Grammy Nominee Lisa Loeb Heads Today's Line-Up for Oakland's Art & Soul Festival

Oakland's 13th annual Art & Soul Festival kicks off today in downtown, noon to 8 p.m., and continues tomorrow from noon to 6. Activities center around Frank Ogawa Plaza and the surrounding streets.

Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for seniors (65+) and youth (13-17). Children 12 and under enter for free.

Here are highlights for today:

● Grammy nominee Lisa Loeb was the first unsigned artist to top the American charts         

● Oakland’s own Los Rakas bring their mix of hip-hop, plena, reggae and dancehall music with lyrics in both English and Spanish         

● Colorfully costumed Samba Queen Maisa Duke and members of the Non Stop Bhangra troupe will whirl, shimmy and dance to the Latin Alternative music performed by Bang Data

● A public dance party, hosted both days by Carla Service from Oakland’s Dance-A-Vision, will engage festival goers and encourage them to show off their own dance moves     

● Hometown and global eats from food booths and popular food trucks         

● Family fun - kiddie carnival rides, games and interactive arts

● Acrobatic and aerial performances by young artists from the Kinetic Arts Center will wow the crowds

● Unique artistic art cars and bike on display including the Intergalactic Transporter, Drala Dragon Wagon, Tom Missile Truck and gigantic Trike, plus the interactive LegoJeep

● The East Bay Regional Park District's Mobile Visitor Center educating kids on a range of nature-related topics.

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