• ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Burlesque and Belly Dance & Trivia Night

    OMCA campus

    Step into ThursDates at OMCA and let the evening unfold at the pace of connection. In Town Fare, DJ Mark DiVita sets the atmosphere with incredible grooves perfect for cocktails and conversation. Guests are invited to test their wits with Trivia Night: Stories of Resilience, celebrating creativity, community, and unexpected insights. Meanwhile, the Gallery of California History comes alive with Sketchboard Co.’s uninstructed live figure drawing sessions, where models Andy Rose and Kitty KaPowww will interweave spellbinding burlesque performances between poses. 

    Admission ticket required
  • ThursDates at OMCA with The Bay Area Book Festival

    OMCA campus

    Unwind into a reflective and creative ThursDates evening at OMCA, where storytelling, art-making, and music unfold at an easy, welcoming pace. OMCA and the Bay Area Book Festival team up this Thursday to present Maw Shein Win, Burmese American poet and inaugural poet laureate of El Cerrito, for a collaborative program that moves through the Museum. The evening begins with a performance bySPRINGTWIN (Win and guitaristDanny Allen), followed by a drop-in writing workshop in the Gallery of California History, inviting guests to reflect on personal and collective histories throughfree-writing exercises. The program culminates in Town Fare with an open mic, where participants can share their writings while enjoying cocktails and bites. All the while, DJ La Femme Papi provides soulful, expansive music throughout the evening, creating a warm and immersive soundtrack for the night.

    Admission ticket required
  • Friday Nights at OMCA with Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia

    OMCA campus

    Friday Nights at OMCA kicks off the 2026 season with the vibrant and joyful rhythms of the Caribbean as Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia take the Garden Stage. Blending timba, salsa, son, and tropical fusion, their high-energy set will have you dancing and celebrating all night long. The party continues with Oakland’s own DJ Kream, spinning soulful, rhythm-forward beats rooted in deep house, funk, and feel-good grooves to keep the dance floor moving.

    Free
  • Friday Nights at OMCA with SambaDá

    OMCA campus

    Step into your weekend with Brazilian-inspired music, dance, and joyful connection at Friday Nights at OMCA. On the Garden Stage, SambaDá delivers a joy-filled set rooted in electric Brazilian rhythms with a funky American twist. Blending samba, funk, soul, and global grooves, their infectious live performance brings radiant energy and irresistible beats that keep the crowd moving.

    Free
  • Friday Nights at OMCA Special Members Lounge

    OMCA Garden 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, California, United States

    Calling all Members! Join us for a special members’ lounge on the Upper Level terrace, overlooking our Garden. Mingle with fellow OMCA enthusiasts while enjoying light refreshments, sidewalk chalk, and games for the entire family. Plus, we’ll be playing bingo and giving away awesome OMCA merch!

    Free for Members
  • Friday Nights at OMCA with The Philharmonik

    OMCA campus

    This evening, Friday Nights at OMCA is bringing you and your crew soulful grooves, infectious rhythms, and playful creativity. The Philharmonik sets the tone on the Garden Stage with a passionate blend of R&B, funk, soul, and Hip-Hop, energizing the crowd and inspiring dancing and singing for all ages. Over in the Amphitheater, DJ Hauna Bauna adds to the vibrations with a high-energy, genre-spanning set—from Hip-Hop and Afro beats to house, Jersey club, Nola bounce, and R&B—creating a rhythm-driven journey that moves everyone.

    Free