Oakland’s Lakefest sees smaller turnout this year [Video]

A smaller than expected crowd showed up to Lakefest at Lake Merritt on Saturday.  This daytime summer festival emphasizes celebrating community, culture and Juneteenth.

This is the fifth year of the Oakland event. 

On Wednesday, which was a federal holiday, an unsanctioned celebration saw sideshows along the north side of Lake Merritt, just after dusk, that is when violence broke out. 

Fifteen people were hit by bullets at the mass shooting event. Three hospitals triaged patients, many of whom were self-transported for treatment of gunshot wounds. 

Participants suggested that the tragic mass casualty incident impacted the Lakefest turnout. 

This year’s event theme was “It takes a village”. 

Shayla Jamerson is co-producer of the 2024 Lakefest. She shared that last year’s attendance was close to twenty thousand but admitted that there were concerns about safety. She said, ‘Five vendors dropped out earlier this week.” 

The festive atmosphere offered fun for all ages, with over one hundred vendor booths showcasing makers and entrepreneurs who were selling everything from fashion …