it. I love supporting the community and specifically look for art and handmade jewelry while I am here. They have such tasty food options I always get excited when I see new things I haven't tried before. One of my favorite times was when they had an art wall and you were able to pick a small square and create a positive message. First Friday's is an event that's open to all ages, it is pet friendly as well though some pups may find it a bit loud. Please continue to support this event, tell your friends and please DONATE to keep this alive in the community! :) read more

This review is a long time coming! I've frequented this event for years and have never had a bad time. Between the various food trucks, local vendors, community activism and outreach representation, fashion shows and car shows, there is SOMETHING for everyone! Nothing but positive vibes and good energy. There's a drum circle and anyone can pick up an instrument and join in to play or dance. If you're a shopper and like handmade jewelry, art and handmade soaps and oils, you'll find it here. I consider this event family and pet friendly for sure. There is no cost for entry however donations are requested in order to keep this event going so bring some cash to donate what you can. ***Also the empanada truck does not miss, VERY GOOD, I highly recommend! read more

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Cool event for all! The music is the best part and I've vaguely tried dancing here. A good excuse to get out of the house on a Friday night.

This is your standard art and music festival on Telegraph, from West Grand Avenue to 27th Street. Perhaps the cold winter has caused this event to be a little more low-key than it has been in the past, but it was slightly lacking when my friend and I attended last weekend. We arrived around 7:45pm (the event ends at 9pm), and there were no live bands, and even one of the art galleries closed early (around 8pm). But we did come across a few interesting spots, an art display by MiCO, double dutch for the crowd to enjoy jump-roping (or people-watching), a fashion show, giant jenga, several vendors, and some song and dance performances. I also loved discovering venues along the block that I would definitely return to visit outside of the Oakland First Friday event, so that was cool. There were a few food stands, including the typical bbq and fair food, but nothing that really stood out (though we did see a pretty long line for the jerk chicken). Lots of blocked streets in the area and almost impossible to find parking nearby, it's good we took Uber here. I wouldn't go out of my way to attend again, but if you like street fairs or night markets and want to experience the culture of the city, this a great representation of the Oakland community, a nice opportunity to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and free entertainment, and explore various businesses, art exhibits, and a range of music blaring from speakers at different corners and side streets of the event. read more

Oakland First Fridays - Businesses on the block - Festivals Near Me - Oakland, California

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It's been about 2 years since I attended this event Entry is free but they do ask for "donations" Free street parking is HARD TO COME BY I ended up paying $20 to park GRRRRRR There are a lot of local vendors selling merchandise and food There was a free live music As well as a DJ playing house music I saw some cool break dancers Many food vendors to choose from Over all its a cool event to attend It's all outdoors So dress accordingly and also due to the weather it may be cancelled read more

Aside from terrible parking, terrible BART/public transportation, when people behave, this is an amazing event... lots of diversity and cultural immersion. Loved it. read more

Had a great time at First Friday although I meant to post a review on my first attendance to event. Always a great time from food to vendors and great music... This is a must attend. read more

So much culture. So much diversity. Various street vendors. Amazing music and art. Chill vibes. My friends and I like starting our evening at the Koreana Plaza where we would purchase bottles and bottles and boxes of soju to start the night. The parking lot used to have chairs and tables but they no longer have them, however, you could still purchase drinks and stay in the parking lot as it normally gets crowded! Walking down Telegraph Ave, there are a bunch of different food vendors. This past Friday, I only ordered steak n tots from 3-3-3 aka Mexican Korean Indian fusion for freaking $12, but it was sooooo gooood, my friends stole a bunch out of my bowl and then we got more lol. They ordered other foods from other food trucks and we all huddled around together, bought more soju, and had an amazing time. Thankful for First Fridays! read more

