OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- Oakland's monthly First Fridays street festival will not take place Nov. 6 as organizers work to secure funding to keep the event going.
Organizers announced the cancellation, citing a lack of funding needed to safely and sustainably produce the festival. Several sponsors pulled their support this summer following repeated incidents of violence that occurred after festival hours ended, sometimes outside the event's boundaries.
Skipping November was not an easy decision, organizers said, but they hope to bring First Fridays back in the coming months.
First Fridays is a free monthly street festival celebrating Oakland's art, culture and community.
Photo: KRON4 News.
Venessa McGee has been involved with the event since 2015. She said this is the first time in her tenure that an already scheduled festival has been canceled.
"I understand the times that we're in. But I also understand how important our event is to our community, our small businesses and even the people who attend the event and need that positive space to come together and have a good time," McGee said.
For community members like Tionnie Braud, First Fridays offers an opportunity to connect with others and enjoy Oakland's culture.
Braud said she had been planning to attend the November event before learning it was canceled.
"I love the walk through. We can come, we can walk, we can talk, we can see people of our color, of our own," Braud said.
The festival relies on sponsors to help cover operating costs. However, several pulled their support this summer following repeated violence after festival hours.
McGee urged the community to help put an end to the violence so events like First Fridays can continue.
"Please stop the violence so we can have these things here," she said.
Beyond the loss of sponsorships, the cost of producing the festival has also increased significantly.
McGee said the event cost about $10,000 to operate when she first became involved. That figure has since climbed to approximately $35,000.
Photo: KRON4.
With no festival scheduled for November, McGee is also warning vendors not to set up in the First Fridays area. Without an authorized event, vendors operating there could be considered illegal vendors.
Organizers are working to secure additional sponsors and have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support future festivals.
Despite the setback, McGee said organizers remain hopeful they can bring the event back as soon as December.
"We are trying to keep our hearts and our minds in an optimistic state that maybe some sponsors will come through between now and December so we can have our December event," McGee said.
Organizers have not confirmed whether the December First Fridays event will take place. Organizers said a decision about the December event will be announced on their social media channels and website.
