Oakland cancels November First Fridays festival due to funding shortfall

Oakland's First Fridays street festival, a free monthly event celebrating local art and culture, will not be held on November 6, KRON4 reported. Organizers announced the cancellation citing a lack of funding required to safely and sustainably produce the festival.

Several sponsors withdrew their support this summer after repeated incidents of violence occurred following festival hours, sometimes outside the event's boundaries. This loss of sponsorship contributed significantly to the funding shortfall.

Vanessa McGee, involved with First Fridays since 2015, said this is the first time a scheduled festival has been canceled during her tenure. She emphasized the event's importance to the community, small businesses, and attendees seeking a positive space to gather.

Community members like Tionnie Braud expressed disappointment, noting the festival as a vital opportunity to connect and enjoy Oakland's culture. Braud had planned to attend before learning of the cancellation.

Organizers hope to bring First Fridays back in the coming months and urged the community to help end the violence to ensure the event's continuation. McGee specifically called for stopping the violence to allow such cultural events to thrive.