Home » *Top Pick*, 420, Community, Eating & Drinking, Fairs & Festivals, Fun & Games, In Person

Oakland’s “The Lake Show” 420 Poetry, Rappers + DJ Picnic (Lake Merritt)

Sunday, April 19, 2026 - 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE
Cleveland Cascade, Lake Merritt | Lakeshore Ave & Cleveland Cascade Steps, Oakland, CA 94610

Free / RSVP

Celebrate 420 at Lake Merritt with The Lake Show, a free outdoor open mic picnic featuring live poetry, music, and performances by local artists. The event includes a live DJ, open mic showcase for rappers, singers, comedians, and musicians, plus food trucks and local vendors. The event is held at the Cleveland Cascade area with a lakeside view. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, food, and drinks for a relaxed picnic atmosphere. Early arrival is recommended for best seating.

The Cleveland Cascade is a 250-foot-long ornamental stairway near Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, with cascades in the center, designed in 1923 by Howard Gilkey.

Address: Between Lakeshore Ave & Merritt Ave, Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

Original Event Description:
_EAST PALO OAKLAND PRESENTS “THE LAKE SHOW! “420 EVENT” PICNIC AT THE LAKE!”
AFRO ENT & O2THEGBG present THE LAKE SHOW “Free Poetry for the People!” An open air platform for artists to express themselves to the public

About this Event

EAST PALO OAKLAND PRESENTS “THE LAKE SHOW 420 EVENT” FREE POETRY FOR THE PEOPLE PICNIC AT THE LAKE!!!!!

* IF IT SAYS SOLD OUT OR YOU CAN’T REGISTER FOR TICKETS YOU CAN STILL SHOW UP AND PARTICIPATE*

THE LAKE SHOW “Free Poetry for the People!” is an open air platform for artists to express themselves to the public to give the audience an opportunity to hear some talented spoken word poets in the Bay Area. This Sunday we will be hosting a FREE POETRY FOR THE PEOPLE event with artists performing LIVE at Lake Merritt! Hosted by O2 The Good Bad Buy and UpsideDownGhost! We’ll be playing all your favorite BBQ and Family Reunion jams to create a safe and welcoming environment for ALL to be welcomed to attend. Music and Open Mic sign up list starts at 11:00am. Event will be held at Cleveland Cascade/Lakeshore Ave (across the street from the steps) with a stunning view of Lake Merritt as the back drop. No seats will be provided. Seating locations are completely open to first come first serve. This is a picnic so bring a blanket, bring your coolers, bring your drinks (BYOB!) and come enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon in a safe space with family and friends. Early arrival is HIGHLY SUGGESTED for priority seating.

If you would like to be a vendor at the event, please DM @O2THEGBG and please feel free to set up anywhere adjacent to the event space. We welcome ANY and ALL small businesses to come be a part of this event for the people of the Bay Area!

This is a FREE EVENT so RSVP for your tickets now! For more information or if you’re interested in performing, please DM our Instagram page at @acoupleofkidsfromoakland @_upsidedownghost_ or @O2TheGBG or click CONTACT ORGANIZER._

Text extracted from provided image:
THE LAKE SHOW 420 EVENT APRIL 19TH, 2026 11AM–5PM CLEVELAND CASCADE • LAKE MERRITT • OAKLAND, CA LIVE DJ! OPEN MIC SHOWCASE! RAPPERS • SINGERS • COMEDIANS • MUSICIANS FOOD & VENDORS! CURATED BY: EAST PALO OAKLAND UPSIDE DOWN GHOST & O2 THE GOOD BAD GUY

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE
Categories: *Top Pick*, 420, Community, Eating & Drinking, Fairs & Festivals, Fun & Games, In Person
Venue: Cleveland Cascade, Lake Merritt
Address: Lakeshore Ave & Cleveland Cascade Steps, Oakland, CA 94610

