I love street fairs. They’re a chance for the community to come together to have fun and remind ourselves that we really do have a lot more in common than we have differences. And that’s something we need more than ever in these anxious times.

One of the best is Art + Soul Oakland, which has been celebrating the city’s amazing cultural renaissance for 17 years. Who’d have thought that Oakland, which has been the target of so much gratuitous snobbery from across the bay for so long, would turn out to be the mecca of the Bay Area art scene in the 21st century? And yet it has, and we are the beneficiaries.

On Aug. 19-20, the city will pull out all the stops to celebrate, and what amazes me is how they’ve managed to cram so much good stuff into only two days. I mean, how am I supposed to concentrate on Goapele, Los Rakas and Adrian Marcel on the Art + Soul Main Stage on Saturday when at the same time the Kenya B Trio and Jones Brothers Piano Company are swinging on the Oakland Jams Stage? Then there are some very talented young people competing in a high-flying turf dance battle on the Plaza Stage; and a host of gospel stars, including Tasha Page-Lockhart, Lawrence Mathews, Dayanna Griffin Redic, Sis Vanessa Murphy, Leonard Daily and Ezell Easy III are singing on the Edwin Hawkins Gospel Stage.

And the same thing happens on Sunday, when Angie Stone, Lakeside and Sydney Nicole on the main stage go up against the Stony B Blues Band, Jimmy Smith Blues Band, Michelle LaChaux and Oakland Blues Divas on the West Coast Blues Society Stage; Grand Avenue Soul and Midtown Social on the Oakland Jams Stage; and Dance-A-Vision on the World/Urban Dance Stage. It’s an embarrassment of riches. How can you possibly take it all in?

The answer is you can’t, and you shouldn’t even try. Just accept that fact and resolve to come back for more next year.

Plus, you’ll need some time for the clowns, contortionists, aerialists, acrobats, food booths (including corn meal breaded catfish from Tante’s, African comfort food from Uhuru Foods & Pies, Savory Oxtails from Ovo Tavern & Eatery, jerk chicken from Gorgeous Gorilla, six different flavors from Rainbow Italian Ice, locally brewed beer, kiddie rides and an interactive public mural project with Art Murmur in which you can help create a collective work celebrating Oakland pride.

And the best part is that it’s affordable: $12 for adults, $7 for ages 13 to 17 and seniors and free for kids 12 and younger. Where else are you going to hear so much great music for so little? The main gates are at 14th and Broadway. If you drive, parking is five bucks at the City Center West Garage at 12th and MLK. But I’d recommend taking BART; the festival’s entrance is right atop the downtown Oakland station. And if you ride your bicycle they’ll provide free valet parking, but remember to bring your own lock.

And speaking of Edwin Hawkins, the day before the festival will be his 74th birthday. Best wishes, Maestro. It was a happy day for all of us when you were born.

Reach Martin Snapp at catman442@comcast.net.