Oakland’s ninth annual Black Joy Parade promises culinary delights
The ninth annual Black Joy Parade arrives in downtown Oakland at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 22, the last Sunday of Black History Month.
Expected to draw more than 30,000 attendees, this year’s parade will include 111 contingents and 4,500 people. The following festival, which runs until 7 p.m., will feature more than 200 booths highlighting Black-owned businesses, nonprofits and artists; kids activities; a dance competition; and two stages of live performances with actor, dancer and hit R&B singer Mya headlining the free event.
On Instagram, the Black Joy Parade organizers state, “This year, we’re bringing new activations, more vendors, and amazing performances. One thing the Black Joy Parade has always been is proud to be boldly Black. This year, we’re leaning even more into our Bold Blackness with our Black Is the Blueprint theme.
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“Because Black people don’t just participate in culture — we define it. Our creativity, our innovation, our style, our language, our rhythm have always moved first. We set the tone long before the rest of the world catches up.”
As usual, the celebration promises plenty of tasty cuisine to sample. Confirmed food vendors include:
POP-A-BYT Donuts: This Fairfield-based doughnut catering service offers fresh, hot, gourmet mini doughnuts in a range of flavors such as caramel, banana, glaze with sprinkles, cherry, blueberry, cinnamon sugar, lemon, maple, powdered sugar, strawberry, apple, chocolate and orange cream. pop-a-byt-donuts.com, on Instagram @popabytdonuts
Pound Bizness: Founded in 2018 by married couple Reggie and Nicole Borders, this community-oriented small Oakland business sells slices of pound cakes based on his Aunt Ira’s treasured recipe. poundbizness.com, on Instagram @poundbizness
Consider-It-Done Catering: This catering service, also known as Delicious Dishez Gourmet Cuisine with a food truck in downtown Sacramento, is run by chef Ruth Willis, who specializes in Cajun and Southern cooking and offers fried fish, fried chicken, Sticky Icky Wings, hush puppies, french fries and more. On Instagram at @deliciousdishez and @consideritdonecatering
BNB Wings N Things: This San Francisco-based pop-up and catering company offers regular and vegan wings, chicken tenders, a Philly cheesesteak melt, mac-n-cheese, coleslaw, baked beans, seasoned fries, chili cheese fries and flavored lemonade. bnbwings.com, on Instagram @bnbwingsnthings
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Details: The free ninth annual Black Joy Parade starts at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at 14th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland and the festival runs until 7 p.m. in downtown Oakland; blackjoyparade.org, eventbrite.com, on Instagram @blackjoyparade