Oakland’s annual 510 Day celebration returns to Lake Merritt on May 10. This is the 11th year of the grassroots anti-displacement gathering and cultural celebration. ,
A coalition of residents and local groups started 510Day in 2016 as an informal potluck. The event has grown as an event focused on affirming the presence of Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities in Oakland’s public space.
“510 Day is not a brand. It is not a revenue stream,” the organizing committee said. “It was built by Oaklanders, for Oaklanders.”
510Day falls on Mother’s Day this year. The event includes programming focused on honoring mothers and community care. Organizers say the day will feature a “Dear Mama” altar, a kids zone, and activities that celebrate women who have nurtured and supported Oakland communities across generations.
The gathering has taken on added meaning over the years. In 2018, attendance surged following the highly publicized “BBQ Becky” incident when police were called on Kenzie Smith and his family for barbecuing at the lake. Since then, organizers said the event reclaims the event for joy and resistance.
In their recent statement, organizers also raised concerns about potential efforts to formalize or commercialize the event, though no specific city plans have been publicly confirmed. The City of Oakland did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Oakland Voices filed a public records act request.
For organizers, maintaining the event’s grassroots nature remains central.
“510 Day exists because this community exists,” the statement reads.
The event is free and open to the public.
Rasheed Shabazz is a multimedia storyteller. He is a journalist, educator, urban planner, and historian. He is director of Oakland Voices' Community Journalism Program.
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