The Radio Regatta floats again!

On Sunday, August 26th, Oaklandish presents the 4th annual Radio Regatta — the Town’s premiere homegrown nautical event. The event will run from 12 – 5, with music, drinks, and boat rides. East Bay residents know that real summer weather doesn’t hit until August, and we’re planning a day of beer and boating to celebrate.

The Oaklandish rig will be parked at the Lake Merritt Sailboat House, at 568 Bellevue Ave. There will be free gondola rides (first come, first served), plus half-price pontoon and boat rentals for the day. We’ll be serving cold Linden Street beer and homemade sangria to keep the people of Oakland cool and refreshed.

The event is free and open to the public — folks are encouraged to bring food for a picnic by (or on) the lake. People who want drinks will simply need to show their ID and make a suggested donation to get a wristband and a cup (we recommend somewhere between $5 and $20, depending on how many refills you want).

This is also a BYOBB (Bring Your Own Boom Box) event. We’ll have a live, micro FM station broadcasting from the shore with tunes from DJ Dion Decibels, The Whooligan, and the original Bobby Peru. After all, there’s nothing like floating across the water with dozens of radios tuned to the same summer jam. Other Oakland institutions, like Children’s Fairyland, 4Square of the East Bay, and the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, will also be set up with activities and information about their programs.

The proceeds from the event will support Oaklandish’s community work and Children’s Fairyland youth outreach programs. Fairyland offers all sorts of free services to low-income kids, like field trips, school-readiness programs, and animal therapy.

So bring your radio, find your sea legs, and get ready to float!

Friends, take note: the boat rides are for sober sailors only. For obvious reasons, the boathouse can’t let you on the water if you’re visibly intoxicated. So if you’re planning to take to the seas, do it before you hit the kegs.