Oakland Shines With Culture And Music During Super Bowl LX

Super Bowl LX fever has officially swept through the Bay Area, and Oakland is making sure its voice rings loud and clear amid the festivities. With more than 25 events lighting up the city in the days leading up to the big game on February 8, 2026, locals and visitors alike are flocking to “The Town” for a celebration that’s about much more than just football. From watch parties and concerts to food fests and cultural showcases, Oakland’s Super Bowl week is a vibrant tapestry of diversity, music, and community spirit.

"There is so much to do," said Vicky Servin, founder of Baddies y Banda, who’s at the heart of this cultural wave. Servin is hosting one of the many “Benito Bowls” events—parties inspired by Bad Bunny’s highly-anticipated halftime show—at Fluid510. These gatherings aren’t just about the game; they’re about bringing people together to celebrate music, culture, and identity. "If I can represent for Oakland, that’s a win on my end. We are not being left out. We are creating spaces for ourselves as well."

And create they have. The only official NFL watch party in Oakland is set to take place at the Henry J. Kaiser Center on Sunday, while Saturday’s Family Style Food Fest at the Oakland Arena promises a feast for the senses. Featuring local chefs and artists—including the rising star rapper LaRussell—the festival is a showcase of Oakland’s culinary and musical prowess. "We are known for our food, for our culture, for our diversity," said Peter Gamez, CEO of Visit Oakland. "It's in our music and it's showing with the events that are going on in Oakland this week."

But perhaps the most unique storyline of Super Bowl LX comes from the musical side of the spectacle. San Mateo harpist GEO, whose real name is Gabrielle Elyse Oberes Padre, is set to perform on the grandest stage of her career at Levi’s Stadium. On Sunday, she’ll join Vallejo rapper LaRussell and his dynamic band, the Yee Section, as well as Oakland’s Co-Llab Choir, to serve as the official in-stadium Super Bowl house band. Their job? To keep the energy high during timeouts and commercial breaks, entertaining a global audience with a sound that’s both distinctly Bay Area and refreshingly original.

"I love seeing people light up when I play in the most random places," GEO shared in a recent interview, reflecting on her unconventional journey. Since 2016, she’s played everywhere from nightclubs and ballparks to cannabis dispensaries and festival stages. GEO’s approach is as eclectic as her venues—she’s a virtuoso who blends classical harp technique with hip-hop, R&B, and iconic Bay Area anthems. She’s just as likely to play E-40 as she is Johann Pachelbel, and she’s not one to stay glued to a bench. "I like to play the harp the way I dance," she explained. "Or the way that someone might be singing—like Mariah Carey and her vocal runs. That’s going through my head when I play."

GEO’s rise to prominence is a testament to the Bay Area’s culture of individuality and innovation. Her playful, inventive style went viral on social media, with videos of her covering Mac Dre’s “Thizzle Dance” and Keak Da Sneak’s “Super Hyphy” racking up thousands of views. It wasn’t long before LaRussell himself took notice. "I kept getting tagged in the videos," LaRussell recalled. He reached out to GEO directly and invited her to a rehearsal—a rehearsal that turned out to be a live concert at the Empress Theatre in Vallejo, headlined by LaRussell with special guest Twista. GEO’s intuitive, self-taught style fit right in. "That feeling is irreplaceable because we have such a flow of how we play," she said. "It’s like you’re dancing with a partner. The chemistry is just there."

LaRussell, for his part, sees GEO as a breath of fresh air in the hip-hop scene. "It’s something fresh and new," he said. "GEO is a light. She loves to dance. She loves to smile. She just blends in. She’s family." Since that fateful concert, GEO, the Yee Section, and the Co-Llab Choir have become regular fixtures at LaRussell’s shows—from backyard gigs in Vallejo to major festival stages like Outside Lands and now, the Super Bowl.

GEO’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. She once put down the harp to study design at UC Davis, only picking it up during school breaks to amuse friends. After graduating in 2024, she honed her skills in a makeshift home studio, using a barstool stacked with books as a tripod. Despite initial embarrassment—"I was really embarrassed about that because most of these harpists have beautiful backgrounds," she admitted—her unique blend of hyphy and harp struck a chord online.

Her musical roots run deep. Born in San Francisco to Gen X parents who loved hip-hop and R&B, GEO’s early music education was unconventional. She struggled with traditional music instruction until meeting Coral LeBlanc, a teacher who encouraged her to try the harp. "I felt she would be capable of learning a specialized instrument and really shining," LeBlanc said. GEO quickly developed an intuitive understanding of music, adding cello, percussion, trombone, upright bass, and viola to her repertoire.

Her time as the unofficial music director at the Congregational Church of San Mateo further nurtured her creativity. Rev. Penny Nixon remembered, "She could be herself. And for me, that’s what’s really important." GEO’s compositions for the church, like a bossa nova take on “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” were early signs of her innovative spirit. "I really just wanted to create what didn’t exist," GEO said.

Now, as one of the few Filipinas playing harp at an elite level, GEO is determined to break stereotypes and bridge communities. "I just want to rep Filipinos more than ever right now," she said, citing local rappers Ruby Ibarra and Rocky Rivera as inspirations. Her performances—often in sweats or pajamas, far from the traditional evening gown—are a deliberate challenge to the harp’s elitist image.

Super Bowl weekend marks a whirlwind for GEO. On Friday, she’ll open for Oakland R&B star Kehlani at San Jose City Hall’s Big Game Block Party. Saturday brings the Family Style Food Fest at Oakland Arena, where she’ll perform with LaRussell. It all culminates Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, where the world will witness the Bay Area’s musical diversity on the NFL’s biggest stage.

As the Super Bowl excitement builds, Oakland stands as a beacon of culture, creativity, and community. Whether you’re catching a "Benito Bowl," savoring local cuisine, or grooving to GEO’s genre-bending harp, one thing’s for sure: this Super Bowl is about more than football—it’s a celebration of everything that makes the Bay unique. And as fans pour into the city and the stadium, the beat goes on, louder and prouder than ever.