Town Flicks: Soul (2/21) and Freedom Run (2/28) posters.
February 20, 2026

Oakland Ballers Celebrate Black History Month with Community Events at Raimondi Park

Pixar’s Soul screening and inaugural Freedom Run honor the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party in West Oakland.

 

The Oakland Ballers are marking Black History Month with two community-centered events at historic Raimondi Park: a free screening of Pixar Animation Studios’ Soul and the first annual Freedom Run & Community Wellness Festival in partnership with the Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network.

The events honor the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party and take place during the final weekend of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Black History Month.

“Each one reach one, Each one teach one. Working in solidarity creates unbreakable bonds that transcend generations and allows us to achieve our goals together,” said Dr. Saturu Ned of the Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network. "If we don't know the truth of the past we are bound and subjugated by the untruths of today."

Both community events reflect the Ballers’ commitment to keeping Raimondi Park active year-round as a gathering space for culture, education, wellness, and neighborhood pride.
 
 
 

Town Flicks: Free Community Screening of Pixar’s Soul

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Raimondi Park

1689 20th St, Oakland, CA 94607

Free admission. Advance tickets required.

Gates open at 3:30 PM. Film begins at 4:00 PM.

The home of the Pioneer Baseball League Champion Oakland Ballers will transform into a neighborhood living room as the third edition of Town Flicks lights up the scoreboard with Pixar’s Academy Award-winning film Soul.

Families, students, and neighbors are invited to gather on the outfield grass or in the stands for an afternoon of connection, laughter, and Oakland pride. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or beach chairs, enjoy local food vendors, and experience Pixar storytelling under the lights of Raimondi Park.
 
 

Freedom Run & Community Wellness Festival

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Raimondi Park, West Oakland

Freedom Run 5K: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Registration fees are on a tiered, sliding scale.

Community Wellness Festival: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Free and open to all ages

One week later, Raimondi Park becomes the starting and ending point for the first annual Freedom Run & Community Wellness Festival, organized in partnership with the Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network.

The Freedom Run is a 5K run and walk through West Oakland that highlights historic Black Panther Party landmarks. Open to all fitness levels, the run is a symbolic journey representing the ongoing fight for freedom, justice, and health equity.

Registration is offered on a sliding scale to ensure accessibility, with proceeds supporting the modern survival programs of the Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network.
 

Following the run, the community will gather at Raimondi Park for a free Wellness Festival focused on care, connection, and collective strength. Offerings will include free food and groceries, medical testing, activist-led workshops, and community resource providers.

Organizations, nonprofits, and mutual aid groups interested in participating in the Wellness Festival can contact oaklandfreedomrun@gmail.com