Oakland Proves Again It’s the Town that Knows How to Party

Celebrate Labor Day Weekend at the Art & Soul 2003 Festival

Oakland will be in the flow on Labor Day weekend, August 30, 31, and September 1, for the City of Oakland’s 3rd Annual Art & Soul festival. Presented by Albertson’s, this year the free festival expands to a three- day celebration of Oakland’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity.

Art & Soul 2003 kicks off on Saturday with a special family day chock-full of children’s activities and entertainment, and then expands full-scale on Sunday/Monday with continuous live music on five big stages located in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, adjacent City Center, and surrounding streets in reenergized downtown Oakland.  

And what better way to celebrate than to party with Ziggy Marley. KFOG 104.5 FM presents the Reggae superstar as the headliner of Sunday’s free concert that also features KFOG World Class Artists Guster and new discovery Matt Nathanson.  Monday’s headliner is the fabulous jazz artist Rachelle Ferrell with special guest Russ Barnes, hosted by KBLX 102.9 FM.  
Art & Soul is the Bay Area’s hottest new festival, where festival-goers can groove to live rock, blues, jazz, gospel, folk and world music; stroll through an eclectic artisan marketplace; frolic in a festive family fun zone; enjoy readings by acclaimed authors; and celebrate local culture. Dozens of craftspeople and fine artisans will display their works, with an array of exciting pieces available for purchase.

Be prepared to feast on fabulous foods in outdoor cafe-style seating at restaurants and cafes located in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and City Center – in addition to scores of vendors serving up exotic ethnic foods.  Get set as well for mouth-watering catfish, red snapper, Thai, and the always popular barbecue! Hot dogs, beverages, and snacks will also be available.

Saturday is the big day for youth-oriented entertainment, however the Kids Fun Zone continues all three days, offering loads of interactive activities such as arts & crafts, storytelling, face painting, magic, games, sports activities, and painting of huge murals that will help dress up construction fences throughout Oakland.

Oakland has one of the largest arts communities on the West Coast, with more than 5,000 professional artists making the city their home. The arts are celebrated in Oakland on every level--from acclaimed symphony and ballet companies to world-class museums, quaint galleries, small performing and visual arts organizations and cultural festivals and events.

To celebrate Oakland’s literary tradition, Art & Soul will include the first-ever Oakland Literature Expo, a program designed to spotlight Oakland’s literary heritage, promote literacy, and showcase well-known and emerging authors. The Oakland Literature Expo is sponsored by PEN Oakland, the Before Columbus Foundation, Poetry Flash, the Oakland Public Library, and the California Arts Council.  Saturday’s activities include: open mikes for children, youth, and adults; and a publishing and poet laureate panel.  On Sunday, the American Book Awards will be the happening place to be.  Literary luminaries Daniel Ellsberg, Jack Newfield, and Max Rodriguez are the featured authors.  Finally, on Monday, the always exciting Literature Without Borders, featuring well-known and local poets, will keep the party going.  Internationally acclaimed composer Steven Halpern will provide the musical backup for the poets.

Come celebrate cultural diversity at the City of Oakland’s 3rd Annual Art & Soul Festival, presented by Albertson’s.