Last weekend, Oakland’s second annual Lantern Festival brought a bustling night market, live performances, and family-friendly activities to the Pacific Renaissance Plaza, located at the heart of Chinatown. In addition to honoring Chinese traditions, the two-day, multicultural event featured a healing space where festivalgoers could drink herbal teas, write prayers on paper leaves, meditate, and contribute offerings to a community altar for people affected by the war in Gaza.
The sound of beating drums from the Pacific Renaissance Plaza could be heard several blocks away. The combined aromas of grilled pork skewers, steamed fish dumplings, and vegan tamales drifted through the air. Big red lanterns adorned the plaza. Dozens of community members of all ages and backgrounds sat and watched performances, enjoyed foods like spicy garlic chili noodles and gluten-free vegan cookies, and chatted with vendors.
Two local nonprofit organizations—Sticky Rice Club and Oakland Bloom—and AAPI Healers for Liberation co-hosted the festival. Teresa Trinh, program manager for the Lantern Festival, said she and fellow organizers aimed to create a modern take on a traditional holiday.
“It was really exciting asking questions like, what does it look like when we come together intergenerationally? What does healing this community look like if we’re involving our elders and younger generations?” Trinh said.
Attendees ate and sipped on creations from food vendors of Chinese, Mexican, Filipino, Palestinian-Cuban, Salvadoran, and Malagasy backgrounds. One of those merchants was M&D Foods, a mother-and-daughter-owned pop-up operating out of Oakland Bloom and specializing in Hong Kong street foods.
“For me, the Lantern Festival symbolizes a time for family reunion,” said Kit “Winnie” Lam, owner of M&D Foods. “It’s like a Chinese Valentine’s Day.”
The night market at the plaza boasted a lineup of 16 creators and artists from across the Bay Area. Melissa Nop, a Cambodian American herbalist and founder of Oakland-based Persimmon and Roots, was a returning vendor at the Lantern Festival. Her booth was filled with herbal teas and bath soaks that she said derived from centuries-old medicinal practices.
“The intention behind this event is really clear—it’s about bringing communities together and lifting up our ancestral knowledge,” said Nop.
Shifting the narrative about Oakland Chinatown
Seanathan Chow, founder of Sticky Rice Club, a nonprofit community development corporation that focuses on preserving legacy businesses in Oakland Chinatown, said the decision to host the Lantern Festival from 3-8 p.m. was intentional as many people see Chinatown as a “ghost town” once night falls.
“I see these events as a way to change that narrative, to bring people together who maybe normally wouldn’t come together, and celebrate and see what’s possible for Chinatown as a community and neighborhood,” Chow said.
The inaugural Lantern Festival took place at the same venue last year, with more than 3,000 people in attendance, according to Chow. Organizers did not immediately respond to questions about this year’s Lantern Festival attendance.
Several Chinatown business owners told The Oaklandside they appreciated how the Lantern Festival brought more foot traffic to the typically quiet neighborhood.
Manyi Leung’s family owns Sasha’s House, a traditional Chinese clothing store in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza. She said events like the Lantern Festival tend to attract younger people who want to learn more about Chinese culture while patronizing family-owned shops.
“They’re very willing to support local small businesses, no matter what people have been reporting about Oakland these days,” she said. “I think this kind of crowd seeks to break that cycle of fear.”
Tim Wu, owner of Massage King, another store in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza, said while his business didn’t see an uptick in sales over the weekend, he enjoyed celebrating the Lantern Festival with the community.
“I like how this brings more people to the area,” Wu said. “Chinatown needs more events like this.”
Correction: This story previously called AAPI Healers for Liberation a nonprofit. It is a collective of healing practitioners.
