From food festivals to musicals, check out these Labor Day weekend events in Oakland

From food festivals to musicals, check out these Labor Day weekend events in Oakland

Photo: Taste of Oakland/Facebook

MJ Carter
Published on August 31, 2018

This weekend has lots to offer for Oaklanders, with live music, a food festival and a Lin-Manuel Miranda musical. Here's what's on tap for Labor Day weekend in The Town.

George Cole Trio

Photo: George Cole/Facebook

Singer and acoustic guitarist George Cole will perform live at the Terrace Room Friday night, offering a set that takes cues from gypsy jazz, rock and the Great American Songbook. Currently a guitarist for the David Grisman Quintet, he mentored Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt for about a decade in the Bay Area. 

When: Friday, August 31, 7-10 p.m.

Where: The Terrace Room, 1800 Madison Ave.

Price: Free

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Improv Comedy at Pan Theater

Photo: Pan Theater/Facebook

Pan Theater's improvised shows use ideas, topics or themes from audience volunteers to create a completely off-the-cuff, 100% original brand of comedy. Formats include the Montage, One Act, and classic theater games, a la Whose Line Is It Anyway? And if you don't laugh, you'll get your money back — they guarantee it. 

When: Friday, August 31, 8-9:30 p.m.

Where: Pan Theater, 120 Frank Ogawa Plaza

Price: $9-10

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Taste of Oakland

Photo: Taste of Oakland/Facebook

This celebration of music, tech and food will feature performances by Tony Toni Tone, Alabama Mike, the East Bay Gay Men's Chorus, the Taste of Oakland Gospel Choir and a whole lot more.  Also on tap: cooking demonstrations by chefs Niki Shaw and Tamearra Dyson, wall climbing, street jugglers, face painting and more. Local food trucks will serve up their favorite eats, and on-site bars will offer drinks like craft beer, wine and margaritas. Proceeds from the festival will directly benefit Youth Aid, a nonprofit that provides music lessons and business tools to youth in Oakland.

When: Saturday, September 1, 12-5 p.m.

Where: Jack London Square

Price: Free

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'In the Heights' at Woodminster Amphitheater

photo: Woodminster Summer Musicals/Facebook

Before writing the hit Hamilton, composer Lin-Manuel Miranda debuted another hip-hop musical: In the Heights.  Like Hamilton, this Tony-winning musical tells its story — that of a small community in Washington Heights, New York dealing with change and gentrification — through larger-than-life characters singing and dancing in a wide variety of styles. 

When: Sunday, September 2, 7-9:30 p.m.

Where:  Woodminster Amphitheater, Joaquin Miller Park, 3540 Sanborn Dr.

Price: $32-69

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