January 2025 Oakland Events
First Friday Street Festival
January 3
Oakland First Fridays is an immersive art and community experience on the first Friday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Telegraph Avenue from West Grand to 27th Street. Oakland’s KONO district springs to life with for this event, with galleries, artist collectives, street artists, local culinary artisans, performers, musicians, dancers, DJ’s, and poets gathering for Oakland First Friday events. This free event brings in thousands of people that come from across the Bay Area and beyond to see and experience art, be inspired, eat great food, enjoy live music, and stroll through the amazing, eclectic city of Oakland. Click here for info.
Grand Lake Farmers Market
January 4
Grand Lake Farmers Market is widely acclaimed as the best farmers market in the East Bay. Oakland residents have made a ritual of this farmers market; anxiously awaiting Saturday morning to head over to Splash Pad Park to pick up their fruits and vegetables direct from their farmer and enjoy lunch on the lawn. The Oakland farmers market is open every Saturday, year-round, rain or shine, from 9am to 2pm. The Market features over 40 local farmers, 30 specialty food purveyors, and a handful of local artisans. For info, click here.
Harlem Globetrotters at the Oakland Arena
January 17
NEW Year, NEW Global Tour, NEW Challenges! Same Globetrotters You LOVE! See all the amazing basketball spins, slams, and dunks that you’ve come to expect at every Globetrotters game, PLUS new trials as players face-off to see who can pull off astonishing trick shots and more! See your favorite Globetrotter stars and their renowned rivals, the Washington Generals, LIVE as they challenge themselves and each other to new moves, new shots, and new innovations! Click here for tickets.
In The Name of Love: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Paramount Theatre
January 18
For 2025 In the Name of Love will honor the vision and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., through the music of Aretha Franklin. The Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award will be presented at this Tribute, giving recognition to those who serve Oakland with unrelenting leadership and dedication to improving the lives of East Bay citizens. Ticket info here.
Epic Cheese Fest 2025 at Rockridge Market Hall
January 25 from 12 to 3 PM
Cheese lovers, you don’t want to miss the 2nd Annual Epic Cheese Fest at Rockridge Market Hall, featuring free tastings and demonstrations with some of our favorite makers of artisan cheese from the Alps and beyond. Meet the makers, importers and industry icons behind some of the best cheeses in the world. Guests will enjoy tastes of the cheeses above, along with opportunities to buy cheese and German/Alpine specialty foods to enjoy at home. Berkeley’s Squabisch Pretzels will be on hand, offering an exclusive cheese-filled pretzel made just for Epic Cheese Fest, and Oakland’s LINE 51 Brewing Company will offer samples of lager for those 21 and older. Click here for info.