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I would have not discovered Oakland First Fridays if it wasn't for Yelp. So, I'm a SoCal gal, right?! But I do find myself up here a few times a year for visits. This page somewhat came up on my feed when I was doing a search for whole different thing. As curiosity got the best of me, I went ahead and clicked on it. It got me interested, so I bookmarked it as a reminder in case I may find myself here on a first Friday. Months flew by and I've already completely forgotten about it, truthfully, at least up until I saw it again as I went through my "EAST BAY" list! Heed to what other Yelpers say: BART IT THERE. I got off 19th and walked a few blocks and found myself in the festival. (Parking is $20 and it's not much closer than the train station.) I got here at opening hour (heeding other people's advice) since I'm not one to really enjoy too much of a crowd. There were very many interesting things to look at. Plenty of vendors selling different kinds of trinkets and clothing. Some I found more expensive than others. But I really wasn't there to shop - I wanted to see what kinda eateries are being offered and wanted to experience the music. My mistake was going there solo - and not so hungry. Carribiean cuisine dominated the area. There were also a couple of BBQ places as well as desserts and the like. Plenty to choose from really. But because I wasn't hungry, I settled for an empanada from Empanadas Argentinas. (It was DELISH!!!) Sparkling ice was promoting their product so I got a drink for free! I did a lot of walking around for the next couple of hours. Naturally, the crowd started building up. The various kinds of music playing from their assigned sections were pretty entertaining. The next thing I knew, I was second hand stoned. (It's true what everyone says - they really love their cigaweed up in here!) It's one of those things one should do when in Oakland. I expected a little bit more, but still had an okay time. Should a next time happen, I'd prolly tag team with someone or go with a group. read more

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Finally got the chance to check out First Fridays recently and it was a blast! Took the Bart to 19th St, because parking here was a no go. It took maybe 10 minutes to get to the actual streets, but there are a bunch of bars/restaurants along the way for you to grab some food or drinks beforehand. They closed down so many streets for this! We got there at 6:30pm, and it wasn't too crowded yet. So many food trucks! We strolled the entirety of the street to take a peek at all the offerings. We decided to go with Jamaican Jerk. It probably had the longest line, but there's a good reason! I got the jerk chicken fries, and I couldn't even finish it! They were very generous with the chicken and the fries. There were lots of vendors selling art and crafts, and booths for different organizations. There were a few different sections playing music and spaces for people to dance too. We went to the Korean grocery store to get some soju, along with everyone else at the event haha. The grocery store probably clears out their whole soju stock on these nights! The crowd was super diverse. It definitely encapsulated the whole melting pot vibe. They started clearing everyone out at about 9pm, but we stayed at a bar nearby for more drinks and music. read more

My husband and I have been coming here for ages and absolutely love it. Now my preference is to go earlier in the evening between 5 and 6 pm. It is totally diverse in the music/entertainment offerings, the food booths, and art shows. We've discovered some favorite gems. We've been going since it was a mad house, with a bit of craziness, to last year. Our date nights are now inside, but I look forward to going around and enjoying these venues again. This even offers a jolt of art and culture and I love participating in it. read more

Oakland First Fridays - Street shot hardly anyone here. - Festivals Near Me - Oakland, California

Checked this place out per my colleagues recommendation on 8/2/19. This place was poppin'!!! Streets were blocked off. The Korean market parking lot was packed and soju bottles everywhere. Food smelled great but I didn't want to wait in line. Walked through one of the cross streets and checked out a bunch of art galleries. Def check it out! Just want to point out: there's people smoking everywhere so if that bothers you.. might not be the place to be. read more

FOOD, CULTURE, AND HIPHOP This review is over due. BayArea is dramatically changing with hipsters and transplants taking over making "home" feel real different. But one thing I can appreciate is Oakland's First Friday's. Less hipsters, more locals. Natives I know from SF and the Peninsula would come to this event because some parts of Oakland has remained untouched by the transformation. Where sometimes it actually feels good to question if you should be in this hood this late... you know that's still hardcore untouched Oakland. This event doesn't really tap those areas but it's close enough. There's street vendor food and restaurants to hit up. Culture is everywhere, it's actually quite nice to see people of color hanging out in their neighborhood not being pushed out by gentrification, and always ending the evening at Parish because this bar always had the good and sometimes underground hiphop performances. Until the next review.... read more

