Public Statement

Oakland, CA – September 7, 2025 — Oakland First Fridays is deeply saddened to learn about the acts of violence that took place in the Uptown/Downtown area in the early hours of Saturday morning. Our hearts go out to the families and all those impacted by these tragic events.

We also regret that our event has been mentioned in relation to these incidents. We want to be clear: there is an important distinction between the Oakland First Fridays festival—which runs from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. on Telegraph Avenue between West Grand Avenue and 27th Street in the city’s KONO District—and the late-night downtown nightlife activity that occurs on First Fridays after our event has concluded and the streets have been reopened.

What happened was not part of Oakland First Fridays. These incidents occurred outside of our event footprint and hours of operation. Unfortunately, our festival continues to be unfairly associated with violence that occurs well after our event has ended. This is not a “First Fridays problem”—this is a City of Oakland problem that must be addressed with greater support, resources, and strategies to manage late-night activity and growing nightlife crowds. This is an issue that happens not just on First Fridays but every Friday.

The unfair association of our festival with incidents of violence in downtown Oakland has had a harmful impact on our event. These unfounded connections create fear among attendees and vendors, discouraging participation in what is, in fact, a safe and well-managed festival. They also cause hesitation among potential sponsors, who may be reluctant to support an event that has been unjustly linked to violence. Such mischaracterizations undermine the hard work of organizers and community partners who are committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and safe cultural experience.

“First Friday is an overwhelmingly positive event for the community of Oakland. The music, food, entertainment, classic cars and a variety of merchandise available from vendors attract people from all over the Bay Area. These visitors to our city enjoy this event and typically bring others along with them, resulting in a large, fun gathering. Officers find this event to be one of their favorites to work because of its positive vibes.”

- Captain A. Smith, Oakland Police Department

Oakland First Fridays has worked diligently to make safety a top priority for our vendors, volunteers, attendees, and staff. We have implemented strong security measures and continuously evaluate how to keep our community safe. While Oakland still has work to do, we know there are great people and great things in this beautiful city, and First Fridays remains a positive, unifying force for our community.

We understand how vital Oakland First Fridays is to Oakland and the surrounding cities, and we remain steadfast in our mission: to Protect and Preserve Positive Safe Spaces in Oakland.

Sincerely,
Venessa McGhee
Festival Director, Oakland First Fridays