Oakland's Art & Soul Festival 2010: What a weekend! (200+ photos - are you there?)

Susan Mernit Mon, 23 Aug at 9:44am
Photo by Eric Arnold, http://www.flickr.com/photos/oaklandlocal/4916059105/in/set-72157624656898123/#/

Photo by Eric Arnold, http://www.flickr.com/photos/oaklandlocal/4916059105/in/set-72157624656898123/#/

Thousands of people filled downtown during this past weekend's Art and Soul Festival. And while the amazing Oakland-related performers - from Oakland native MC Hammer to Cake's John McRea to our very own Kev Choice, plus Club Nouveau, Pete Escovedo, Sheila E and Tony Toni Toné - thrilled the crowds who dug the hip hop, the pop, the jazz, the rock, R&B and gospel. It seemed like the main attraction - besides sunny skies- was Oakland itself, and the need to celebrate the arts, the spirit and the determination that makes our city great.

Are you there?

Check out these photo-galleries from the weekend and see whether your Oakland is represented there. Eric Arnold's gallery for OL has more than 60 fabulous photos of everything from Hammer to kids in the crowd.

Photographer William Hull's set offers almost 40 photos, with great faces in the crowd.

And Julie Clarke's set offers more photos of CAKE performing that you might want to see. Her other shots of the day are lovely, so don't miss them!

About Susan Mernit
Susan Mernit is the founder of Oakland Local. She is also a circuit rider for The Community Information Challenge, a program of The John S and James L Knight Foundation, and a consultant to non-profit and community organizations. Susan lives in North Oakland, near the Santa Fe school, with her partner, her housemate, a rescue dog named Cazzie, and a yard full of ants. She is an aspiring gardener, a long-time blogger & entrepreneur, and a recovering journalist who's found home in Oakland.