Bay Area Weekend Vibes: Black Joy Parade, Snow Strippers & Jazz in Walnut Creek
The Black Joy Parade takes over downtown Oakland, Snow Strippers sell out the Fox, and Madeleine Peyroux brings jazz to the 925.
Black History Month is closing out big in The Town this weekend. The 9th annual Black Joy Parade takes over downtown Oakland on Sunday with 30,000+ people, two stages, and Mýa headlining—for free. Saturday night splits between Snow Strippers selling out the Fox and Madeleine Peyroux bringing silky jazz to Walnut Creek. Here’s your East Bay weekend blueprint.
🎤 Snow Strippers at the Fox Theater
Saturday, Feb 21 @ 8:00 PM (Doors 7:00 PM)
Detroit-based electronic duo Snow Strippers has officially sold out the Fox Theater on Telegraph Ave. Tatiana Schwaninger and Graham Perez bring their hyperpop-meets-industrial sound to Uptown Oakland with support from evilgiane, smokedope2016, and ok. This one’s all ages, and if you missed tickets, resale is still floating on secondary markets. The Telegraph Room opens an hour before doors if you want to post up early with food and drinks.
The Move: The Fox is a short drive from Hotboys Oakland on San Pablo Ave. Grab a hot chicken sando before doors open at 7—you’ll need the energy for this one.
📍 Event info at thefoxoakland.com
🎶 Madeleine Peyroux: SFJAZZ @ The Lesher Center
Saturday, Feb 21 @ 7:30 PM
If you’re in the 925, Saturday night belongs to Madeleine Peyroux at the Hofmann Theater at Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Part of SFJAZZ’s inaugural residency at the Lesher Center, Peyroux brings ten albums’ worth of jazz, blues, and folk—think Billie Holiday vibes with a modern edge. You might know her atmospheric take on “La Javanaise” from the Shape of Water soundtrack. Limited tickets remain, so move fast.
The Move: Hotboys Walnut Creek on N Main St is your pre-show dinner spot. Nashville hot chicken and world-class jazz? That’s a Saturday night done right.
📍 Get tickets at Lesher Center
✊ 9th Annual Black Joy Parade
Sunday, Feb 22 @ 12:30 PM – 7:00 PM
This is the one. The Black Joy Parade returns to downtown Oakland for its 9th year, and it’s the biggest celebration of Black culture, creativity, and community in the East Bay. The parade kicks off at 14th Street & Broadway at 12:30 PM with 100+ parade groups, then rolls into a full street festival running until 7 PM. Two performance stages, 200+ vendors/booths, a kids zone, dance competition, and live music headlining the main stage. It’s free, it’s all ages, and it’s everything The Town is about.
The Move: Hotboys Oakland on San Pablo Ave is right in the mix. Fuel up before the parade or cool down after with the hottest chicken in the 510. You’re walking distance from the festival grounds.
📍 RSVP free on Eventbrite
🎸 The Reunion Beatles: Fantasy Tribute
Sunday, Feb 22 @ 3:00 PM (Matinee)
Heading up to Marin? The Reunion Beatles – Fantasy Tribute is taking over the HopMonk Tavern Session Room in Novato for a matinee that answers the ultimate question: what if the Beatles had reunited? This multimedia concert covers the classic hits plus deep cuts from the solo years—”Imagine,” “Live and Let Die,” “My Sweet Lord,” and even “Now and Then.” All ages, partially seated, and a vibe for any generation.
The Move: Hotboys Novato on Nave Dr is just minutes from HopMonk. Grab a bite at Suite D before or after the show—hot chicken and Beatles hits is a combo that just works.
The Hotboys Connection
From the Black Joy Parade in downtown Oakland to jazz in Walnut Creek and Beatles in Novato, we’ve got locations across the East Bay and North Bay ready to keep you fed all weekend.
- Oakland: 1601 San Pablo Ave (9am – 10pm Sun – Wed)
- Walnut Creek: 1394 N Main St (9am – 10pm Sun – Wed)
- Hayward: 27826 Mission Blvd (10am – 10pm Sun – Thurs)
- Novato: 5800 Nave Dr, Suite D (10am – 10pm Sun – Thurs)
Celebrate Black joy, catch a show, eat some heat. See you in The Town. 🔥