Cheer up, First Friday is tomorrow.

And the timing is perfect. Oaklandish — Oakland’s own fashion line — is celebrating 25 years with a DJ set and party at their flagship store in downtown Oakland (1444 Broadway).

The brand, which started as a public art project 25 years ago, now boasts 3 retail locations and even a coffee shop at OAK airport.

In today’s issue:

• Hayward gets it’s STACK on

• Claremont Hotel wants to scare you with a cocktail

• The sword-wielding contractor removing squatters in Oakland

Let’s get to it.

P.S. Enjoying this newsletter? Tell us what you think with a reply. What’s missing, what you want more of. Good, bad, ugly. We’re all ears.

There’s Still Time to Hold a Stein

You’re not too late. This weekend, Oktoberfest in the Bay hits a high note with Piedmont and Dimond District both pouring. Full list below and on our site.

This Weekend

Oktoberfest – Park Chalet – Oct. 3
📍 1000 Great Hwy, San Francisco
🔗 See details →
Paid, tickets from $43, 21+

CBCA Clayton Oktoberfest – Oct. 4-5
📍 Downtown Clayton, near Mt. Diablo
🔗 See details →
Free admission, all ages

5th Annual Piedmont Oktoberfest – Oct. 4
📍 711 Highland Ave, Piedmont
🔗 See details →
Paid - Tickets from $60, 21+

[EDITOR’S CHOICE] Oaktoberfest in the Dimond – Oct. 4-5
📍 Dimond District, Fruitvale & MacArthur, Oakland
🔗 See details →
Free admission - Beverage packages available, all ages.

Headlands Brewing Oktoberfest (Walnut Creek) – Oct. 4
📍 2999 Oak Rd, Suite A, Walnut Creek
🔗 See details →
Free admission, all ages

Richmond Backyard’s 3rd Annual Harvest Festival – Oct. 4
📍 205 Cutting Blvd, Richmond
🔗 See details →
Free admission, all ages. (Not really an Oktoberfest, but worth including)

Oktoberfest Pinball and Pints – Oct. 5
📍 1510 Webster St., Alameda
🔗 See details →
Paid - Tickets from $56

Your East Bay Event Lineup

Each week, we bring you a curated list of events for families, couples, and everyone in-between. Got an event you’d like to promote? Send us a reply.

All Weekend

The First Annual “Stack City Brick-Con”

The Bay’s Brick by Brick Toys and Chabot College of Engineering have teamed up to host the first “Brick-Con” in Hayward this weekend, celebrating all thing Lego. Free admission and of course… family friendly. | Saturday & Sunday 10/4-10/5, 10am-7pm. Chabot College, Student Center. See details →

Festival Fright Nights @ Winchester Mystery House

Somebody reply and tell me this is a bad idea, because I LOVE a haunted house. Winchester Mystery House’s annual Halloween "Fright Nights” are back this weekend through Nov. 1. Tickets online ONLY. | Friday to Sunday, times vary. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose. Tickets from $76 →

Friday

Haunted Tours at Claremont Kickoff

Turns out, yes, the Claremont IS haunted. Starting this Friday, Claremont will host a haunted tour through the hotel grounds. But it’s not all ghosts n’ stuff. Each tour ends with a themed cocktail in the historic Lobby Lounge. | Friday and Saturdays until 10/31, 90 min. tours at 6pm & 7pm 11am-3pm. Claremont. Tickets from $50 →

Saturday

2025 Dia De Muertos Ballet

Celebrate the coming of Dia de los Muertos (Nov. 1) with Carlos Moreno’s dance group Ballet Folklorico Mexicano. The performance features a variety of regional folk dances and costumes. | Saturday, 2pm & 7pm. Henry J Kaiser Center for the Arts, Lake Merritt. Tickets from $34 →

Sunday

Fleet Week Kickoff

You hear that? Just a pack of F-16s buzzing the Oakland hills. Fleet Week is back in the bay this Sunday with events practically daily from Oct. 5-13 with the air show Oct. 10-12. We’ll drop a special feature next week in time for the weekend, although news is Blue Angels might not be flying | Oct. 5-13. Events in San Francisco and Alameda. See full lineup →

Montclair Farmers Market

Sure, it’s every weekend, but it’s not every weekend we drop a recommendation. If you’re a farmers market connoisseur put this one on your list this weekend. 40+ vendors and farmers. Remember: free parking in the Village Garage. | Every Sunday, 9am-1pm. La Salle Ave in Montclair.

Stories from The Bay

Oakland loosens rules on police chases — The Oakland Police Commission gave OPD the green light to start car chases without prior approval AND to exceed 50 mph in those pursuits. Notably, the change is only for suspicion of violent crimes.

$20k reward for information about a man who beheaded sea lion — Put this story in the “wtf, people” category. Federal authorities are looking for information about a man filmed decapitating a sea lion on a Monterey County beach earlier this summer.

Oakland snags $30M to upgrade it’s most dangerous road — The Metropolitan Transportation Commission recently approved a $30M grant to redesign MLK Jr. Way from 2nd st. to 14th st. Improvements include bike lanes, traffic islands, and maybe a pothole (or two) filled?

Housing crisis so bad, we now have sword-wielding squatter removal — Meet the face of a cottage industry helping landlords remove squatters in Oakland.

Town Pet of The Week

Want to celebrate your pup? Send us a reply with a pic of your pet.

Thanks for reading this week! Now, go tell your friends about us.

See you out there,

-Kolby
Oaktown Weekly

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