Art and Soul Festival brings thousands to downtown Oakland
on August 22, 2011
Thousands flooded the streets of downtown Oakland this weekend for the 11th annual Art and Soul festival. Musical acts spanning several genres performed on three stages with R&B group Tower of Power headlining Sunday afternoon.
Food vendors and local artisans lined the street offering cuisine from turkey legs to bread pudding, as well as crafts from unique jewelry to a wide assortment of clothing expressing Oakland pride.
Artist Jamie Treacy from Pro Arts Gallery organized an interactive community mural project near the Blues Stage. With paint and brushes provided by the gallery, artists of all skills level passing through the festival were invited to contribute.
In front of City Hall on Sunday, dancers performed routines like the Macarana and Lindy Hop as part of the “Dance Through the Decades” event. Some of the crowd joined in, mirroring many of familiar dance moves, while others simply sat watching as they enjoyed a meal from one of the near-by food vendors.
View the slideshow for photos from the Art and Soul festival on Sunday.
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I was a little worried about the turnout when I arrived early on Saturday, but the crowds grew throughout the day and Sunday was packed. A good time, I’ve enjoyed the Art & Soul festivals over the years and certainly hope they continue. Some snapshots taken on both days: http://tinyurl.com/3vlgrde