Friday Nights at OMCA with Non Stop Bhangra
Performance by Non Stop Bhangra, Fairyland Puppet Making, Music Set by DJ mare.e.fresh, and Gallery Chats
April 4 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday Nights at OMCA is ready to get into the rhythm with Non Stop Bhangra (NSB), the Bay Area’s ultimate dance party experience! Kicking off the 2025 Friday Nights season with high-energy beats, colorful performances, and an immersive cultural celebration, NSB brings the vibrant rhythms of Punjab, India, to life. Dance lessons, live drumming, and DJ sets will keep the energy flowing all night long, making it the perfect release for the whole family to enjoy.
In celebration of Fairyland’s 75th anniversary and the opening of Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic near the Gallery of California Natural Sciences, OMCA also hosts a special puppet-making activity, offering a creative way for families to engage with this beloved Oakland institution. It’s a fantastic opportunity for children and adults alike to craft their own whimsical creations inspired by the magic of Fairyland.
DJ mare.e.fresh will keep the vibe eclectic and exciting, spinning a mix of Cumbia, R&B, Disco, and more. As part of Velvet Cloud Radio and Chulita Vinyl Club’s Bay Area chapter, she brings a unique blend of global sounds that will keep the dance floor alive all night long.In addition to an outstanding event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also offer guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators, who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our exhibitions. Cultivate and spread good energy with us on Friday Nights at OMCA!
Limited $10 flat rate parking for Friday Nights is available in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm. Learn more about getting to the museum.
Program Schedule:
5—8:30 pm Non Stop Bhangra | Garden Stage
5—9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket
5:30—7:30 pm Puppet Making | OMCA Garden
5:30—7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries
6:45—8:45 pm DJ mare.e.fresh | Amphitheater
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About Friday Nights:
Gather with family, friends, and community every Friday at 5 pm for free live music and hands-on activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and late night access to our galleries and special exhibitions, with a Museum ticket.
Bring your own or grab dinner from any one of the 8 Off the Grid food trucks on 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets. Beer, wine, mixed and non-alcoholic drinks are available for sale. After grabbing a meal from a wide and weekly changing menu of culinary creations, head to the OMCA Garden where you’ll find picnic tables and blankets to enjoy your local eats. Play lawn and table games, enjoy weekly rotating Museum programming, and create new memories at one of the Town’s most treasured spaces right in the heart of Oakland.
No outside alcohol permitted. Performances are subject to change. Limited $10 flat rate parking for Friday Nights is available in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm.
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—Coming Soon
Performer BIOS
Non Stop Bhangra (NSB) is an award-winning event production and collective that transforms spaces into vibrant celebrations, sharing the energy of Punjabi music and dance with global audiences through immersive cultural experiences. Over the past 20 years, NSB has produced, collaborated, and performed at over 1,000 events across museums, festivals, performing arts centers, nightclubs, and landmark venues—including the Oakland Museum of California—while building community and fostering cross-cultural connections.
In 2023, NSB co-launched Bhangra & Beats Night Market, the largest outdoor cultural destination for South Asian arts in the Bay Area, voted San Francisco’s Best Night Market (Editor’s Pick, 48 Hills), received two Certificates of Honor from the city of San Francisco and co-presented the city’s first official Diwali celebration.
mare.e.fresh is a DJ and producer based out of the Bay Area. She is a part of the art collective Velvet Cloud Radio and an active member of Chulita Vinyl Club’s Bay Area chapter. She spends her time hanging out with her sassy dog Sol, digging for records, organizing art and music shows with her friends, and creating art as a means to document what she finds special.
Born from inspiring conversations between our Executive Director, Lori Fogarty, and Fairyland’s Executive Director, Kymberly Miller, the exhibition brings to life an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a beloved local institution, filling the museum’s Lower Level with a joyful, family-friendly experience.
Sponsors
Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.
