The new year is filled with exciting things to celebrate and experience in Oakland.  With additions to signature city-wide annual events, a beautiful historic hotel renovation, restaurant openings, legendary anniversaries, and inspiring community activities – 2025 is going to be a really great year in The Town.  Check out the many reasons to come to Oakland, and while you’re here, plan to stay awhile and enjoy all that The Town has to offer!


WHAT’S NEW IN OAKLAND 2025


SPORTS


NBA All Star Games

Oakland is proud to be part of the 75th NBA All Star Weekend with events taking place at the Oakland Arena.  On Friday, February 14th the Ruffles NBA All Star Celebrity Game takes place at 4:00PM and on Saturday, February 15th The NBA All-Star Practice presented by AT&T happens at 11:00AM and the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T begins at 2:00PM with Morehouse College vs. Tuskegee University. nba.com

Oakland Roots Come Home to the Oakland Coliseum

Oakland Roots SC, in partnership with USL Championship, kicks off the 2025 season in March.  While their first game will be an away game in Southern California, the Oakland team will play their first home game on March 22nd at their new home at the iconic Oakland Coliseum. The 2025 season features 30 USL Championship regular season games and 4 new group-stage Jägermeister Cup games, totaling 34 games, with17 scheduled at the Oakland Coliseum.  oaklandrootssc.com

CULINARY HAPPENINGS


Restaurant Openings

Jaji Restaurant Opening

In January, Oakland will welcome Jaji, a contemporary Afghan inspired restaurant by Sophia Akbar and Paul Iglesias, the visionary team behind Parche, Oakland's acclaimed contemporary Colombian hotspot. This new venture, named after Sophia’s ancestral Afghan tribe, will embrace the rich tradition of Afghan cuisine with a modern twist. The custom cocktail list will showcase ingredients from new cultures, while blending traditional recipes highlighting the bold influences of the Afghan diaspora. Inspired by the success of Parche, which became more than just a gathering place for first-generation Colombian-Americans, the seasoned restaurateurs are excited to create a similar cultural haven for Afghan cuisine. This new concept will vividly portray the untold stories of modern Afghan women; narratives of resilience, strength, and a deep cultural heritage that deserves to be celebrated, much like the city of Oakland.  422 24th Street | Jajioak.com

Xingones Cantina

Xingones Cantina opened in the Jack London District on January 8th. The welcoming neighborhood restaurant and bar offers delicious food and affordable drinks. Xingones Cantina will show local sporting events on big screens, host karaoke and trivia nights, and fun filled brunches on the weekends. 190 4th Street | xingones.com

Fixins Soul Kitchen

Fixins, an American soul food concept, will soon be opening a new outpost in Oakland. The restaurant is owned by former NBA All-Star and Mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson and his wife Michelle.  The growing chain is known for a menu of appetizers like deep-fried deviled eggs and catfish nuggets with main courses including smothered chicken, shrimp & grits, chicken & waffles, sandwiches, burgers, and sweets like peach cobbler for dessert. 306 24th Street | fixinssoulkitchen.com

Restaurant Reinventions & Renovations


Daytrip New Concept

The highly regarded Daytrip restaurant is changing concept to Daytrip Counter. The vibe will be inherently more casual, more affordable, and even more exciting than before. Lead by Chef Finn Stern, Daytrip Counter promises a wonderful, creative culinary experience for all. 4316 Telegraph Avenue |  daytrip.com

Saucy Oakland

Known for casual and delicious original Asian-Inspired cuisine and premium cold sake, Saucy is updating their interior space, menu and dining experience with plans to re-open in February 2025. 468 8th Street | saucyoakland.com

Wright & Brown Distilling Co.

