This is my second year attend the oaktoberfest in the dimond and it's always fun. For $25 you get…read morea souvenir mug and 4 drink tickets. Not a bad deal since most vendors give you a 3 finger sampling pour before you commit. Don't be suckered into buying tickets online. It's not worth the inconvenience fee and the lines aren't that long. It's a great neighborhood event if you live in the area. The local library and shops attend so you can get to know what's available. Oakland recycles, bart, dimond library, and state farm were represented. It's nice to have beer vendors from all over. Some came from livermore to mendocino including the local ones. There's a little of everything for those with particular palettes--blondie, ales, cider, lagers and stouts. I'm all for ciders and Gowan's Herloom cider is always a hit. Food vendor lines were definitely moving a long. I can't stand those lines that make you wait forever because they can't be efficient. There were also good local vendor representation literally from the street they reside on. Festival is free to attend, just pay for the things you want to eat and drink. One stinker is some of the vendors started running out of some or their lines and it was only 2pm!

As a local resident, I don't look forward to Oaktoberfest because my neighborhood gets vandalized…read moreor someone's car get stolen, yes it maybe normal here but I shouldn't have to be in fight or flight mode in my neighborhood. It's more prone to accidents because I assume more cars.

We had a great time at the North Beach Festival's 70th anniversary celebration this past weekend…read more Endless vendors selling food, drinks, and unique merchandise such as stereos made out of vintage tin lunch boxes, or purses created out of aluminum can tabs. Lots of good eats on site, from pies to gyros... the grilled pork belly plate from GIM Belly's food stand was especially tasty. Multiple stages at different corners of the event entertaining crowds with amazing live music. My fave was the Good Bad band, playing awesome bluegrass tunes on various string instruments including the mandolin and banjo. Parking wasn't easy, but we got lucky finding a spot on the street a block away after circling a couple times. Overall, a positive experience.

In terms of street festivals in San Francisco, the North Beach festival has been the best one we've…read morebeen to in 2024, it's also one of the biggest ones in regards to sheer size and street closures. They block maybe 6-7 blocks for food, vendors, shopping, etc, plus it's dog friendly. We never miss a chance to stroll in the middle of the streets and soak up a sunny day in the city. We got there around 12ish and it was already starting to get packed. They had a good selection of food, and we ended up eating some sweet chili chicken tenders and crab fries. Forget the $28 we spent, it was well worth it. We also did some shopping and picked up some unique pieces for an upcoming trip. If you've been to other street festivals, you'll notice to see a lot of repeat vendors from the other festivals, but North Beach's size allows for more. The smaller beer gardens were kinda lackluster though. 3 different areas for live music more than made up for it and kept things interesting. Being there for a day and experiencing the festival is proof once again that the city has fallen off and is still a great place to visit and explore Definitely will be back next year for this festival!

One of the best times for being a local, stern grove festival. Can't ask much more from a free…read morefestival. Public enemy killed it. Tip: Get there early! First time I went early because of our early admission tickets but when we got in, nearly all good spots were taken.

I'd been hesitant about participating in the new random lottery raffle process introduced in 2025…read more I attempted a couple times in 2025 but to no avail. This season I submitted my name for Patti LaBelle concert. And luck was on my side. We got the tickets via email in pdf format. We live walking distance from Stern Grove. We walked over at 3pm, knowing the concert began at 2pm with an opening act which we purposely missed, and entered at 23rd Av and Wawona entrance. Our tickets were scanned. Glancing around we decided to stay up in the tree area. We waited 45 minutes; then Patti appeared on stage. The sound system was very good even up in the trees. By 4:30pm it became nippy as there was no direct sunlight. It was nice to see Patti LaBelle, considered the Godmother of Soul live in concert.

Stopped by to look around for some gifts. I lucked out and…read morefound parking in the free parking lot. Good start to the day. It was crowded,but not crazy. You had time and room to look at all the vendors. We ended up picking up some unique pottery vases and mugs. It was nice to find different home made items to give as Xmas gifts. Also J.Street chocolate was there. She has some of the best tasting chocolates in San Francisco. She doesn't have a brick and mortar shop. So when do see her pop ups . I like to stock up.

Prepare your wallet!!!!! There was an incredible selection of items and services. This event…read morefeatures small businesses on the slightly more expensive side. I saw wooden boards going for $180. My absolute favorite this time around were all the different ceramics businesses. I saw beautiful spoon rests for $45 and many gorgeous mugs for $60. The prices are a bit steep but you are paying for the craftsmanship and the design. There was also a vendor selling this adorable butter stick duffle bag in two sizes. I fell in love!

