upcoming Oakland events

Wondering what to do in Oakland? This weekend there are two big events: Friday is a First Friday, and so the ever-growing Art Murmur and associated events are happening all over; Saturday and Sunday is the annual Art & Soul Festival. But there's lots of other fun stuff to do if those aren't your thing, with regular events like Bites off Broadway to special events like a ghost investigation!

Ghost Investigation at Pardee Home - Friday, August 3, 6:45pm-midnight. Join Karen Zimmerman, a professional ghost investigator and author, and her staff in searching for evidence of spirits within the Pardee Home Museum. ($50)

Dancing Under the Stars - Friday, August 3, 8:30-10pm. This week's dance: the foxtrot! (free)

Jewish Film Festival at Great Wall of Oakland - Friday, August 3, 8pm-11pm. As part of First Friday, Great Wall of Oakland will host the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF) with a collaboration show titled "What Makes A Family?". Exploring the complicated and diverse relationships that exist between members of families, this show looks at our inherent needs for connection and close personal relationships. (free)

Downtown walking tours - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10am. The walking tours program goes through the summer, rotating through the 8 different tours. They're a great way to get out and see Oakland and learn about its people and history. Coming up: Saturday, August 4 - Waterfront. (free)

Oakland Heritage Alliance walking tours - Saturday and Sunday. Saturday: Broadway Meets the Water; Sunday: Piedmont Avenue. ($10-$15)

Art & Soul Festival - Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5. Lots of music, food and fun in downtown Oakland. Read about past Art & Soul events: 2009, 2011 ($5-$10)

Block Party on National Night Out - Tuesday August 7, 7-9pm. Neighborhoods are hosting parties all over the city to get to know your neighbors and have fun. (free)

ongoing events:

Bites off Broadway (Fridays)
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
OMCA Summer Nights (last Friday of the month)
OHA Walking Tours (Saturdays and Sundays)

looking further ahead:

Laurel Street Fair - Saturday, August 11, 11 am-6 pm, MacArthur Blvd. between 35th and 38th Street: Food, music and fun in the Laurel District. (free)

Raider Nation Celebration - Sunday, August 12, 1-4pm. Celebrate the start of the football season with the Raiders at the Coliseum.

Twilight by the Lake Thursday, August 16, 5-7:30pm. The Cathedral of Christ the Light is starting up their summer series of mixers again. (free)

Pedalfest - Saturday, August 18, 11am-8pm. The second annual Pedfalfest at Jack London Square. Last year's Pedalfest was hella fun, for cyclists and non-cyclists alike. (free)

Great Oakland Public Schools Garden Party - Saturday, August 18, 1-4pm. Fundraiser for Great Oakland Public Schools featuring local food, wine and beer.

Jazz by the Lake - Sunday, August 19, 2-4pm. Nicolas Bearde at Camron-Stanford House with some smooth, sassy jazz. ($25-$30).

Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Challenge - Saturday, August 25. The 8th annual Faith Fancher breast cancer 5K walk and fundraiser.

Eat Real Fest - Friday, September 2–Sunday, September 4. (free)

Taste of Temescal, Tuesday, September 18, 6- 8:30 pm. A culinary crawl to scintillate your palates: the Taste of Temescal on Telegraph Avenue between 43th and 51st. ($30)

Red Cross Out for Blood Fun Run - Sunday, September 30, 9am. A fun fundraiser for Northern California Red Cross blood services. Read about last year's fun run. ($25-$30)