Cherry Festival 2022: Local Community Leaders Save the Day

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Thousands of San Leandrans came to Downtown San Leandro yesterday to celebrate the city’s 150th anniversary. The City organized a fun parade that highlighted the amazing diversity of our community.

What most people do not know, however, is that the parade would have been the extent of the celebration. For the third consecutive year, the City declined to organize the traditional Cherry Festival. I understand why the festival was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. But once the City invited the public to attend a parade this year, we also should have had the Cherry Festival. 

 Thankfully a group of community leaders stepped forward. Members of the San Leandro Historical Society and others, including School Board Trustee Evelyn Gonzalez and her husband Juan, as well as the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, saved the day. 

All volunteers, these individuals spent countless hours planning and organizing a festival, called The Gathering, following the Cherry Parade. The Gathering was not the same as the traditional Cherry Festival given the amount of funds required to hire more well-known musical acts and bring in a wide range of vendors. Yet, the Gathering was still a great success. It included cultural and civic booths, food and drinks, entertainment, and an art festival featuring local artists. 

 The Cherry Festival is fundamental to our City’s identity and a source of pride for all San Leandrans. It would have been a shame not to have a public festival celebrating our City in the 150th anniversary of its founding. I am deeply appreciative of the “can do spirit” of every person and organization involved in organizing the Gathering.



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