What I love about this place is that it's a quiet, hidden, well -conceived gem nestled in an…read moreindustrial neighborhood of unfinished afterthoughts. The approach to this recreation area will dare you to turn and flee for your life and offer you multiple opportunities to do just that. DON'T DO IT. If you can just hang in there a little longer and ignore the blight and poverty stricken neighborhood, endure the roads[?] I guess, I don't know what else to call them, if you can just keep telling yourself that some guy on Google Maps said there's a treasure beyond the signs reading "ABANDON ALL HOPE" and "AHEAD, PERIL AWAITS THEE", if you can brave this gauntlet of doom harbingers, you will be rewarded with a paved parking lot with plenty of parking spaces, restrooms, a number of trails with access to multiple day-use picnic areas, and some of the most stunning sea-level views of the San Francisco bay that Northern California offers. And I should know, I'm a black guy. It's a big enough recreation area for every visitor to feel they have the entire place to themselves. Oh sure, there's the occasional naked guy sitting in his car doing drugs and watching porn, but I'm only there on random weekday mornings and occasional Sunday evenings. Just mind your own f**king business and there won't be any problems. In fact, now that I think about it, this place is awful. You should never visit. Your instinct is correct and you should heed every warning. The fresh air and peaceful solitude are toxic for your health and mental well-being. If you want to live a long and happy life, stay away from this recreation area, and definitely don't bring a dog, or some friends, or ribs for the grill, or a drone to fly, or a bike to ride. Just stay home and watch tv because tv is good for you. A 2023 study I just made up shows that 9 out of 10 avid watchers of television were not responsible for the devastating hurricanes that battered communities along the Mexican Gulf. In fact, the study goes on to prove that all 10 out of 10 avid watchers of television were not responsible for anything at all. So, television is your safest bet. Leave the parks and recreation areas to the deadly hook-bearing fishermen with their eerie patience and their "lite-beer", and to those barbarians who partake in the brutal act of the afternoon stroll. They offend me the most.

You are really at the end of the city. I tend to come here only if I'm all hiked out elsewhere…read morebecause it's so far south. It seems like there are 2 areas to park, there is a lot at Harney Way which has a small patch with a trail that is about a .7 mile loop which is good if you wanted something very short. The other parking entrance is off of Gilman Avenue. You used to be able to drive to that entrance from Harney Way but they've recently closed Hunter Point Expressway to cars though you can still walk along the road which is worth it because the trail goes along the water and there is an old fishing pier. A few years ago this street was lined exclusively with RVs so it was a little intimidating to come out here. Now they are gone, and I think plans are to develop the old Candlestick Park into something. To add both trails is about a 2-mile easy walk with minimal shade. Normally this isn't an issue with SF's weather but just to keep in mind if you go on a rare hot day. I love the ocean and being so close to it. There are a couple of little beaches to walk along but it's mainly rocks. The park has kind of a quiet eerie industrial feel, it looks out to Hunters Point and Gantry Crane. In the spring there are tons of amazing wildflowers like mustard, yellow daisies, orange monkey flower, etc. For a list of more SF hikes and walks: https://bit.ly/43PhQtL

A huge plethora of food options with most (if not all) stalls having a "sampler" option that is…read moretheir cheapest option if you'd like to try a dish from their booth. The sushi tacos and the fried squid were the stars of the show in our food spread but they are a bit expensive. We thought the fried squid was the most worth item, and they give you scissors to cut the meat to be shareable. The sushi tacos were quite expensive for the size but objectively very flavorful. The birria egg rolls were the most disappointing as it was dry, and our party did not feel that it was worth the try. The birria burrito and fries were good, though we didn't find anything particularly amazing about it. We also tried the matcha mochiyaki (a bit bitter but chewy) and the fried Oreos (AMAZING 5/5) It can get very cold by the end of the night so definitely come early and start heading home before it gets too windy! There are also some games that you can play that are family friendly. Seating can get a bit crowded on peak times too!

holy guacamole, the amount of food I ate here can only be surpassed by the amount of money I spent…read moreON THE FOOD. While my stomach was getting fatter, my wallet was getting thinner. $27 on a big baby bottle made me never wanna have kids. And the $10 tacos made me appreciate taco bell even more. With all that being said, I rate 10/10 simply due to the sushi pizza. Other ratings down below: sushi taco: 9/10 mac n cheese w chicken: 6.7/10 cookie butter coffee: 7/10 fruity pebble cheesecake: 8/10 mini pancakes: 8/10 wind was my biggest op

So many vendors with good food, merch, and community support. Not to be missed next timeread more

We went to the Laurel Street festival last weekend. This is a free festival in Oakland's Laurel…read moreneighborhood. This was the 3rd of 4th time I've been. If you want an alcoholic beverage you need to purchase a glass and tickets for wine or beer. There was a line for drinks, but it seemed to move pretty quickly. We are fresh baked chocolate chip cookies from Crumble & Whisk, French fries and a corn dog. It's a family friendly event with lots of vendors, food and live music. We saw various live arts and culture performances and enjoyed the music, food and sunshine! Parking was a bit tricky, but we found a spot in the neighborhood and walked into the festival. Until next year!

In previous years I was always disappointed not being able to attend First Friday's as it's now…read moresomething I look forward to every month and every year. I tell everyone I know even though I live outside of Oakland it's an experience worth coming too. They always have various vendors and that's part of what makes coming here so unique and worth it. I love supporting the community and specifically look for art and handmade jewelry while I am here. They have such tasty food options I always get excited when I see new things I haven't tried before. One of my favorite times was when they had an art wall and you were able to pick a small square and create a positive message. First Friday's is an event that's open to all ages, it is pet friendly as well though some pups may find it a bit loud. Please continue to support this event, tell your friends and please DONATE to keep this alive in the community! :)

This review is a long time coming! I've frequented this event for years and have never had a bad…read moretime. Between the various food trucks, local vendors, community activism and outreach representation, fashion shows and car shows, there is SOMETHING for everyone! Nothing but positive vibes and good energy. There's a drum circle and anyone can pick up an instrument and join in to play or dance. If you're a shopper and like handmade jewelry, art and handmade soaps and oils, you'll find it here. I consider this event family and pet friendly for sure. There is no cost for entry however donations are requested in order to keep this event going so bring some cash to donate what you can. ***Also the empanada truck does not miss, VERY GOOD, I highly recommend!