Oakland is activity to be affair axial Labor Day weekend as the burghal celebrats its fifth anniversary Pride anniversary on August 31.
The active anniversary anniversary was originally launched in 1997 until it fizzled due to abridgement of funding, and antagonism from the Art and Soul Festival. But the accident has been architecture drive during the aftermost bristles years. It's bound become the additional better Pride anniversary in Northern California, and will allure what organizers appraisal will be about 50,000 attendees this year.
With the theme, "Pride is Oakland. Oakland is Pride," the LGBT association and their allies are absolutely appreciative of their burghal and active LGBT community.
Oakland's own Grammy award-winning artists Sheila E account the anniversary and will appearance the army Oakland's acidity back she performs songs from her anew appear anthology Icon, an all-embracing mix of music from her own almanac label, Stiletto Flats. She will additionally advance bottomward Broadway as one of the festival's admirable marshals of the first-ever Pride Parade on Sunday (see our account on folio 40).
The anniversary will additionally affection aptitude on the Latin and Womyn's stages throughout the day from 3P.M. to 5P.M. Sheila E takes the capital date at 6 p.m.
"I adulation the actuality that Sheila E is the amateur this year," said Christiana Remington, administrator of the Womyn's Date at Oakland Pride. Remington said that the Womyn's Stage's affair this year is, "We Run the World."
Oakland Pride is the piece de resistance for the weekend, but the affair absolutely gets started Friday and keeps activity throughout the anniversary weekend.
"Our parties are so unique. You absolutely don't get these types of parties anywhere abroad in the bay," said Joe Hawkins, a advance who is one of the co-founders and above co-chair of .
Hawkins acicular out that what makes parties during Oakland Pride and throughout the weekend clashing annihilation abroad apparent at any added Pride anniversary is the assortment of the audience.
Oakland has a abundance of hip-hop and Latin beats acquired from its arresting African American and Latin communities that animate giving it a accomplished altered exhausted and vibe than any added Pride anniversary in Northern California, Hawkins said.
Kicking off weekend and accepting the affair started tonight (Thursday, August 28) will be a Pride Happy Hour and Karaoke at the Bench and Bar, 510 17th Street, runnignf rom 4 P.M to 2 A.M. Several comedians will be out at Club 21 authoritative the army barrage with laughter, starting at 8 P.M.
photo: address Valentin Presents
Gay cowboys will bang up their heels with alcohol specials and alive music by Codigo V. at the anniversary Vaquero Kick-Off Affair Friday, August 29 at the Bench and Bar starting at 4 P.M.
Also Friday night, Latin Explosion appearance Diva Lola's Birthday Bash, including an ice brazier fundraiser challenge, and a Latin Pride Bang Off Affair with performances by Miss Lulu and Jack, additional DJ Carlitos spinning Latin, Top 40 and Abode at Club 21, 2111 Franklin Street.
The celebrations absolutely get activity Saturday night, August 30, authoritative it appropriate for party-hopping, starting with Oakland mayoral applicant Rebecca Kaplan's Fabulous Pride Affair at the Bench and Bar starting at 5:30 P.M. The affair is aloof a balmy up for the evening's offerings.
For anomalous hip hop performances, fiveTEN Oakland Events' presents Cakes Da Killer with appropriate performances with Zulu Nasty, Jocquese, and Aima the Dreamer. On the tables are DJs Lady Ryan, Val G, Fusion and Motive at The New Parish, 579 18th Street, from 8 P.M to closing.
La Bota Loca Pride Affair presents Tania Soto with Band OBM and a appropriate achievement gets the Latin juices abounding at Club 21, from 9 P.M. to closing.
Club Rimshot's Stripper Battle, with adult strippers aggressive it out on the ball pole all night long, shouldn't be missed. DJ Rum in the Mixx will circuit the beats at Bench and Bar.
The weekend additionally includes an arrangement of parties on Sunday, August 31, with a Pride After-Party in advanced of Club 21, from 7 P.M to midnight.
La Bota Loca's Closing Affair central the club includes Banda Cienega alive on date and an accepted arranged abode with DJ Fabricio arena from 7 P,M to closing.
If Latin beats aren't your thing, arch over to the Epic Oaktown Bash at Bench and Bar, for Club Rimshot's massive Hip-Hop and Abode affair at Bench and Bar with DJs David Harness, Olga T and Rum.
And for added fun, the celebrated White Horse Bar at 6551 Telegraph Avenue appearance Xelle headlining and DJ Porn Star spinning starting at 7 P.M.
With all these contest through the weekend, thankfully, best attendees will accept Monday off to recover.
Heather Cassell is a biking and ball biographer for the Bay Area Reporter and added publications. www.GirlsThatRoam.com