Friday Nights at OMCA with Ouida
2025-10-17 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by Ouida, Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing, Music Set by DJ Dailo Mac, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night at OMCA, experience an unforgettable evening of soulful sound, creative expression, and dance-floor energy as we shift into fall. Ouida takes the Garden Stage with her powerhouse nine-piece band, blending the grit of UK-inspired R&B and soul with warm jazz textures, bold brass, and soaring pop melodies. With husky, nostalgic vocals and lush arrangements, her performance channels deep emotion and vibrant celebration—offering a glimpse into the future of contemporary soul.

Inside the Gallery of California Art, Sketchboard Co. invites you to tap into the slower rhythms of fall with an evening of uninstructed live figure drawing. All are welcome to sketch, reflect, and connect in this open studio-style session celebrating the beauty and diversity of the human form.

We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. A costumed model representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the Gallery of California Art for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

Over in the Amphitheater, DJ Dailo Mac is delivering a high-energy, open-format DJ set blending hip-hop, R&B, K-pop, EDM, Latin, house, and more to round out the evening. With 20+ years behind the decks and a passion for community-centered sound, her sets offer a joyful, genre-fluid journey built to connect and uplift.

Friday Nights at OMCA also offer a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike traditional museum tours, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators, who combine deep content knowledge with lived experience to encourage fresh interpretations of the Museum’s exhibitions.

Program Schedule:

5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket

5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:45–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art

6–7 pm Live Music by Ouida | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm Music Set by DJ Dailo Mac | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

About Friday Nights:

Join us for Friday Nights at OMCA, where Oakland comes together! Every Friday from April to October, bring your crew for an unforgettable night of free live music and activities for the whole family. Bring a blanket and settle down on the lawn, or take advantage of exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions (Museum ticket needed for gallery access).

Hungry? Grab a bite from any of the ten Off the Grid food trucks lining 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, offering a delicious mix of rotating flavors. Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. Once you’ve fueled up, head to the OMCA Garden, where picnic tables and blankets await you to enjoy your meal. With lawn games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories at one of Oakland’s most iconic spots.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Ouida

Sketchboard Co.

DJ Dailo Mac

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Ouida

Ouida has quickly built a reputation as a compelling new voice in contemporary soul. Emerging from the Bay Area, Ouida was featured in NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest–winning ‘Bakunawa’ with Ruby Ibarra before embarking on a sold-out national tour this summer. She has opened for artists including Esperanza Spalding, Raveena, Rufus Wainwright, and Madison McFerrin, and her music and artistry have been spotlighted by KQED, MTV, Nylon, and Vogue Philippines. Her forthcoming EP is due this fall under Bolo Music Group.

About Sketchboard Co.

Sketchboard Co. is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

About DJ Dailo Mac

DJ Dailo Mac (she/her) is a seasoned open-format DJ with over 20 years of experience energizing dance floors and curating unforgettable vibes. Known for her genre-blending style and community-centered approach, she has collaborated with artists like Son of Paper and shared stages with icons such as One Vo1ce. Her work bridges music, identity, and celebration—turning every set into a powerful space for connection.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Gabriela Sepúlveda & MARIACHI BONITAS DE DINORAH
2025-10-24 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by Gabriela Sepúlveda & MARIACHI BONITAS DE DINORAH, Bolero Dance Lesson with Weslei Guimarães, Music Set by DJ Lizzy al Toque, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night at OMCA, the Garden Stage will come alive with a powerful performance by Gabriela Sepúlveda, known as “La Nueva Reina Del Regional,” accompanied by the all-women ensemble Mariachi Bonitas de Dinorah. Together, they deliver a heartfelt tribute to Mexican tradition—honoring love, memory, and family through timeless mariachi classics and passionate storytelling. With vibrant vocals, emotional depth, and a shared reverence for heritage, their performance invites the community to gather in the glow of the season to reflect and celebrate.

Step into the rhythm with a beginner-friendly bolero dance lesson led by Weslei Guimarães. Known for its romantic tempo and graceful movement, bolero is a timeless Latin dance style that’s easy to learn and full of feeling—perfect for dancers of all levels looking to connect through motion.

Let DJ Lizzy al Toque take you on a journey through tropical sounds from across Latin America. Spinning a vibrant mix of chicha, cumbia, Latin psych, and surf rock, her set pulses with rhythm and nostalgia. A beloved Bay Area selector and member of Chulita Vinyl Club, Lizzy’s sound transforms the Amphitheater into a joyful dance space with deep roots and irresistible fall grooves.

Friday Nights at OMCA also offer a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike traditional museum tours, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators, who combine deep content knowledge with lived experience to encourage fresh interpretations of the Museum’s exhibitions. It’s a night to explore global traditions, find your flow, and celebrate community through music, dance, and inquiry.

