Friday Nights at OMCA kicks off Oakland Carnival weekend with a bang! In celebration of the vibrant cultures of the Bay Area the night starts at the Garden Stage with a Soca Meets Samba Dance Workshop, a fun, all-levels, all-ages dance class highlighting some of the most popular moves from each genre. Immediately after, the MasFX Carnival Dance Experience will perform a portion of their 2024 showcase that leads into a party worthy blend of Soca, Reggaeton, Dancehall, Afrobeats, Baile Funk, Hip-Hop, House and more with a set from  VibeHauss DJ’s. The Amphitheater will be activated too and will transport you to Trinidad and Tobago with the smooth vibrations of Cardinal Calypso Steel Pan Band. 

Come out with Pride to Friday Nights at OMCA! Krudas Cubensi brings a blend of rap and poetry and Afro-Cuban music beats, like salsa, rumba, and Jazz from their album “They/Them Les Elles” and uplifts the resiliency of non-binary and trans people. The album being a collaboration between Krudas, Greg Landau and many local and international artists is an interwoven sonic tapestry that inspires reflection and action in the service of a better future for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.

Mark your calendars for another blockbuster evening at Friday Nights at OMCA! The Garden stage will host the distinct and spellbinding, Reyna Tropical. Uplifting the sounds of the tropical diaspora, Reyna Topical is not only a musical exploration and celebration of the pulse of the tropical diaspora, but the band also represents a commitment to creating abundant spaces for Black, Indigenous, and Queer joy. 

Join OMCA this Friday as we host Mak Nova and The Homies to our Garden Stage! A totally sensational mashup of spiritual celebration, authentic hip-hop, lyrical genius, and powerful stage presence Mak Nova and The Homies are sure to leave you smiling, sweating, and spiritually revived!

June’s final addition of Friday Nights at OMCA brings Skip The Needle to the Garden stage! A banging mix of soul, rock, and funk, Skip The Needle is ready to blast sonic love and energy! Furthering the rhythmic love is a Bachata lesson with In Lak’ech Dance Academy. Bachata Queer instructors,  Angelica and Jahaira, are creating a gender inclusive and beginner friendly space to learn and bachata with Pride.