It’s almost go time for Piedmont’s third annual Food Fest: The April 20 community-building event will feature more vendors, sponsors, and volunteers than in years past. This year’s multicultural festival is taking place Saturday at Piedmont Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and celebrates the diversity of the Bay Area by curating an eclectic mix of food, drink, and performances that offers something for everyone say Food Fest planners.
“I can’t wait for visitors to stroll through our Food Zones that stretch from Magnolia Avenue through Highland Avenue, as well as visit our new Sweet Zone to grab a treat and meet local changemakers in the Community Circle. I hope we’ll kickstart many new community connections both within and beyond Piedmont,” said event organizer Roger Tsai.
Tsai highlighted the record number of volunteers and supporters, including:
- 18 planning team members who’ve been planning since October
- 80 event volunteers covering 140 slots
- 15 sponsors, led by Platinum sponsor Stacey Isaacs & Anna Bahnson and Sarah Abel & Julie Gardner with Compass, KidZone sponsor Piedmont Grocery, and Gold sponsor Body Fit Training (BFT)
- 15 community and school partners helping spread the word and contribute volunteers
New this year:
Food Zone featuring more than 20 vendors, including new participants Lola’s Spanish Cuisine (paella), Doc Bones BBQ (brisket), and Momolicious (Nepalese dumplings recently posted about by Steph Curry!), who will join several Food Fest returners, including Piedmont’s own Robert Dorsey Catering (fried chicken sandwiches) and Arthur Mac’s (pizza) as well as Bay Area favorites like The Chairman (baos) and Satay By the Bay.
KidZone with new cultural crafts table where kids of all ages can create as well as our kid fave carnival & sno-cone station.
SweetZone featuring O.G. Desserts (southern-style banana pudding), Hila Gelato (handmade Italian gelato), BB Tea (Japanese crepes and boba tea), Annie’s T Cakes (Taiwanese mooncakes).
Beer & Wine Zone featuring local breweries, wineries, and ciderhouses including Oakland United Beerworks, Alameda Island Brewery, Del Cielo Brewery, Altamont Beer Works, Dokkabier, Headlands Brewing, Maker Wines, Deer Hill Vineyards, Blindwood Cider, and Mount Diablo Cider Company.
Community Circle featuring Camp Augusta, Climate Literacy Resolution, League of Women Voters, No Immigrants No Spice, Oakland Promise, Piedmont Asian American Club, Piedmont Language School, Linda Beach Cooperative Playschool, and Piedmont Play School — plus an interactive game hosted by Oakland Roots & Soccer Without Borders.
Local boutique vendors Immedium Books and Shared Cultures.
All-day performances from Great Wall Youth Orchestra (11:15), O Hina’Aro Nui Tahitian Dance (12), Beloved Little Circus aerialist show (12-2 @Exedra Plaza), Oakland Taiko (12:30), Inside Scoop with Chef James Parry of the Happy Crane (1:15), Devendra Sharma Folk Opera Ensemble (1:45), Hiiiwav Showcase: August Lee Stevens & Ayo Brame (2:15), and Amor do Samba (3:15)
Sponsors: This year’s Piedmont Food Fest was made possible by many local sponsors, led by the COMPASS team of Stacey Isaacs, Anna Bahnson, Sarah Abel & Julie Gardner, and includes Piedmont Grocery, Body Fit Training, HDR Remodeling, Xantrion, EVOQUE Home Studio by Erika Vexler, Alameda Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Burke, and Williams, & Sorensen LLP, Bernard Hale Optometry, PAAC, Arthur Mac’s, Mulberry’s Market, Piedmont Post, Piedmont Exedra, and Pizzeria Violetta.
Attendees can register for free, pre-purchase passes, join the mailing list, and volunteer at www.piedmontfoodfest.org.