Wright & Brown Distilling Co. has remodeled and officially opened their new tasting room. Visit the distillery and taste local craft spirits that have been made with love in West Oakland since 2014. 2715 Magnolia Street | wbdistilling.com

Culinary Events


Market Hall Foods

Rockridge Market Hall Foods will be hosting three free food events in early 2025. The Epic Cheese Fest happens January 25th from 12:00PM to 3:00PM featuring some of the most famous cheese producers from around the world. On February 8th from 12:00PM to 3:00PM Market Hall Foods will host its first-ever Truffle Fest, a free event celebrating the fragrant, earthy gems and their unparalleled flavor. Taking place throughout Rockridge Market Hall, Truffle Fest will feature opportunities to win, try and buy all things truffle-related.  On May 10th from 12:00PM to 3:00PM, the Rockridge foodie hub hosts Indie Food Fest - an afternoon with independent artisan food makers from across the nation. This market-wide food festival will feature tastings of cheese, charcuterie, olive oil, and more from over 30 producers.  5655 College Avenue | markethallfoods.com

Oakland Restaurant Week

Oakland Restaurant Week returns March 20 – 30, 2025 and features specially-designed dining experiences and offers from 165+ restaurants including local gems, food trucks, Michelin-starred restaurants and newly opened eateries. It’s ten days of lunch and dinner specials, and infinite possibilities of deliciousness. Oakland Restaurant Week is about celebrating Oakland’s diverse collection of restaurants and the talented chefs that give the #1 Best Food City in the U.S. its vibrancy. The program is hosted by Visit Oakland and offered at no cost for all Oakland restaurants to participate.  Oaklandrestaurantweek.com

CULTURAL & COMMUNITY EVENTS


Children’s Fairyland 75th Anniversary

Located on the shores of Oakland’s beloved Lake Merritt, Children’s Fairyland is a whimsical ten-acre storybook theme park where children (along with their adult companions) can create, imagine, play, and learn. With close to sixty storybook sets, kid-size rides, friendly animals, and ten acres of gardens, Fairyland will delight visitors of all ages with its timeless charm. Walt Disney visited the park shortly after its opening in 1950, which some believe inspired his idea for Disneyland. In celebration of the park’s 75th anniversary in 2025, new exhibits are planned to reflect and highlight the vibrant ethnic diversity found in Oakland and the Bay Area. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00AM to 4:00PM, with live performances each weekend.  699 Bellevue Avenue | childrensfairyland.com

Chabot Space & Science Center New Events

Known for out of this world events, Chabot Space & Science Center introduces two new events in 2025. On March 13th ROCKETFEST takes place from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Attendees can blast off to Chabot Space & Science Center for a day filled with hands-on fun as they explore these feats of engineering that allow us to send satellites into orbit, study Earth’s upper atmosphere and eventually send humans to other planets. On April 18th it’s the last chance to catch a SOLAR ECLIPSE in our own back yard until 2045! Experience this amazing celestial event from Chabot’s Observation Deck, with a stellar view of the sun as it passes through 34% totality over Oakland.  10000 Skyline Boulevard | chabotspace.org

Oakland STYLE

The annual five-day celebration of art, fashion, music, cuisine and culture - Oakland STYLE, returns October 8 – 12, 2025 and introduces several new and exciting events along with many signature favorites.  Guests will enjoy a cocktail event and mixology competition, a fashion design competition, A Taste of Style dinner and fashion show, High Tea + High Fashion at the Claremont Club & Spa, art walks, sneaker workshops and exhibits, live music events, an epic block party and so much more. Oakland STYLE is not to be missed!  oaklandstyle.com

The Bridge Yard BIG SING

The Bridge Yard gets vocal with the BIG SING happening every 4th Thursday beginning January 23rd from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. The BIG SING is a monthly massive singalong for the soul with hundreds of people gathering together to sing their hearts out. Led by a conspiracy of choirs and song-leader luminaries, the crowd will  sing well known songs or new ones that can be quickly learned. The repertoire will include pop anthems, gospel, improv, medicine songs, and community classics.  All will leave people spirit-nourished and uplifted. $20 for adults, $10 for 18 and under. All ages are welcome. 210 Burma Road  | thebridgeyard.com

Laurel District Mural Tour

The Laurel District is a vibrant business corridor and essential hub of salons, restaurants, shopping, drinking establishments, and a wide variety of everyday services. Increasingly, this stretch of MacArthur Boulevard from 35th Avenue to High Street has become a Bay Area destination for something entirely different. Visitors can now participate in a self-guided walking tour of large-scale murals created by local artists that honor the history and cultures of one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the region. The Laurel District Association has mounted plaques at ten large murals which provide details about the artist and their art. laureldistrictassociation.org/mural-tour