Ever since moving to downtown Oakland, attending First Fridays has become a bit of a tradition. It's Oakland's most popular (a.k.a. most crowded) free event, and for good reason. I know some people are reluctant about First Fridays, but follow these tips and you'll be completely satisfied at how great of an event it really is! - Where is it? At Telegraph Ave & West Grand Ave to Telegraph Ave & 27th St (about 1/3 of a mile long) every first Friday of the month. - Come hungry. My favorite part about First Fridays is the food. There are countless local and authentic food vendors spanning all different types of cuisine. Tacos, pupusas, soul food... and all affordable too. Craving Asian? The KP Asian Market closes its entire parking lot on First Fridays and sets up food tents and tables. - Come early. The event runs from 5 - 9 PM. Come any time between 5 - 7 and that is when you'll have the best experience. The lines are shorter and there is room to breathe. - Leave early. If you want to avoid the late, rowdy crowd, try to head home before 8/9. I live in the area and it can get pretty crazy to say the least. - Take BART. The area is extremely congested -- don't bother with parking. It is three blocks from the 19th St BART station. - Bring cash. Some vendors don't accept credit card. - Have fun! First Fridays is truly a reflection of Oakland, its people, and its culture. The music is loud, people are dancing, and diversity is everywhere. It's just a good time. read more

So many great food vendors! Last week was my first time coming for First Fridays and I was most excited for the food and was not disapointed! I walked all the way down first to see what vendors were there and saw Mexican food, pupusas, fried chicken, Mac and cheese, noodles, empanadas, wraps and sooo much more! I started off with an empanada from Javi's cooking and tried a ricotta cheese empanada while my husband tried a meat empanada. Of course I tried both and they were both very good! We made our way towards a stand that had a very long line but no signs or anything. I walked to the front and saw giant cupcakes being filled and topped with fried chicken and coated with sauces! I absolutely had to try this one! The line was long and next to this stand was a Food stand with delicious aquas frescas and $3 pupusas and tamales so we ordered two cheese y loroco pupusas to share with a fruit water in line and enjoyed these. We shared a maple bacon cupcake topped with fried chicken and wow was this good! This was by far my favorite and I highly recommend that anyone coming to first Fridays try this place out first! There were 3 or 4 giant pieces of chicken on skewers and they were tender and juicy. The cupcake was in a cup so you can scoop some out and enjoy with the chicken and the sweetness goes perfectly with the fried chicken. I will definitely be coming back just for this! read more

First Fridays is the best way to enjoy great weather and entertain out-of-town guests! I love that there's such a diverse mix of people, and there's a ton of food trucks and merchants. There's even an area where 21+ can drink and dance which is fun. I only wish the lines weren't so long for food! It's a bummer to spend most of your time at First Friday waiting to eat, so I try to come already fed. But then I get FOMO from not enjoying the food trucks. Other than this dilemma, I really think First Fridays is something that makes Oakland unique. read more

Oakland First Fridays - Festivals Near Me - Oakland, California

So many cops blocking where the pretty ill looking cars would be Aug. 2018. Vibes changed, times changed.

