Freedom High School is taking its homecoming celebration out of the stadium and into the middle of Downtown Oakley this year, with a parade and community rally set for August 27 that will shut down a stretch of O'Hara Avenue for hours. The event marks the first time the school's homecoming parade and rally have been held directly in the city's downtown core and Civic Center Park, rather than closer to campus.
The shift is a joint effort between Freedom High School and the City of Oakley, according to the City of Oakley, which detailed the new route, schedule, and parking rules in a post published yesterday. Freedom High Principal Dr. Steve Amaro said the August date was chosen because of football scheduling anomalies this year, an unusual timing quirk that also creates a window for recent graduates to return and take part in the festivities before their college fall semesters begin, according to the City of Oakley's event listing. High school homecomings are traditionally held in September or October, making this year's late-August date a notable departure.
Parade Route and Timing
The parade kicks off promptly at 6 PM, traveling north on O'Hara Avenue before turning left onto Acme Street and ending at Civic Center Park, per the same city announcement. Parade participants will travel only in the southbound lane, or left side, of O'Hara Avenue. Once groups reach the park, they'll be directed toward the stage to be introduced to the crowd; anyone arriving by vehicle who isn't driving will disembark first for that introduction, while drivers are then directed to designated parking.
The FHS Community Rally is expected to begin around 7 PM, once the final group has arrived at the park. The rally lineup includes the FHS Band, Centre Stage, Color Guard, Cheer, and Choir, along with the Dance Line, Drumline, Filipino Student Union, Hip Hop Dance Team, and Latinos Unidos. Stepz Dance Fitness Studio and Step 2 This Dance are also slated to perform.
Street Closures and Parking Rules
Street closures begin at 5:30 PM, with O'Hara Avenue shut to traffic from West Cypress to Acme Street, and Acme Street closed from O'Hara Avenue to Norcross Road. A no-parking restriction along the parade route will be enforced from noon to 8 PM on August 27, according to the city's calendar listing.
Residents who live in the community surrounding Oakley Elementary and need to enter or exit their homes during the closure will be detoured toward Duarte Street. Those living directly east of O'Hara Avenue will be detoured from 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Streets toward Main Street instead.
With heavy attendance expected and closures starting well before the parade, organizers are encouraging attendees to arrive early and patronize local shops and restaurants beforehand. Those living near the parade route or downtown are being encouraged to walk, while attendees coming from farther away are asked to carpool or consider public transit. Tri Delta Transit operates local fixed bus routes as well as its Tri MyRide microtransit service connecting Oakley with neighboring cities, including Antioch, Brentwood, and Pittsburg.
Shuttle Service for Students and Staff
Freedom High is also running a shuttle for students and staff, dropping riders from the FHS gym to St. Anthony's roughly every 15 minutes between 4:30 and 5:30 PM Pickup back to the gym begins at 8 PM, after the community rally wraps up. Space on the shuttle is limited, and signing up through the school's registration form does not guarantee a spot.
Downtown Businesses Join the Celebration
Local pizza chain Skipolini's, located at 3070 Main Street, partnered with organizers to help create what the city called a memorable experience for the homecoming courts. Founded in 1974 in Clayton, California, Skipolini's now operates multiple Bay Area locations, including its Oakley shop along the parade route.
The downtown relocation also fits into a broader pattern for Oakley, which has used civic events and matching business grants of up to $50,000 through its Retail & Light Industrial Improvement Program to drive foot traffic to Main Street merchants, as Hoodline reported in June. Civic Center Park itself, a 1.7-acre facility at 3231 Main Street that opened in 2007, features an amphitheater lawn, performance stage, playground, and Veterans Memorial, and typically serves as the city's hub for summer concerts and community gatherings.
Freedom High School, established in 1996, is part of the Liberty Union High School District, which serves roughly 8,250 students across five high schools in East Contra Costa County, per district figures. The school itself enrolls 2,439 students in grades 9 through 12 for the current academic year, according to the California Department of Education. Dr. Amaro has spent 28 years at the school in various administrative roles and represents the area on the California Interscholastic Federation's Federated Council.
The city's announcement closed with a simple invitation to the community: Freedom Falcons and Oakley residents alike are invited to see the new downtown celebration for themselves on August 27.
