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Events

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Upcoming Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with The Souls of Mischief

OMCA campus

Celebrating 30 years since their debut album, The Souls of Mischief return to their hometown Oakland and take the Garden stage at Friday Nights at OMCA. After more than 150 shows worldwide, Souls of Mischief will perform a mix of tracks from their classic album, 93 Til Infinity, as well as other favorites. This will be a night full of great memories—both old and new. Prepare for high-energy, classic, homegrown Hip Hop!

Free

Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees

OMCA campus

July’s final addition to Friday Nights at OMCA brings The Whoadees to the Garden stage! Self-described as “a gumbo of styles and sounds from around the globe including roots sounds of world music, Hip Hop, funk, and jazz,” the Whoadees stay true to their Bay Area roots by bringing a fusion of multiple genres to the mix inspiring you to dance or simply close your eyes and be filled with soulful sounds.

Free

Special Guest Gallery Chats: Photography Workshop with Black Film Guild

OMCA Gallery of California Art 1000 Oak St, Oakland, California, United States

Join us for this unique in-gallery photography workshop led by director, photographer, and Executive Director of the Black Film Guild, Walter Wallace. This multifaceted workshop is a unique way to learn essential photography techniques from an experienced instructor, while exploring the OMCA galleries and building community. This is a wonderful opportunity for photography enthusiasts of all levels. 

Admission ticket required

Friday Nights at OMCA with BULULÚ

OMCA campus

Let the summer heat and Friday Nights at OMCA ignite you this August! BULULÚ sets our Garden stage alight with an electrifying blend of Latin dance music and Caribbean rhythms that’s guaranteed to get you and your crew dancing. BULULÚ is sure to make this Friday Nights at OMCA full of savory beats, engaging performances, and even a few exciting surprises along the way. 

Free

Friday Nights at OMCA with Artelia Green & The Bandanas

OMCA campus

Friday Nights at OMCA is offering up powerful vibrations with live music performances from Artelia Green & The Bandanas and Let’s Lab w/ Shanté!. Artelia Green & The Bandanas craft an immersive sound experience that brings audiences to a different time and space. Blending together gospel and funk, Artelia Green & The Bandanas invites audiences to contend with grief on the road to transcendence. Let’s Lab w/ Shanté! offers healing tones as Shanté is set to share her warm and cozy blend of Hip Hop, R&B, and rap that is sure to inspire you.

Free

Member Gallery Chats at OMCA

OMCA Gallery of California History 1000 Oak St, Oakland, California, United States

Join us for Member Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.

Free for Members

Friday Nights at OMCA with Orchestra Gold

OMCA campus

Join us for another sensational installation of Friday Nights at OMCA! This Friday, OMCA is honored to welcome Orchestra Gold to the OMCA Garden stage. Spearheaded by the dynamic Mariam Diakite—known for her raw, hypnotic vocals and poetic Bambara lyrics—Orchestra Gold pays homage to Malian musical traditions while crafting a fierce new sound with heavy swinging rhythms, a funky fresh brass section, and cosmic guitar licks. Their most recent album, Medicine, mobilizes dance-inducing music to invoke the spirit and spread healing and community. DJ Teao Sense and their highly eclectic stylings with music from all over the world also celebrate how our diversity can create powerful and groovy waves.

Free

Ongoing & Annual events

Evening hours Thursday After Hours

Experience Thursday After Hours at OMCA – your weekly night out at the Museum rich with cocktails, culture, and community. Mingle at Town Fare Cafe by Chef Michele McQueen, where you can enjoy drinks and light bites against a backdrop of music, or explore the galleries  which come alive at night with a mix of pop-up performances, chats, live drawings, and more–  just for adults! 

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Evening hours Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid, Oakland’s favorite free weekly block party is back, April—October!

Gather with family, friends, and community every Friday 5—9 pm for live music, hands-on activities, Off the Grid (OTG) food trucks, and late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions, with a Museum ticket.

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Gallery Events Gallery Chats at OMCA

Join us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.

 

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Third Sundays Spotlight Sundays

Every third Sunday, OMCA invites visitors to Spotlight Sundays, a series of conversations, performances, and experiences that showcase California visionaries.

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First Sundays First Sundays

Every first Sunday of the month, General Admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences is free and tickets to Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are offered at a discounted price of $6.

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Community Celebration Lunar New Year

OMCA celebrates the Lunar New Year and explores the shared connections between the diverse Asian cultures of the Bay Area. These family-friendly programs will include both virtual and in-person offerings that celebrate and honor Lunar New Year traditions through storytelling, performances, activities, cooking demonstrations, and more. OMCA holds space for our AAPI communities to come together and uplift each other with both in-person and virtual healing circles.

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Community Celebration Día de los Muertos

In collaboration with OMCA’s Día de los Muertos Committee, we honor Day of the Dead every October and November.

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Community Event White Elephant Sale

The Oakland Museum Women’s Board started the White Elephant Sale over sixty years ago. The annual event is not-to-be-missed.

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Gallery Events Group Chats

Knowledgeable facilitators share insights and help make meaning with your group in OMCA’s galleries.

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