Friday Nights at OMCA with Kim Nalley Band
Live Music by the Kim Nalley Band, DJ Set by LEXAPEEL, Haitian Folkloric Dance Lesson with Portsha T. Jefferson, Community Tabling with Lake Merritt Institute, and Gallery Chats
June 12 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday Night at OMCA comes alive during the opening week of OMCA’s latest Special Exhibition, Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory, with a lineup inspired by the artist’s deep connections to music, movement, cultural memory, and public engagement. On the Garden Stage, the Kim Nalley Band delivers powerhouse vocals that blend jazz, blues, and soul. Known for captivating audiences from intimate clubs to global concert halls, Nalley brings warmth, wit, and commanding presence to every performance.
Behind the turntables, LEXAPEEL sets the tone with a genre-spanning mix of global sounds, R&B, Hip-Hop, and house. With a seamless style and sharp instinct for reading the crowd, she builds an infectious energy that keeps the dance floor moving all night.
Guests are invited to move with purpose in a Haitian folkloric dance lesson led by Portsha Terae Jefferson. Centered on the celebratory rhythms of the carnival dance known as RARA, this all-levels workshop blends cultural tradition with joyful expression, offering a chance to connect and honor Haiti’s rich living heritage through movement.
Throughout the evening, Lake Merritt Institute hosts interactive community tabling that highlights the beauty and stewardship of Lake Merritt. Through games, puzzles, art-making, and chances to win prizes, guests of all ages can explore ways to care for this beloved local ecosystem while celebrating the vibrant community that surrounds it.
Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also features Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.
Program Schedule:
5–7:30 pm Community Tabling: Lake Merritt Institute | Garden
5:30–6:30 pm Haitian Folkloric Dance Lesson with Portsha T. Jefferson | Amphitheater
5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries
6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by the Kim Nalley Band | Garden Stage
6:45–8:45 pm DJ Set by LEXAPEEL | Amphitheater
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About Friday Nights:
The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. From April–October, join us every Friday at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.
Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.
OMCA also offers a $10 flat-rate parking in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm. Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted, and event details and performances are subject to change.
Accessibility
Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email [email protected] at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.
Performers
Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup
Performer BIOS
Awarded “Most Influential African American in the Bay Area” in 2005 and “Best Jazz Group” in 2013, vocalist Dr. Kim Nalley is already being called “legendary” and a “San Francisco institution.” Nalley was discovered by Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) singing to packed audiences live with no amplification. MTT recorded her singing live and invited her to sing with the San Francisco Symphony. Subsequently, she became a Rounder Records recording artist and went on a worldwide tour, gracing concert halls from Moscow to Lincoln Center and festivals from Umbria Jazz to Monterey Jazz, garnering effusive international press, awards, and high ranking on the Jazz charts and the Gavin Report for her many albums.
LEXAPEEL is an LA-born, Oakland-based international DJ whose sound has moved crowds from Atlanta, New York, the Bay Area, London, Tokyo, and beyond. With over a decade behind the decks—and the last five years cementing her as a crowd favorite—LEXAPEEL is known for transforming any setting into an unforgettable dance floor. Her love for music is the driving force behind her eclectic, genre-spanning sets that flow seamlessly between Hip-Hop, R&B, baile funk, jersey club, afrobeats, and other global sounds. Combining sharp scratching, transitions, and an open-format approach, she has a rare ability to read a crowd and elevate its energy.
For over 25 years, Portsha Terae Jefferson (Zetwal Ashade Bon Manbo) has been a dynamic force in the world of African Diasporic arts. She has been celebrated for her work as a choreographer, performer, researcher, filmmaker, and cultural practitioner. She is the visionary founder and Artistic Director of Rara Tou Limen, a cultural institution connecting the Bay Area to the spiritual heart of Haiti.
Lake Merritt Institute is a community-based non-profit corporation that works with volunteers, schools, and the City of Oakland in a cooperative, positive relationship.
Sponsors
Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.