Program Schedule:

5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket

5:30–6:30 pm Bolero Dance Lesson with Weslei Guimarães | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:15–7:15 pm Live Music by Gabriela Sepúlveda & MARIACHI BONITAS DE DINORAH | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm Music Set by DJ Lizzy al Toque | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

About Friday Nights:

Join us for Friday Nights at OMCA, where Oakland comes together! Every Friday from April to October, bring your crew for an unforgettable night of free live music and activities for the whole family. Bring a blanket and settle down on the lawn, or take advantage of exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions (Museum ticket needed for gallery access).

Hungry? Grab a bite from any of the ten Off the Grid food trucks lining 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, offering a delicious mix of rotating flavors. Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. Once you’ve fueled up, head to the OMCA Garden, where picnic tables and blankets await you to enjoy your meal. With lawn games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories at one of Oakland’s most iconic spots.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Gabriela Sepúlveda

Mariachi Bonitas de Dinorah

Weslei Guimarães

DJ Lizzy al Toque

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Gabriela Sepúlveda ‘La Nueva Reina Del Regional’

Gabriela Sepúlveda is an award-winning Mexican-Chilean recording artist and actress who began her career at 8, first gaining recognition on shows including La Voz Kids, Sábado Gigante, and American Idol. She starred as Jenicka López in Telemundo/Netflix’s Emmy-nominated series “Jenni Rivera: Mariposa de Barrio,” has performed the National Anthem for major sports teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, gone viral, and shared the stage with notable artists like Banda Los Sebastianes, Pablo Montero, and Diana Reyes.

About MARIACHI BONITAS DE DINORAH

Mariachi Bonitas de Dinorah was founded by Dinorah Klingler in October 2020 and has performed all over Northern California, Mexico City, and Thailand. They have also shared the stage with artists such as Los Tigres Del Norte, Ana Gabriel, Lupita Infante, Shaila Dúrcal y Mariachi Vargas, among many others.

Weslei Guimarães

Weslei Guimarães is a director, instructor, and performer native to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Weslei specializes in several Brazilian ballroom dances including forro, Samba de Gafieira, bolero (National Champion, 2016), and other Río style dances such as Samba no Pé and Brazilian funk. He has performed on many stages across continents, and recently founded his own dance school, Sou Samba Studios (2023) in Berkeley, CA where he teaches weekly classes dedicated to preserving the Brazilian Arts.

About DJ Lizzy al Toque

Lizzy al Toque is a Peruvian American vinyl selector, DJ, and live cumbia show producer based in the Bay Area. She digs in Peru’s hidden record shops to bring her audiences something they haven’t heard. Collecting vinyl since 2011, Lizzy al Toque’s sound is a tropical mix of chicha, cumbia, and Latin psych & surf rock. From opening for Bomba Estéreo to playing neighborhood bars, her love of filling spaces with music does not discriminate. You’ll find Lizzy spinning venues big and small in San Francisco and Oakland on her own and with vinyl collective Chulita Vinyl Club. Find her at @lisbetho on Instagram.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

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Halloween Friday Nights at OMCA with Ritmos Tropicosmos
2025-10-31 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by Ritmos Tropicosmos, Music Set by DJ China G, Halloween-fest, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night at OMCA, we’re summoning spectral vibes for a Halloween edition of Oakland’s favorite block party—filled with psychedelic sound, communal celebration, and underground spirit. Celebrate the season with hands-on art making and trick-or-treating throughout the Garden—perfect for visitors of all ages.

Costumes are encouraged! Take inspiration from our collection and dress up as your favorite artwork or artist and enter our costume contest for a chance to win prizes and show off your museum-inspired look! Be sure to leave full face coverings and costume weapons at home.

On the Garden Stage, Ritmos Tropicosmos conjures a genre-blurring set of cumbia sicodélica, eerie synths, live percussion, and ancestral storytelling. Emerging from Oakland’s rich cumbia scene, this seven-piece ensemble channels 70s horror, avant-garde soundscapes, and cosmic rhythms—summoning haunted dance parties, purgatory grooves, and full-moon howls for a night that’s equal parts otherworldly and unforgettable.

Over in the Amphitheater, DJ China G keeps the energy high with a genre-defying set spanning decades of dance-floor favorites. A beloved fixture of San Francisco’s LGBTQIA2S+ scene for over 25 years, her open-format style blends freestyle, disco, Y2K pop, reggaeton, house, Hip Hop, and more—creating a multigenerational, all-vibes-welcome party where everyone’s invited to move, glow, and celebrate.

Friday Nights at OMCA also offer a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike traditional museum tours, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators, who combine deep content knowledge with lived experience to encourage fresh interpretations of the Museum’s exhibitions. It’s a night to explore global traditions, find your flow, and celebrate community through music, dance, and inquiry.

