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When it comes to finding unique gifts for all tastes and occasions, The Town is the place to look. We may not have your typical commercial malls, but to us, it is the surplus of mom-and-pop shops and POC-owned brick and mortars that spark all the joy and carry the best jems. Whether you are in search of a niche boutique selling gorgeous handcrafted jewelry, or an eclectic gift shop that’s candle, tech accessory and home decor galore, there is a perfect place for you. Here are eight unique gift shops all across the The Town that can help you take the stress out of shopping for people. This blog post may not include every gift shop in Oakland. We welcome you to share your favorites in the comments down below.

The Dia de los Muertos Festival is host to 20-30 traditional ofrendas that invite spirits in the afterlife to be memorialized. This year there were twenty-eight artists and community members that worked on large installations of Dia de los Muertos altares (day of the dead altars). Although each altar was unique, topics

*content updated by Visit Oakland.

1.Experience the Fruitvale Night Markets! Enjoy music, kids’ activities and live performances at Avenida de La Fuente every second and fourth Thursday of the month (June-August). The markets only happen during the summer, so make sure to stop by soon.

2. Enjoy a mangonada at Nieves

When visiting Oakland, we know you’re going to want to indulge. There’s a nationally-acclaimed restaurant on nearly every corner, a classic dive bar or new brewery calling your name.

Not to worry – just outside your hotel room door, there are also several simple and fun running routes to help you maintain your exercise regimen, while also giving you a chance to explore the surrounding neighborhoods. And, with 260 sunny days a year, it’s always a good time to hit the pavement in The Town. 

When people talk about Bay Area style, they are most likely talking about Oakland. With Oakland’s rich and diverse sense of style, you’ll find its denizens sporting everything from high-end designer goods to funky looks pieced together from whatever’s on hand. These days, several Oakland-based designers are at the

"‘Less than 5% of the artists in the Modern Art Sections are women, but 85% of the nudes are female," -Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The lack of women representation in art spaces is a secret to no one and only decreases as women identities become more fluid and intersectional. Welcome to Oakland, CA where

Oakland is full of amazing art exhibits and hybrid galleries that double as retail shops, barber shops or bars, and we think you should check them all out. But if you happen to be wandering the streets, there are gorgeous murals all over The Town.

Oakland is certainly not a one-note town - its diversity and multicultural tapestry are legendary, and the creativity that flows from that influences everything in the city, including the vintage clothing stores.

And those aren’t one note either. Almost all feature additional temptations including vinyl records,

With standouts like Kehlani, Kamaiyah, and Keyshia Cole, the Bay Area (and Oakland in particular) is overflowing with musically talented womxn. Vallejo’s very own H.E.R. won not one but two Grammys this year for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album. But it’s not just the big name artists that make the Oakland

The Black Joy Parade is a hyper-positive, family-friendly turn up that celebrates the Black experience and our community's contribution to cultures past, present and future. We invite you to come be present, be creative, be open and be free.

The parade will begin on February 24, 2019, at the corner of 14th St. and