(KRON) -- Oakland's First Fridays are gone for the rest of the year, organizers announced just weeks after canceling November's festivities.
"With heavy hearts, we announce that our November and December events are cancelled due to funding shortages," a spokesperson said in a statement shared with KRON4 Monday. "We want to be clear: We are NOT cancelling because of violence or crime. We are cancelling because of finances."
Organizers made a similar statement in October originally concerning only the Nov. 6 event—warning that December's event was also at risk.
Oakland First Fridays canceled for November
First Fridays are monthly street fairs supported by community members in Oakland's Koreatown Northgate neighborhood.
"Although this pause is heartbreaking, we are holding onto hope that Oakland First Fridays can return in 2027, should funding become available," a spokesperson said.
Venessa McGee has been involved with the event since 2015. She said this is the first time in her tenure that an already scheduled festival has been canceled.
“I understand the times that we’re in. But I also understand how important our event is to our community, our small businesses and even the people who attend the event and need that positive space to come together and have a good time,” McGee told our Amanda Hari.