Program Schedule:

5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket

5:30–7 pm Trick-or-Treating | Garden

5:30–7 pm Hands-on Art Making | Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:15–7:15 pm Live Music by Ritmos Tropicosmos | Garden Stage

7:15 pm Costume Contest | Garden

6:45-8:50 pm Music Set by DJ China G | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

About Friday Nights:

Join us for Friday Nights at OMCA, where Oakland comes together! Every Friday from April to October, bring your crew for an unforgettable night of free live music and activities for the whole family. Bring a blanket and settle down on the lawn, or take advantage of exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions (Museum ticket needed for gallery access).

Hungry? Grab a bite from any of the ten Off the Grid food trucks lining 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, offering a delicious mix of rotating flavors. Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. Once you’ve fueled up, head to the OMCA Garden, where picnic tables and blankets await you to enjoy your meal. With lawn games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories at one of Oakland’s most iconic spots.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Ritmos Tropicosmos

DJ China G

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Ritmos Tropicosmos

Ritmos Tropicosmos is a seven-piece psychedelic cumbia group from Oakland, creating heavy tropical rhythms with an emphasis on live percussion, synthesizers, and familial stories put into song. Together in a time-warped crossroads of electric and acoustic instrumentation, Ritmos Tropicosmos stands somewhere within the traditional rhythms of the past and the futuristic soundscapes of The Now.

About DJ China G

California native DJ China G has been a staple in San Francisco’s LGBTQIA2S+ scene for 25+ years, spinning everything from disco, freestyle, and Y2K pop to hip-hop, reggaeton, rock, indie, and house. Known for an open-format style, China G keeps the dance floor alive across decades and genres.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

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First Sundays
2025-11-02 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-07 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-04 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-02-01 11:00 - 17:00
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

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.

In between exploring the galleries, pick up some locally-made goods from our shop, or relax outside in our updated garden.

Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance to secure your preferred entry time and reduce your wait. Tickets are available at the admissions desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

GET GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

GET SPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS

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Highlights

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk
2025-11-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-07 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-04 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-01 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-01 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-05 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-03 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-07 13:00 - 14:00 and 1 more date | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture, and learn about the history, design, and evolution of this award-winning structure with guides who are passionate about OMCA and Oakland.

No reservations or tickets are required. Walk and Talk begins near the Mid Level ticketing desk and lasts approximately one hour.

If you’d like to visit OMCA’s Galleries or Special Exhibitions, please purchase a ticket online in advance or at the ticketing desk on the day of your visit.

GET Museum Admission TICKETS

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First Sundays
2026-03-01 11:00 - 17:00
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

First Sundays

Every first Sunday of the month, admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, Natural Sciences, and any Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are free.

In between exploring the galleries, pick up some locally-made goods from our shop, or relax outside in our updated garden.

Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance to secure your preferred entry time and reduce your wait. Tickets are available at the Mid-Level Ticketing Desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

GET TICKETS

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Highlights

Related Events

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture.

Learn More

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture.

Learn More

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture.

Learn More

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture.

Learn More

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia
2026-04-03 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia, Drag Storytime with Per Sia, Dance Ribbon Making, Music Set by DJ Kream, and Gallery Chats

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.

Families can gather in the Garden for Drag Storytime with Per Sia, featuring a reading of Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa, an inspiring tribute to the Queen of Salsa. Plus, get hands-on and make your own colorful dance ribbon in a festive art activity celebrating movement and spring.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature a dynamic gallery offering with 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 and Special Exhibition admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:15 pm Drag Storytime with Per Sia | Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Dance Ribbon Making | Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6–7:15 pm Live Music by Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm Music Set by DJ Kream | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia

DJ Kream

Per Sia

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Yeny Valdes & TeamBahia

Yeny Valdés is a renowned Cuban singer with five Latin Grammy nominations and was the lead vocalist of Los Van Van—one of Cuba’s most iconic bands—for 16 years. Now based in the Bay Area, she leads as the principal singer of TeamBahia, a powerful orchestra directed by her husband, musician, percussionist, and vocalist Erick Barberia. Together, they fuse Cuba’s rich musical heritage with a modern, vibrant sound that lights up the stage with soul and tropical flavor.

About DJ Kream

Hailing from Oakland, DJ Kream is a community organizer, creative, and event producer known for her genre-bending DJ style. In 2016, as part of her DJ debut, Kream co-founded the Oakland-based entertainment company Oakhella, curating tunes at the inaugural festival. Since then, Oakhella has grown from a music festival to full-scale entertainment company marketing, curating, and producing events for clients like Black Joy Parade, REI, Goldenvoice, Oakland Museum of California, The Battery Club (SF), The Life is Living Festival, and many more.
DJ Kream has gone on to curate the vibes at music festivals, nightclubs, weddings, day parties, brunches, drag shows, corporate events, and spaces coast to coast, from Portland and NYC to Mexico City. DJ Kream’s resume includes sharing marquees with legends old and new like Black Coffee, Moodymann, Joe Kay, TxC, Kevin Saunderson, Carl Cox, Channel Tres, Coco & Breezy, Cypress Hill, 112, Next, Sango, and Durand Bernarr.