::turns the corner from bart:: whattttt wth did i just walk into? 20000ish ppl all up & down telegraph at least 20th to 25th w oakland pd spread throughout. heard about First Fridays for years but never went till accidentally last night 8:30ish. what i thought was cool was a number of sidestreet businesses were open for adjoining food events (why i was here). headed back to bart around 10; even though it was night, the area stayed peaceful from what i saw. i should check out ff again during the day, see what all's up. read more

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Ive been wanting to go to first fridays for awhile, I didnt realize how massive this event was until i got there. Luckily i took bart, or else we would have had to look for parking. Parking during first fridays is horrendous, so if you can, bart! It is super close to the 19th street exit from bart. There were tons of different vendors here selling items ranging from weed hats to warriors gear. There was also alot of street performers and musicians. The crowd had a great mix of people from all over east bay. The surrounding bars and pubs make for a great way to end the night. Have fun and dont drink and drive! read more

I came to this event in 2016 and again on 6/2/2017. This is a lively festival with a diverse group of attendees, there are wide range of food trucks, food booths, and art & craft vendors. Loud music playing in certain areas and live performers too, and small crowds of energetic attendees dancing along with the music. There are a lot of opened art galleries located along the streets within the festival. This event is held on the first Friday of each month. It can get very pack with long lines for the food and porta potties. To avoid zig-zagging through the large crowd, you can walk on the sidewalk (backside of the booths) to avoid the crowds to get to a specific booth quicker. On 6/2/2017, there were two brand promotions that gave out free sparkling water and coffee samples. When I came in 2016, there was a brand giving free samples of yogurts. To avoid having to drive close to the festival and desperately searching for a parking spot, you can try taking the "FREE Broadway Shuttle" to the event or park your car along the shuttle route and bus back to your car. This is the link to the shuttle website: www.meetdowntownoak.com/shuttle.php It runs until 10pm Mon-Thurs and 1am on Fri & Sat Nights! Depending on the time, the route goes in a loop from Jack London Square to Broadway&25th or Grand&Webster. read more

Hannah Y. is spot on... First Fridays in Oakland has definitely come along way. When I first attended Oakland FF in 2008, it was less structured (not a bad thing), and mostly focused on art & attendant local galleries (a bit more like SF FF). It was also overrun with scurvy-looking, young white dudes drinking PBR who'd seemingly dispensed with with wearing deodorant many moons prior. I, too, recall getting tons of side eye & a few snide remarks from these kids as if I were some kind of interloper. Given that I'd moved into Oakland when these fools were entering Kindergarten, their behavior did not sit well. But back to today's new and improved FF--it's become a solid street market with handmade crafts, mass-manufactured items, and a goodly amount of food stands and food trucks. Some of the fare included: papusas, BBQ'ed ribs, dainty cupcakes & savory knishes. Music, initally DJ'ed then live, punctuates the event as does a smattering of Oakland police officers. First Fridays stawart, Rock Paper Scissors, appeared to have a, sort of, collaborative-DIY art happening going on in front of their shop. Had I had more time... The market spans approximately six blocks along Telegraph Ave., easily reachable on foot from 19th St. Bart station. I walked up Broadway and took a left on 23rd, entering the market to little fanfare. Exiting at W. Grand Ave., however, was a bit of a to-do as there are dedicated entry and exit points set up. A large sign reading 'five dollar suggested donation' hangs at the entry points and I saw many visitors being generous. Street market aficionados would do well to visit this event, but, maybe, bring a parasol as the sun can beat down on you and there is little to no shade along the market strip. And folk with mobility issues may also find FF challenging as there is no seating for those in need. read more

Oakland First Fridays - Hallelujah! - Festivals Near Me - Oakland, California

Fun times in the streets of Oakland CA #telegraphAve Went in Art galleries, plant galleries, looked at the cool vendors, went to new spot called band camp, lots of live music and performers. So much culture Oakland read more

Great vibes. I had the time of my life doing the electric slide with many others at the silent disco. Drank soju and ate korean street food at the Koreana Plaza parking lot like I'm back in South Korea. Met some fun and interesting people along the way. Awesome mix of all cultures with the main purpose of having fun and hanging out on the streets of Oakland. Tons of cops everywhere so it's safe, but still look after yourselves. read more

Oakland First Fridays - Found South Korea in Oakland, who knew!? - Festivals Near Me - Oakland, California

You will have a blast parking can be a bit of a challenge but worth the live music and great food. And beautiful people read more

