Oakland

Oakland Preps for Second Annual Black Joy Parade and Celebration

The second annual Black Joy Parade and Celebration, planned as a "showcase the undeniable energy, creativity and excellence of the African American community," will fill the streets of downtown Oakland Sunday afternoon.

The parade itself, with at least 1,000 participants expected, starts at 12:30 p.m. at 14th and Harrison Streets. It will move west along 14th Street to Broadway, where the parade route turns right (north) onto Broadway. The parade will end at the corner of Broadway and 20th Street.

After the parade ends, the festival is set to begin, between 20th and 22nd Streets and Webster Street and Broadway. There will be two performance stages; the main stage will feature a headliner performance by T-Pain. The Community Stage will showcase spoken-word artists and dance.

There also will be some 140 vendors, a skate park, a soccer tournament, the Black Vines wine collective, an artist lounge, a kids' zone, a healing village, a beauty lounge and more.

The festival will end at approximately 7 p.m. Sunday with a celebration.

In a release from event organizer Shavonne Graham, "Far too often black people come together to resist, but it is rare that we come together to celebrate our culture and the positivity that we bring to the world. The Black Joy Parade seeks to amplify joy by bringing the black community and its allies together to celebrate the beauty in our culture."

The parade and festival are free for spectators, but a number of streets in downtown Oakland will be closed off part of the day Sunday to vehicle traffic.

Copyright BAYCN - Bay City News
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