Volunteer

Our mission is to preserve Oakland First Fridays as an all inclusive, safe and vital community-driven platform to showcase  the emerging artists, makers, gourmet food vendors, musicians, cypher circles (dance battles, spoken word), drumming circles, acrobats, magicians, and many uniquely talented street performers and their audience.

Our staff aims to make First Friday magical, but we can't do it without some helping hands. We are always looking for volunteers in all areas. Contact us on how we can best utilize your talents at Oakland First Fridays.

Looking to bring your club or company to volunteer? We would love to have you! We have previously welcomed buildOn, Rebuilding Together, corporate copanies, and various high school organizations that bring its members.

Photos taken by fellow volunteer, Brian Parvizshahi

Current Oakland First Fridays Volunteer Positions

Pre-Event Support
We are looking for someone friendly and cooperative to help with last minute tasks: helping close off the street, setting up our check in booth, cleaning vendor spots, and more!
12:00pm - 3:00pm

Photographer/VideographerWe're looking for someone with a great artistic eye! We will provide credit for the photographer wherever we place the images. Must have some photography experience! Ability to photograph action, low lighting, evening, and outdoors. You'll need to provide your own equipment, edit and post final photos to our shared Google drive within 7 days after the event.
4:00pm - 9:00pm

Food Redistribution Support Are you passionate about how sustainable communities addressing hunger?  You can support Oakland First Fridays by visiting vendors at closing time (9pm) and gathering food donations/food excess. We have partnered with organizations to redistribute meals to our Oakland neighbors, families, and curbside communities.
8:30pm - 9:30pm

Vendor Check-InVolunteers will make sure the vendors are in their correct spaces and keep track of who has arrived. Verify all vendors from the master list after 5pm, report any rouge vendors. Vendor Check-Out: Report any rouge vendors, Give 15 min warning to vendors selling at 8:45pm, walk the footprint again at 9pm warning vendors to stop selling. We're looking for someone friendly, outgoing, and cooperative!
3:00pm - 6:00pm
8:00pm-10:00pm


Front Gate GreeterVolunteers will greet guests as they enter the festival and ask for donations to help save First Fridays! They are acting as the First Fridays welcoming committee so this position requires you to be friendly, outgoing, and willing to engage with attendees!
5pm-7pm
7pm-9pm


Runner
Provides support wherever needed during the festival. We're looking for someone friendly, cooperative, and able to work in a team!

Event Breakdown
Provides assistance with the shutdown and breakdown of the event, REQUIRES HEAVY LIFTING.
9:30pm-11:30pm

Bar Support*Must be at least 21 years old* Volunteers will assist with the setup or breakdown of the KONO Lounge and helping out with other tasks for the bar. Requires some heavy lifting. We're looking for someone friendly, upbeat, and outgoing!
2:30pm-5:30pm
7:00pm-10:00pm


Recycling and Sorting VolunteerVolunteers will advise our patrons how to properly separate and place their discards into the correct receptacles. Will work with a company that helps sort out trash.
5:00pm-7:00pm
7:00pm-9:00pm

To learn more email us at volunteers@oaklandfirstfridays.org.
How do you get started?

1.) SIGN UP using this form or email us expressing interest so we can find a position that works best with you! Please note the Volunteer Sign Up Form closes the Tuesday before First Friday to allow our staff to get things ready. We ask that you sign up on your behalf ONLY, nobody else's. This is to assure appropriate points of contact for communication.
2). Look out for reminders - Once you've chosen a time to volunteer, you’ll receive emails reminding you about your participation and provide updates.
3.) Come to Volunteer Zoom Orientation - Join our entire team on Zoom for a brief orientation on how you will help create another fantastic event. If you can’t make it to the orientation, don’t worry! Our Volunteer Coordinator will be emailing orientation papers the week of the event.
4.) Volunteer on the day of the event!
Come ready to support our festival team in producing one of the most amazing events in the Bay Area!
Oakland First Fridays is a program of the KONO Community Benefit District, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Oakland, CA.

Office Location: 2633 Telegraph Ave Suite 109, Oakland, CA 94612
Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9:30am-3:30pm
Office Phone:
(510) 361-0615
EVENT DAY: We do not check phone calls and emails on the day of the event.


Support Oakland Creators

Donate
Follow us on Social Media

Subscribe to our Newsletter