Oakland First Fridays - One of the food trucks - Festivals Near Me - Oakland, California

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Oakland is Dope. There's so much culture compared to the city, and it all shows at first Friday. The event is held on a small stretch of telegraph filled with an array of local trinkets and food trucks. If you live in the area, be sure to take a lyft/Uber; parking is scarce. There's not as much art as I would have like to seen, but there's a lot of ratchetness--in a good way. There's live music, djs, a drinking area, and best of all, the Asian market puts a shit ton of seating and tables in their parking lot where you can buy soju, Asian delights, and drink and eat with your friends, and just hang out. Great event. I can't wait to see it continue to grow. read more

Went this July for the first time to see what the talk was all about. It was ridiculous how many people attend this event, makes me wonder why I've never heard about it before. There was no parking for blocks and blocks around the event, so either go early or take the bus, Uber, etc. I personally enjoy big crowds looking to have a good time, so the noise, lines and overall chaos of the event didn't bother me. There were so many food trucks, I couldn't pick which one to try. Ended up trying the taco stand (4 for $10), thai ice cream, and the Korean stand next to the K-market. Everything was slightly overpriced and but you go for the experience. It's definitely a very unique and eccentric event that attracted a huge diversity of people. Honestly describes the personality of the East Bay very well. Overall, First Friday is a great way to support local musicians, artists, local businesses. read more

Oakland First Fridays - Bacon wrapped hotdogs - Festivals Near Me - Oakland, California

This was my first First Friday and it was Ratchet!!! I've heard many stories from my friends who are from Oakland, on how crazy this event is, but seeing it first hand, boy oh boy!! The vibe was amazing, you could really have a feel of community here, diversity, no f***s given, and a drunken good time. Plenty of food trucks ranging from tacos to chicken and waffles to many more. I mainly hung out at the Koreana Plaza, where all the Asians would hang out. Apparently you can buy soju from the market and just drink in the parking lot full of tables. Everyone seem to be having a great time catching up with friends and also turning up. First fridays is the place to be to drink and socialize with your friends. A lot of places are cash only so make sure to bring cash!!! read more

Car broken into... Police too busy dealing with protestors... Vendors don't follow rules. Organizers don't know who goes where or what is going on. This event is wildly out of control. I am a vendor and have had days of profits, but it's not worth it. IF YOU VALUE YOUR TIME AND PRODUCTS, DON'T DO THIS EVENT! read more

Oakland First Fridays - If a picture is worth a thousand words, then here it is. My car got broken into while I was vending. Great event... - Festivals Near Me - Oakland, California

Oakland First Fridays i've reviewed before when it was listed differently, name wise. this review and the previous one is literally looking at different events, there's been so much change. the difference is $$ or lack of it by the original founders of First Fridays. fee: recommended donation $3-$10 at entrance -almost self funding First Friday is. previous City Hall subsidies no longer available. setup: -30ish food setups including Korena's Plaza cheap korean eats ($5ish) -bands playing for donations -indy arts & crafts tables -B & M arts & crafts studios -Pal's Takeaway @Forage Kitchen, serving Temescal Brews. -no idea where the parking is. always go early 5ish, leaving early. -some food vendors same as festival ones (summer, Meyer's, serge's bbq) -tacolicious, no no burgers, antonik's familiar names. -likes: Rosine's fresh ginger juice, Cutsa's Rice Balls (3-great deal), to try: "Hella Halal" take outs: -there's a reason for so much security here, watch ur surrounding. be safe, not sorry. -just found map setup for FIrst Fridays vendors, available pre-event, big difference. before, it was potluck. now transparency. food trucks dominant. small food vendors not so visible, look for them. usually no big signs either. -food here ultra pricey, above B & M, quality not equivalent. comparative shopping skills needed. read more

