Five Ways to Keep Summer Going

Whether you’re looking for fun activities with friends during Labor Day weekend, seeking things to do with kids who are dreading school, or looking for awesome things to do in the East Bay after using up your vacation hours, here are five ways to keep the season’s fun going at OMCA when fall comes around. 

We know, we know… the end of summer is hard, even in the Bay Area where we get a second wave of sun in September after “Fogust,” when @KarlThe Fog is in swing. Whether you’re looking for fun activities with friends during Labor Day weekend, seeking things to do with kids who are dreading school, or looking for awesome things to do in the East Bay after using up your vacation hours, here are five ways to keep the season’s fun going at OMCA when fall comes around. 

1. Stay Up Late at the Museum.

Nothing says “summer” like a long evening spent having fun with your family and friends! Friday Nights @ OMCA keeps going with summer hours—open until 10 pm!—through the end of October. Yes, we’ve got you covered with a street festival bustling with local food trucks, live bands, dancing instruction, and DJ sets paired with discounted after-hours Museum admission  and kid-friendly things to do in Oakland, even when the sun starts to set earlier. 

2. Explore Oakland by Bike.

Summer is all about getting outside, but here in California, that doesn’t have to stop when fall drops. Every year from May to October, our OMCA Docents take advantage of our climate and do their tours a little differently—by bike! You’ve got two more months to discover East Bay storytelling-in-motion on a Docent-led Bike Tour. On Sunday, September 17, pick between two tours: Downtown Oakland and Brooklyn, a lesser-known town that was once east of Lake Merritt.

3. Celebrate Oakland Pride Month.

Every Sunday in September and on select Friday Nights @ OMCA, we’re holding special tours highlighting LGBT history in our collection. Join our talented Docents while you learn new stories about diverse Californians’ lives across the eras in our beautiful state from the Gold Rush to the 1960s, and through today.  

4. Wander in OMCA’s Terraced Gardens.

For our visitors who love to sprawl out in our Gardens, we also highly recommend that you also get to know our sculptures and rooftop gardens on our outdoor terraces. You might recognize Tony Labat’s iconic Peace Sign IV, overlooking Lake Merritt, but do you know where to find Linda Fleming’s Glimmer?

5. See What All the Buzz Is About.

Looking for something for your bug-obsessed toddler (or adult, we’re not judging) in your life? Stop by Bees: Tiny Insect, Big Impact before it closes on October 22 to learn all about our buzzy, fuzzy friends and their key role in our ecosystem, and don’t miss our Friday Nights @ OMCA family drop-in activity from 5–8 pm this month: Come make your own bee pin to wear! And September just happens to be National Honey Month, too. Bonus points if you stop by our new Citizen Science Vending Machine, and pick up your own Zombee Hunting research toolkit to take home.