Huzzah, it’s Friday! Here are five excellent activities to partake in this weekend that the government hasn’t shut down:
Oktoberfest and Oaktoberfest
Oktoberfest in Oakland may not last sixteen days or begin with a twelve-gun salute like it does in Munich, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your fill of German food, music, dancing, and beer. The Dimond district’s annual Oaktoberfest celebration on Saturday will give revelers the opportunity to break out their lederhosen and dirndls; nosh on bratwurst and strudel; guzzle beer at the traditional Biergarten; and check out the German-style homebrew competition. Once you’ve gotten some liquid courage in you, bust out your best polka moves at any of the festival’s three musical stages, which will showcase the traditional sounds of Munich, as well as local bands like Bacon and the Blondies. The party continues on Sunday with Oakland Nature Friends’ Oktoberfest celebration, featuring new and old Bavarian music provided by the Bajuk Band. The Nature Friends Schuhplattler Dance Group will perform German and Austrian folk dances, and rumor has it the band may also play the “Chicken Dance,” which would of course be wunderbar. Saturday, Oct. 5. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., $20 for a standard tasting, $50 for unlimited tastings. Oaktoberfest.org; Sunday, Oct. 6. Noon, $10 for adults, free for kids under fourteen. RSVP required: NatureFriendsCorporation.com/oakland — Zaineb Mohammed
Credits: Flee Kieselhorst
Beyond This Moment
Oakland choreographer Dana Lawton has always created rich, complex, thoughtfully crafted dance. But dynamic artists are always looking for new frontiers to conquer, so this weekend she is breaking new ground by premiering her first evening-length work, Beyond This Moment, at The Ashby Stage. Created in collaboration with her eight-dancer company, Dana Lawton Dances, the performance takes shape in thirteen sections that range from lively jigs to delicate gestures, somber moods to high-octane movement. They’re inspired by a panoply of human experiences, but it’s a sure bet that Lawton has found the current of emotion that runs through them all. The ensemble also includes set designer Rogelio Lopez, who has a gift for creating enveloping scenarios with a few deftly chosen props, plus musicians Bill Flores, John Lawton, Sean McCue, and Michelle Bauchesne. Lawton’s last home season was three years ago in San Francisco, so catch this Moment while you can. Thursday, Oct. 3 and Friday, Oct. 4. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. 3 & 8 p.m., $25. ShotgunPlayers.org — Claudia Bauer
Food Social Anniversary
Dance, eat, and learn with others who share your love for all three at the second annual Food Social gathering, held at Dragon Rouge on Saturday. DJs provide the sounds; local vendors including MiLo SIX Sweet Treats, Ippo Ramen, Sticks Gourmet Corndogs, BBQ@Lux, CookieBar, and Licensed 2 Grill provide the food. A full bar will be available for attendees aged 21 and over. A live watercolor-painting demo and Vietnamese spring-roll-making lesson with Dragon Rouge’s chef/owner Dan Nguyen add the educational component. Saturday, Oct. 5. 3-9 p.m., donations accepted. DragonRougeRestaurant.com — Anneli Rufus
Uptown Boogie
Held on the first Saturday of every month at The Uptown, Uptown Boogie (aka a “Shake Your Everything Jam Dance Party”) is a new event but one that’s steeped in nostalgia. DJ Bukue One, an associate of the Hieroglyphics crew, shows his reverence for get-up-and-groove hits of decades past. Expect to hear a heavy dose of Seventies and Eighties funk and soul, as well as new wave and hip-hop: There’s a little bit of something for everyone, as long as you agree that they just don’t make ’em like they used to. If you’ve dreamed of getting down to the likes of Sugar Hill Gang, Tears for Fears, Culture Club, Nu Shooz, The Cure, Madonna, Soft Cell, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Janet Jackson, Rick James, and Earth, Wind, and Fire somewhere other than in your bedroom, this is the place. Women get in free before 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. 9 p.m., $10. UptownNightclub.com — Madeleine Key
- Flee Kieselhorst
Flaunt
Styles worn by Oakland denizens including hipster musicians and Rockridge moms receive a “photographic love letter” from art duo Femme Cartel in its latest show, Flaunt. The Oakland-based curators’ exhibit at Classic Cars West features the work of ten photographers who have highlighted the unique styles of Oakland neighborhoods, capturing characters such as a mustachioed dude decked out in a white suit and orange bow tie at an A’s game. A preview of the show will be held on Friday night, but the official opening party is on Saturday and will include sausages and beer from Commonwealth, a ping-pong table, a costume photo booth, and a fashion show by local designer GG Page. Saturday, Oct. 5. Noon-7 p.m., free. FemmeCartel.com — Z.M.
Plus… Get your cheapskate on: This is how much we love you guys: Here are our searchable listings of every single free event happening in the East Bay this weekend.
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