"Plaid Friday" is a shopping event throughout Oakland aimed at encouraging holiday shoppers to visit local businesses.
There are 45 businesses participating with specials throughout the city, including in the Temescal, Montclair, and Fruitvale neighborhoods, downtown, on Piedmont Avenue, and other areas and online.
A "winter wonderland" is entertaining children at Latham Square in downtown Oakland.
Families are invited to visit Santa's Village at the plaza until 7 p.m. There will be a gift-wrapping station, art and other independent vendors, a toy drive, music, hot beverages, face painting, photos with Santa and other activities.
The "Plaid Friday" movement originated in Oakland by the local business group Oakland Grown.
