Live music, cheering wrestling fans and the aromas of food trucks filled Oakland’s Latham Square on Thursday evening as residents gathered for the launch of Oaktown Thursdays, a monthly street festival organizers hope will bring new energy downtown while supporting local businesses and artists.

The free event series takes place on the third Thursday of each month through October. Organizers said Oaktown Thursdays is designed to draw more people to downtown Oakland, increase foot traffic for small businesses and showcase the city’s artists, vendors and cultural groups.

Continue reading for FREE

This is NOT a paywall. We just want to make sure you’re a human. Sign in to read this story and receive the weekly roundup in your inbox.

Or

Terms & Conditions

Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in.
Please visit My Account to manage your account.

A graduate student at UC Berkeley's School of Journalism, Joshua is a storyteller, documentary filmmaker and multimedia producer with experience across journalism and media production. He is passionate about using compelling narratives to connect communities, amplify diverse voices and explore issues that impact everyday people.