City of Oakland California

The City of Oakland will offer free parking every Saturday between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, plus Plaid Friday which is November 23.

On the following days, parking at all City-metered spaces throughout Oakland will be free for the time period posted on the meter or kiosk (30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours or 5 hours):

• Friday, November 23
• Saturday, November 24
• Saturday, December 1
• Saturday, December 8
• Saturday, December 15
• Saturday, December 22 
• Saturday, December 29

The free parking "holidays" apply to both standard meters and the multi-space parking kiosks located in many commercial districts.

Standard parking rules and time limits apply -- if shoppers need additional parking time, they will need to move their car across the street if it is a two-way street, or park around the block if it is a one-way street. The City will be monitoring parked cars on a regular basis, including enforcing other violations (e.g., red, yellow, green and white zones as well as double parking).  

The Parking “Holiday” is a key element of the 2012 “Shop Oakland Grown” holiday campaign. The campaign uses social media, posters, newspaper advertising and billboards to encourage local residents to buy their holiday gifts in Oakland. Other elements include the Oakland Grown Gift Card and the Oakland Grown Holiday Gift Guide.

To see the roster of participating Oakland businesses as well as details on purchasing a gift card, please visit www.oaklandgrown.org.

The free holiday parking also applies to the following City-owned lots equipped with meters on the designated Saturdays and Plaid Friday:

• Grand Avenue Lot in the 3200 block of Grand Avenue
• LakePark Lot under I-580 between Grand and Lakeshore avenues
• Piedmont Avenue Lot on Howe Street between 40th and 41st streets
• Parkway Lot on Wayne Avenue near Park Boulevard and E. 18th Street