Grown-ups gather for a night out at Children’s Fairyland

On Friday night, the spell that had been cast over Children’s Fairyland for the past 60 years ago was broken: adults were allowed into the park without a child.

For one night only, Oakland’s historic Children’s Fairyland opened its magical doors to the young at heart aged 21 and over. The spell that has been cast over Children’s Fairyland for 60 years was broken: adults were allowed into the park without a child last Friday night. For three hours, close to 1,200 adults, most of them in their 20s and 30s, marauded the historic wonderland. Some visited for the first time, others for the first time in more than 20 years.

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Mayor’s Community Toy Drive brings cheer to many

Roughly 1,200 Oakland families have signed up so far to receive toys through the Mayor's Community Toy Drive this year. New, unwrapped toys can be donated in bins located around the city.

At this time of year, many parents grab up lists to Santa and race to the mall in hopes of nabbing the year’s hottest toys to hide under the tree. But for Nombuyiselo Gqajena, an Oakland mother living at the Henry Robinson Multi-Service Center—a transitional housing facility—Christmas presents great emotional and financial stress.

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