Piedmont Food Fest 2 is coming to town Sunday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Piedmont Park (356 Highland Ave.) and will feature a super-sized multicultural festival with many aspects for visitors to experience.
This year, Piedmont Food Fest is highlighting Piedmont’s Appreciating Diversity Film Series, which will hold a special film screening at the Ellen Driscoll Playhouse at 325 Highland Ave. on Thursday, April 20 from 7-8 p.m. The screening is open to children ages 10 and older and is free to all — no RSVP needed). More information can be found at www.diversityfilmseries.org.
ADFS will kick off Piedmont Food Fest week by exploring the many flavors of families with five specially curated short documentary films:
- Absolutely No Spitting – A Jewish mother and her multiracial 4-year-old adopted daughter explore their DNA profiles and what it means to have many identities and cultures in your genetic heritage.
- A Concerto Is a Conversation – A virtuoso jazz pianist and film composer traces his family’s lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
- Almost Famous: The Silent Pulse of the Universe – In 1967, a young astronomer, Jocelyn Bell, made a breakthrough discovery in astronomy, but as a woman in the sciences her role was overlooked and unfairly ignored.
- What You’ll Remember – The story of young Bay Area parents determined to give their four children a good life despite moving in and out of homelessness over a period of fifteen years by creating a feeling of “home” even when there was no house.
- Texas Strong – Kai Shappley, a 6-year old trans child in Texas, fights to be recognized and accepted by her devout Christian family. Winner of the 2018 Emmy for Outstanding Short Documentary.
Then on Sunday Piedmont Food Fest will feature 30 Bay Area food vendors, breweries, and wineries, among them several Piedmonter-run businesses, including Robert Dorsey Catering, Tea on Piedmont, Bakesum, Mo’s Bakeshop, and Yumbini. This year’s live performances will include Hiiwav music showcase featuring Meaghan Maples and Tyler Reese, Emeryville Taiko, Renegade Opera, LIKHA Pilipino Folk Ensemble, Oakland Samba Revue, and the Han Martial Arts Demo Exhibition.
Volunteer slots are now available on the website to assist with Check-In, the KidZone carnival, as well as vendor & artist setup. Attendees can register for free at www.piedmontfoodfest.org as well as pre-order drink packages, carnival passes, and snackpacks (while supplies last). All registrants who sign up before the event will be eligible to win gift certificates from our generous sponsors Mulberry’s Market and Marielle Hayes Photography.
