Afro-Indigenous community organizer, award-winning cultural steward, and event producer. Twenty years turning Oakland streets into gatherings that mean something.
“i keep my energy calibrated.”
Candi Martinez is an Afro-Indigenous community organizer, award-winning cultural steward, and event producer with over twenty years of experience in event production, artistic curation, grant writing, and publicity.
Rooted in Oakland, Candi produces some of the East Bay's signature street fairs and festivals. As Co-Director of the Temescal Street Fair — celebrating its 20th year in 2026 — and a producer behind the Laurel Street Fair World Music Festival, Oaktoberfest, and Montclair Beer, Wine & Music, she's spent two decades turning Oakland streets into free, family-friendly gatherings that draw tens of thousands.
Her work centers on uplifting historically under-celebrated communities, supporting nonprofits and social-justice causes, and building inviting spaces where artists can showcase their work and share a common story.
Candi is an artist in her own right — she DJs, dances, and teaches yoga. That practice shapes how she works: with discipline, collaboration, and a deep respect for what it takes to create. She's also co-founded event ventures of her own, including the nightlife brand SKIN. Today she brings that full range — production, curation, grant writing, and publicity — to the events and organizations she partners with.
Every project starts as a conversation — these are the areas she's built the deepest experience in.
End-to-end production for street fairs and outdoor festivals — permitting, vendors, logistics, and day-of run of show, at the scale of Oakland's biggest.
Lineups and programming that celebrate cultural heritage and give under-celebrated artists a platform — and actually fit the community they're in.
Funded, award-winning cultural work — grant writing and development to help nonprofits and events secure the support they need.
Press, marketing, and audience-building for events and organizations — getting the right people in the room and the story out.
Co-director of Telegraph Ave.'s signature street fair, celebrating its 20th year in 2026 — free, outdoor, family-friendly, with live music, dance battles, an artisan market, and local vendors.
Production and artistic direction for the Laurel District's world-music street festival.
Ongoing production for two beloved East Bay neighborhood festivals.
One of two veteran producers brought in to launch the neighborhood's inaugural spring festival.
Taking the Oath of Office — appointed to serve on the City of Oakland's Cultural Affairs Commission.
Talking Temescal Street Fair on Live in the Bay.
Oakland — on and off the clock.
Live at the street fair — where all the planning meets the crowd.
Reach out about a street fair, a festival, a cultural program, or anything in between.