First Fridays Oakland has come a long long way. It gets better every time. The streets are fuller now, where people from different cities arrive, hoping to socialize, or find out what our Oakland, booming and growing Oakland, has to offer. Oakland is a mixture. Like San Francisco, but less snobby, and pricey. I will always love SF, and the rich districts, that one day explorations for each district, isn't enough time, to truly get all that it has to show you. Actually that's everywhere you go. But Oakland is where I live now, show this is my side show. I love the vegan no worries food truck. It's vegan delicious filipino fare. I love lumpia! I know it's deep fried, with a sugary sauce, but i share this snack, and give the sugar fix, to my food pal. This time it was with Mike, our beloved security guard/family member! He's so awesome and real! :) I always feel safe, with his towering, secure, tree like presence! Also, wow, the dance moves and live singing stars, live bands, taco stands, lotion and skin care lines, clothing of all kinds, jewelry, and reading books, also makeshift grills... my eyes are too busy! I must take a slow and steady pace, because of the many many people, who have different energy levels, either running, walking, gazing, standing, laughing, dancing, biking, skating, etc... i must maintain my balance. I must place weight on this muscle and that muscle, lift my bag, adjust my camera, adjust my focus... ADJUSTMENTS and BALANCE are KEY. So, I can only stay for an hour at most. I'm with my ommah and our tennants downstairs, and my pops. Sometimes we're together, but later I part, and tell everyone... we end at Gogi Time for dinner! Also, going alone means I can purchase things without the annoying over the shoulder, what are you buying? I don't like shopping with others... with my mum i can handle. Or with other people I feel comfortable around. However, yesterday, wasn't as comfortable for me. I don't need to keep it all sugar... i hate doing that now... pretending that always, i feel just smiles, and fine and purty dandy. Sometimes I'm :P... sometimes i'm :)... sometimes i'm :/ ... and sometimes i'm :O . If I'm around respectful, humble, sincere people, without snarky jabs and agenda's... I'm cool as a cucumber. :) read more

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Saw this event at Yelp. So when first Friday of October came, made it a point to be there. As the name of the event says, First Friday in Oakland, this even happens every first Friday of the month in downtown Oakland. Telegraph St. is closed between Grant and 27th for the event. It's like a street fair with booths selling trinkets, foods etch. Couple of stage were erected on corners with bands, dj's playing music. Very festive atmosphere. Couple of things to consider before going: 1) Parking is hard. Take public transportation if you can. The closest bart station is 19th St. 2) Carry cash. There's no entrance fee but most stores/booths only accept cash. 3) Use the bathroom before going. I didn't see any restroom or portalet insight. 4) The smell of weed permeates the air. Not sure if it's a good or a bad thing. 5) Come hungry cause the food trucks are amazing that you want to try more than one. Price vary between $5-$11; reasonable portion! 6) It gets really crowded so I don't suggest bringing children. My partner and I lost each other in the crowd. It would be terrible if that happened to a child. read more

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First Fridays are an experience. If you see a dude wearing a "Closet Spooner" t-shirt with lavender dreadlocks, camouflage pants, a raspberry beret and grin that'd rip off and make the devil look naive, say hello to me. I don't bite. But I do eat the truck foods. They're beyond intelligent three syllabled adjectives. How trippy. First Friday's this Friday and this is my 500th Yelp. On that note, look for that same dude described above with PBR in hand. read more

It is hard for me to express what an awesome event this is. So many diverse groups of people come together to celebrate the cool-ness that is Oakland. Capoeira, African drums, a magician, 2 live bands, food trucks, and tons of local vendors selling arts, jewelry, clothes, and more. We took Bart to 19th and walked maybe 3 blocks over. There's metered and residential parking but the neighborhood is kind of borderline so I would avoid driving. Definitely information overload here- so many sounds, colors, smells. Everyone is a character so I had a great time people watching. TONS of food to choose from. I got an empananda and also tacos (because you can't just have 1 thing when there's so much good food). My friend got schwarma tater tots (?!?!) that were incredible. There seems to be a little something for everyone here, and I can't wait to come back next month. The event starts to boil down around 9, but no worries as there are tons of local bars and many of the live bands go on to play at some places down the street. Come here for culture, diversity, and sensory overload. read more