Oakland Pride 15th Anniversary

Oakland Pride celebrates 15 Years of unity and diversity. Since its founding in 2009, Oakland Pride has been a beacon for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, creating spaces to celebrate diversity, foster inclusivity, and promote equity. From its inaugural festival in 2010 to its upcoming milestone event in September 2025, Oakland Pride has grown into a cherished tradition that showcases the vibrant spirit of Oakland and its surrounding communities. oaklandpride.org

HISTORIC HOTEL RESTORATION


Claremont Club & Spa Restoration

The iconic Claremont Club & Spa has partially completed restoration to the  exterior facade of this historic treasure. The remaining façade restorations will continue in 2025. New updates have also been made at the club with the addition of four permanent pickleball courts, and the resurfacing of eight tennis courts including new fencing and LED lighting. Situated on 22 acres in the Oakland Hills, Claremont Club & Spa seamlessly blends its rich 19th-century history with the modern day to offer the best of the Bay Area. 41 Tunnel Road  | claremont-hotel.com

OAKLAND AIRPORT UPDATES


OAK New Flights

OAK Airport’s newest international carrier, Viva, inaugurated their new nonstop service between the San Francisco Bay Area at OAK and Guadalajara (GDL). The new flights to Guadalajara will operate daily on Viva’s fleet of Airbus 320 or Airbus 321 aircraft, seating 186 and 240 passengers. OAK also welcomes new flights to Zacatecas, Monterrey and Los Cabos on Volaris Airlines who announced a new nonstop service to Zacatecas, its eighth destination from OAK. Zacatecas joins Monterrey and Los Cabos bringing the number to three, new, nonstop routes between OAK and popular Mexican destinations. The flights will operate Wednesday, Friday and Sunday beginning July 2, 2025. 

OAK Renovations

OAK has completed the first two phases of their check-in counter renovations. The Terminal 1 check-in lobby has been renovated to welcome departing passengers at OAK with new and modern finishes and lighting that will brighten the space.  OAK is embarking on a multi-year Terminal Restroom Renovation Program. The program will add gender-neutral facilities, modernize facilities and finishes, and install new high efficiency, low water use fixtures. The program will be implemented in phases. Phase 1 will include the restoration of a currently closed women’s restroom at Gate 4 and a refresh of the men’s restroom at Gate 3. There will also be a conversion of an existing men’s restroom at Gate 7 into single-user gender-neutral/family restrooms, as well as a lactation suite. Phase 1 completion is anticipated in mid-2025.

OAK New Restaurants & Shops

A16 Pizza and Cancun Sabor Mexicano are now open at OAK! Forge and District will be opening mid-year. OAK will also open 16 new retail stores throughout the airport. The retail program will focus on designs, concepts, and locally curated merchandise to bring Oakland and the East Bay into the airport. Work from local artists will be featured in several of the new storefronts. Art will represent the cultural diversity and allure of Oakland and the East Bay. Passengers can expect more large-scale murals from local artists in the retail spaces, similar to those installed at the airport’s new restaurants and bars under its new Food & Beverage Program. oaklandairport.com

About Oakland


Oakland celebrates its diverse community, artistic vibe, beautiful scenery, locally owned shops, multi-cultural cuisine and civic pride. Located on the east side of the Northern California Bay Area, Oakland is bordered by 19 miles of coastline to the west and rolling hills to the east.  It is conveniently located near three major airports and can be easily accessed via railway, bus or ferry.  Measuring 78.5 square miles, Oakland is the eighth largest city in California. The Town is home to numerous parks, family attractions, theaters, museums, live music venues and performing arts companies.

About Visit Oakland


Visit Oakland is a non-profit organization marketing Oakland, California as a travel destination.

Visit Oakland offers a wide variety of complimentary services and materials for travelers interested in visiting Oakland. For more information, check out visitoakland.com. Want to share the Oakland love with the world? Follow @visitoakland on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and LinkedIn. #visitoakland #oaklandloveit

 

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