Sunday, April 19, 2026

   Free Earth Day Reggae Takeover at Golden Gate Park  FREE
8:00 am   Presidio YMCA Trail Run & Healthy Kids Day Fair (2026)  $25*
*Race registration (early bird) for an adult in the 1.5-mile family fun run is $25 and youth under 17 register for only $10! The race is followed by a kid-friendly fair celebrating the YMCA's "Healthy Kids Day".
10:00 am   2026 Vegan Earth Day March (SF)  FREE
10:00 am   SF’s “Little Treasures” Market for Kids & Families (Ferry Building)  FREE*
*Free admission, but Family Fun Pass: $18.67 includes three music & movement sessions; individual music session access: $15/family, first-come, first-served.
10:00 am   SOMA Plant Swap (2026)  FREE
10:00 am   SF’s Free “Sundays at the Beach” Tai Chi Day (Great Highway)  FREE
10:00 am   “Manny’s Neighborhood Trash Cleanup” w/ $1 Beer & Free Yoga Classes, Free Fries (SF)  FREE*
*Sign up on this TogetherSF Mobilize page: https://www.mobilize.us/togethersf/event/444979/
11:00 am   Earth Day Fair in Bernal Heights (2026)  FREE*
*Entire event is free
11:00 am   Spring 2026 “San Francisco Restaurant Week” (Final Day)  $10*
*Brunch/lunch starts at $10; Dinner starts at $30
11:00 am   Bon Marché Curated 2nd Hand Market: The Love your Planet Edition (Albany)  FREE*
*FREE | RSVP
11:00 am   “Lindy in the Park” Swing Dance Party (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Weather permitting (rain cancels)
11:00 am   SF’s 2026 Cherry Blossom Festival & Grand Parade w/ Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka  FREE
11:00 am   SF’s Earth Day Stroll 2026 at Bernal Heights  FREE
12:00 pm   SF’s Unique “Startup Art Fair” Takeover of an Entire 1950s Motor Lodge (April 17-19)  $22
12:00 pm   2026 San Francisco Earth Day Festival  FREE
12:00 pm   “Startup Art Fair” 70+ Indie Artist Fair in 1950s Motel (April 17-19)  FREE*
*ticket appear to be free
12:00 pm   420 Weekend: SF Space Walk at 7 Stars (Richmond)  FREE
12:00 pm   Wiggle Fest 2026: Pop-Up Town Square (SF)  FREE
12:00 pm   Annual “420” Celebration: Yoga, S’mores & DJs (Richmond)  FREE
12:00 pm   23rd Annual SF Festival of the Mandolins (2026)  $25*
*$25, or two for $45. Youth 12-18 $10. Under 12 free.
12:00 pm   Berkeley’s Free Solar-Powered Music Festival 2026  FREE*
*Free all day - includes sustainable crafts and activities
1:00 pm   Golden Gate Park Sunday Roller Disco Party (SF)  FREE
2:00 pm   Free “SF Opera” Spring 2026 Tour of Bay Area Parks & Plazas (Oakland)  FREE*
*Registration is encouraged but not required in all locations, except for Filoli, where you must register below if you plan to attend and registration may close if capacity is reached. In all venues, registration does not guarantee seating location, which is available on a first come, first served basis.
2:30 pm   Champagne Circus: Drag + Live Music Soiree (SF)  $15
3:00 pm   Mozart to Mendelssohn : Shostakovich  FREE*
*RSVP - donations are accepted
3:00 pm   SF’s “Mozart to Mendelssohn” Free Full Orchestra Concerts (2025/26)  FREE*
*RSVP - donations are accepted
6:00 pm   “HellaSecret” Speakeasy Comedy Show & Cocktail Night (Oakland)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
7:00 pm   FREE: “Hayes Valley Comedy Night” Sunday at The Function (SF)  FREE*
*Exclusive free tickets with Eventbrite RSVP. Otherwise $20-25 at door. Please note like most comedy clubs, there is a two drink minimum per person
7:30 pm   Exclusive Discounted Tix: Joshua Bell Violin Recital Live (SF)  $99*
*Use promo code: BELLOFFERFC for discounted tickets
8:00 pm   Ultimate Tribute to The British Legends of the 60’s (Historic BAL Theatre)  $30
< Saturday, April 18 Monday, April 20 >