Families are invited to the "shop till you drop" event today and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., where more than 100 vendors, including art and craft exhibitors, will market their special items.

There will be food, fashion shows and live entertainment with music, comedy and poetry at the show, organized by African American Business Exchange and James Moore Productions.

This year's host is actress and playwright Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, who played major roles in television and movies, including "New Jack City," "What's Love Got to Do With It" and "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."

In addition, the event will feature the young dancers African Queens, rapper Alex Keel, jazz and R&B vocalist Shadee Rashada, Sunday Gospel Explosion with vocalist Demetrius Tolefree, "swamp gospel" crooners Roy Tyler & New Direction, award-winning poet Cassandra Walton, and more.

Digital Underground Storytelling for Youth, a grass-roots organization in West Oakland that teaches youth how to write comedy using technology among other skills, will have a discussion panel. Participating young people will showcase their stand-up comedy skills.

In addition, there will be opportunities for visitors to learn about Kwanzaa, the nonreligious African-American celebration, which takes place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

The gift show wraps itself around the seven principles of the celebration, especially the fourth one called Ujamaa, which stands for cooperative economics. Community groups, organizations, corporations and holiday shoppers come out to support African-American small-business owners and artists.

"It allows independent business owners to put their products on the market and gain customers year-round," said James Moore, show founder and producer.

Kwanzaa embraces principles that focus on the traditional African values of family, community, responsibility, commerce and self-improvement.

The event is also a place for aspiring business owners to find inspiration and a tip or two to launch their own ventures, he said.

Event admission for adults is $6 and free for children under 12. For more information, call (510) 534-1594 or visit http://www.kwanzaagiftshow.com.

Moore, as member and later as president of the Black Business Exchange, started the original gift show in 1985 under the name "Holiday Expo" at Sweet Jimmie's on San Pablo Avenue, which at the time was called Old Warehouse Cabaret.

As the event became popular, organizers looked for a larger venue. Moore said they would have to continue hosting the event at the Marriott Convention Center — where it too is running out of space to handle the size of the event — if they want to keep it in Oakland.

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