Current Oakland First Fridays Volunteer Positions
Pre-Event Support
We are looking for someone friendly and cooperative to help with last minute tasks: helping close off the street, setting up our check in booth, cleaning vendor spots, and more!
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Photographer/Videographer We're looking for someone with a great artistic eye! We will provide credit for the photographer wherever we place the images. Must have some photography experience! Ability to photograph action, low lighting, evening, and outdoors. You'll need to provide your own equipment, edit and post final photos to our shared Google drive within 7 days after the event.
4:00pm - 9:00pm
Food Redistribution Support
Are you passionate about how sustainable communities addressing hunger? You can support Oakland First Fridays by visiting vendors at closing time (9pm) and gathering food donations/food excess. We have partnered with organizations to redistribute meals to our Oakland neighbors, families, and curbside communities.
8:30pm - 9:30pm
Vendor Check-In
Volunteers will make sure the vendors are in their correct spaces and keep track of who has arrived. Verify all vendors from the master list after 5pm, report any rouge vendors. Vendor Check-Out: Report any rouge vendors, Give 15 min warning to vendors selling at 8:45pm, walk the footprint again at 9pm warning vendors to stop selling. We're looking for someone friendly, outgoing, and cooperative!
SHIFT 1: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
SHIFT 2: 8:00pm-9:00pm Front Gate Greeter
Volunteers will greet guests as they enter the festival and ask for donations to help save First Fridays! They are acting as the First Fridays welcoming committee so this position requires you to be friendly, outgoing, and willing to engage with attendees!
SHIFT 1: 5pm-7pm
SHIFT 2: 7pm-9pm
RunnerProvides support wherever needed during the festival. We're looking for someone friendly, cooperative, and able to work in a team!
SHIFT 1: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
SHIFT 2: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Event BreakdownProvides assistance with the shutdown and breakdown of the event, REQUIRES HEAVY LIFTING.
9:30pm-11:30pm
Bar Support
*Must be at least 21 years old* Volunteers will assist with the setup or breakdown of the KONO Lounge and helping out with other tasks for the bar. Requires some heavy lifting. We're looking for someone friendly, upbeat, and outgoing!
2:30pm-5:30pm
7:00pm-10:00pm
Recycling and Sorting Volunteer
Volunteers will advise our patrons how to properly separate and place their discards into the correct receptacles. Will work with a company that helps sort out trash.
5:00pm-7:00pm
7:00pm-9:00pm
To learn more email us at
volunteers@oaklandfirstfridays.org.
How do you get started?
1.) SIGN UP using
this form or
email us expressing interest so we can find a position that works best with you! Please note the Volunteer Sign Up Form closes the Tuesday before First Friday to allow our staff to get things ready. We ask that you sign up on your behalf ONLY, nobody else's. This is to assure appropriate points of contact for communication.
2). Look out for reminders - Once you've chosen a time to volunteer, you’ll receive emails reminding you about your participation and provide updates.
3.) Volunteer on the day of the event! Come ready to support our festival team in producing one of the most amazing events in the Bay Area!