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Not horrible, but probably only attend this once. It's an experience, that's for sure. There are a lot of things going on. A lot of little tables set up selling various things from art to jewelry to pipes. Some of the art galleries are open and you can take a quick look at some interesting art, if you can get in the door. This event is CROWDED. We attended in March and due to the previous month's shooting, the event ended early. Highlights the pupusas. DELICIOUS. this is bad, but i can't remember the name of the little stand we bought it off of. They had pork and chicken, i prefer chicken. the music. there was this great band playing at the end of the night. they had some drummer that was amazing. really talented. the art. saw some really amazing art. a huge piece in spray paint. and another wall where they allowed people to paint whatever they wanted. the entertainment. the drunk goggle maze. that was kinda funny. also the huge group of people hula hooping. on our walk back we actually passed by this tiny little old school fast food shack. there were a bunch of old school cars parked over there. very very classic. read more

I have been going to the First Friday event for the past couple of years. Most times I usually go 8pm-closing and it's been fun, upbeat and hella crowded. To the point where I have to move to the sidewalks to feel like I can relax. Those crowds late at night can be dense! Not a good idea to bring kids or your doggies unless you want to chance losing them :( On a more positive note... There's usually no short supply of live music, random dance parties and sage and ganja flowing in the air. I went early for the first time around 5:30 and it's got a totally different feel. Here's what I noticed: -it's super chill -easier to walk through streets -shorter food lines -more little ones out -you can actually pause to look at art pieces in the galleries -less live music and dancing (bummer) read more

For some reason, I had expected more after hearing so much about First Friday's. Yes, it's filled with culture and diversity but what's up with the number of police cars along Telegraph. It's extreme overkill. It made me feel like the cops know something is about to go down. More food vendors than non-food vendors. There were fried chicken, chicken wings, Mexican food, pizza, Korean, soul food, sweets etc. Non-food vendors were arts and crafts, jewelry, clothing, purses, patches etc. The only place to sit down and eat is in the Korean Market parking lot with plastic table and chairs. Tons of signs that says no drinking. Some were discreet and had their beer in brown bags. While there were people openly taking shots of Hennessy and Patron. Porta pottys were at every few blocks. Not sure how clean they were. Obviously parking is going to suck. We actually walked from my works parking lot on 7th and walked all the way to 19th. Highly suggest to Bart or Uber. Overall a good place for something to do if you like to walk around, people watch, and eat from food trucks and stands. But probably an one-time experience for me. read more

Food trucks were great, lots of diverse ethnic foods and cool vendors. Taking off several stars because parking is near impossible, as is finding a restroom, and one vendor in particular needs to tone down the rudeness; my young daughter loves photography and was snapping pictures at the event. She innocently took a photo of his stand and he yelled at her and called her a "white tyrant." We're not even white (not that it should even matter.) I was stunned and really taken aback by his hostility. read more

Wonderful venue for art lovers and creative people. Nice clubs with cool crowd.

The crowds, bumping into others, and rude people slightly outweighs the culture, art, and food. First Friday Oakland is a fine option if you have nothing to do on a Friday night, but by no means is it a needed stop when in Oakland. The mini concert areas are definitely fun, but the whole venue gets pretty crowded making it difficult to really enjoy your street food or art stall. The bars around the area are a nice stop after though. read more

As much as I enjoy this festival because of its location convenience ((it's literally held outside my apt building), I hate the garbage, the broken bottles, and the graffiti resulting after the event. Security has to have a better handle on these. I also don't care much for the vendors selling stuff not worth spending your hard-earned money on. As such, I'm only giving it 2 stars. The variety of food trucks and vendors are worth the trip though. They are delicious and reasonably priced. If you want to try different cuisines for an easy dinner, come out every first Friday of the month. read more