Catch a play, show Alameda Pride, shop Witchfest, and support the inaugural Filipino Island Fest
This weekend’s calendar is overflowing with amazing events. On Friday, catch Altarena’s extraordinary production of Words That Made the Difference: Brown vs the Board of Education, written and directed by Dr. Cindy Acker, Ed.D. On Saturday, you’ll have your choice of not one, not two, but three festivals! The third annual Alameda Pride kicks off with a 5K fun run/walk, continues to the main celebration at Chochenyo Park, and concludes with a block party. Across town on Webster Street, Feathered Outlaw’s Witchfest 2024 will celebrate Samhain with an outdoor market and workshops. At Alameda Point’s Waterfront Park, the first-ever Filipino Island Fest will feature artisan crafts, delicious food, and fantastic performances. Grab your crew and a car, and you could festival-hop to all three of them!
Words That Made the Difference: Brown vs the Board of Education
Friday, October 4
Words That Made the Difference: Brown vs the Board of Education returns to Alameda for one show only at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High Street. Catch the performance at 8 p.m. on Friday, October 4. Tickets are $25.
Written and directed by Dr. Cindy Acker, Ed.D, Words That Made the Difference is set in the courtrooms of history, with the plaintiffs, witnesses, and justices whose courageous words culminated in the groundbreaking civil rights decision issued by Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren on May 17, 1954. The script draws from the actual words in the late Chief Justice’s memoirs and from the trial transcripts of the five cases that were brought together before the Supreme Court.
Altarena Playhouse is an older building with limited wheelchair seating; guests who require mobility accommodations are encouraged to reach out to the theater in advance. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call the theater at 510-523-1553.
Alameda Pride
Saturday, October 5
The third annual Alameda Pride, celebrating Alameda’s LGBTQIA+ community and supporters, is set for Saturday, October 5. Festivities this year will include a 5K Fun Run/Walk, Pride in the Park, and a block party to finish the celebrations.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Pride Fun Run/Walk: The Pride Fun Run/Walk will kick off the day’s festivities at 9 a.m., starting from the Elks Lodge at 2255 Santa Clara Avenue. Wear your most colorful and celebratory outfit and have a blast supporting a great organization! Please note that this race will not be timed, and the registration deadline is October 3 at noon.
- Pride in the Park: Alameda Pride’s main event, Pride in the Park, is set for noon to 5 p.m. at Chochenyo Park. Enjoy outstanding performances, shows, and speeches, and wander the food trucks and local vendors. This free, family- and dog-friendly celebration includes a Kidz Zone.
- Block Party: Finish out the celebration with a free, all-ages block party on Alameda Avenue between Park and Oak streets from 6 until 9 p.m. DJ Dave Stebbins will provide the tunes, and there may be surprise performances as well.
Read more about Alameda Pride 2024.
Witchfest
Saturday, October 5
Join Feathered Outlaw for this year’s Witchfest, an annual celebration of Samhain—a festival with a rich history, marking the end of summer. The festivities will take place at Feathered Outlaw, 1506 Webster Street, and across the street at the Healing Garden/Al Fresco Dining Park, 1435 Webster Street, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This year’s event will feature more than 30 “Mystical, Magickal, Bohemian, and Holistic vendors.” A variety of Samhain-focused workshops and metaphysical experiences will also be available. Quench your thirst at a mocktail bar, and save room for a bite to eat at the festival or any number of local restaurants on Webster Street.
Witchfest is sponsored by the West Alameda Business Association and is free to attend.
Filipino Island Fest
Saturday, October 5
Get ready for a day of vibrant culture and family fun at Alameda’s very first Filipino Island Fest on Saturday, October 5, at Alameda Waterfront Park, 2151 Ferry Point. The inaugural celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. and lasts until 7 p.m.
“Our mission is to celebrate and share the rich heritage and vibrant culture of the Filipino-American community with Alameda and the Bay Area,” organizers say. “We aim to create a lively, family-friendly environment where people of all backgrounds can come together to experience the beauty of Filipino traditions, arts, and cuisine.”
Shop at more than 50 vendor booths offering artisan crafts, apparel, tea, and more. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, don’t miss the wide array of food trucks, vendors and restaurants with delicious snacks, desserts, and meals. The fest also will include live Batok (an indigenous Filipino tattoo practice), lessons for a traditional dance, and more.
The whole family is welcome at this all-ages festival. Reserve a spot for free online, and get ready to party!
What else is going on in Alameda?
All these events and more, in Alameda and beyond, are always posted on our online Events Calendar. Post yours, too, for free!
Amanda Laird is the Content Manager and Events Editor of the Alameda Post. Reach her at [email protected].