About Per Sia

San Francisco’s current Drag Laureate, Per Sia, is a first-generation Trans Mexican-American drag artist raised in South Central Los Angeles, with drag roots in San Francisco’s Mission District. Her multidisciplinary practice spans performance, curation, television, and storytelling, presented in spaces ranging from local bars to major museums, including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Oakland Museum of California. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, she is a co-founder of Drag Story Hour and an educator with Children’s After School Arts, with work featured on KQED Arts, National Public Radio, and CNN.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with SambaDá
2026-04-10 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by SambaDá, Baile Funk Dance Lesson w/ Weslie Guimarães, DJ Set by murcutian, OMCA Members’ Lounge, and Gallery Chats

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.

In the Amphitheater, a Baile Funk dance lesson with Weslei Guimarães spotlights the dynamic style born in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. This all-levels class introduces signature steps and expressive movements that celebrate the culture, creativity, and community of Brazil’s Funk Carioca tradition.

Keeping the dance floor lively, murcutian spins a fun, family-friendly DJ set of Latine favorites, ’70s classics, Y2K hits, Hip-Hop, and R&B—timeless, flavorful sounds designed to get everyone moving.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature a dynamic gallery offering with 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 and Special Exhibition admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:30–6:30 pm Baile Funk Dance Lesson w/ Weslei Guimarães | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:30–7:45 pm Live Music by SambaDá | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm DJ Set by murcutian | Amphitheater

*Due to expected rain, our Member Lounge originally scheduled for April 10 has been postponed. We look forward to welcoming you soon and are planning to reschedule for a Friday in May—stay tuned for updates!

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

SambaDá

Weslei Guimarães

murcutian

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About SambaDá

For over 25 years, SambaDá has built a vibrant musical bridge between traditional and contemporary Brazilian sounds and modern global influences. Led by Brazilian natives, Papiba Godinho and Dandha Da Hora, the group’s powerhouse ensemble delivers a joyous blend of Afro-samba-Reggae-funk that keeps feet dancing and hearts open.

About murcutian

murcutian is a Bay Area selector and founder of Her DJ Club, and a proud child of Salvadoran immigrants whose earliest memories are rooted in the rhythms and sounds of home. A self-taught DJ, she brings an eclectic flavor to any space and has rocked crowds at the California Academy of Sciences, The Exploratorium, Hello Stranger, and, most recently, KQED. She brings people together through sound, with an energy and skill that has captivated audiences across the Bay and beyond.

About Weslei Guimarães

Weslei Guimarães is a director, instructor, and performer native to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Weslei specializes in several Brazilian ballroom dances, including Forro, Samba de Gafieira, Bolero (National Champion, 2016), and other Río-style dances such as Samba no Pé and Brazilian funk. He has performed on many stages across continents, and recently founded his own dance school, Sou Samba Studios (2023), in Berkeley, CA, where he teaches weekly classes dedicated to preserving the Brazilian arts.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with The Philharmonik
2026-04-17 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by The Philharmonik, Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing, Music Set by DJ Hauna Bauna, and Gallery Chats

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.

A crowd favorite, Sketchboard Co., is back in the galleries with uninstructed live figure drawing.

We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. A costumed model representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the Gallery of California Art for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature a dynamic gallery offering with 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 and Special Exhibition admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6–7 pm Live Music by The Philharmonik | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm Music Set by DJ Hauna Bauna | Amphitheater

6:45–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

The Philharmonik

Sketchboard Co.

DJ Hauna Bauna

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About The Philharmonik

Christian Gates, known professionally as The Philharmonik, is an American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, lyricist, music producer, and genre defining artist. From NPR’s Tiny Desk to The Bluenote Jazz Clubs in NYC and Tokyo to Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, his live shows have moved and inspired audiences around the world.

About Sketchboard Co

Sketchboard Co. is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

About DJ Hauna Bauna

DJ Hauna Bauna is from San Jose, CA, and has been DJing for three years. She’s a lover of music and loves to dance. Her sets consist of Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, house, Jersey club, Nola bounce, and R&B.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with CO-LLAB Choir
2026-04-24 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by CO-LLAB Choir, Hip Hop Dance Lesson with Samara Atkins, DJ Set by AMAL, and Gallery Chats

Celebrate an evening of powerful vocals, dynamic movement, and genre-spanning sounds this Friday Nights at OMCA. The Garden Stage will be transformed as CO-LLAB Choir presents an uplifting set of contemporary music and original compositions performed with a live band. Featuring standout soloists alongside the full ensemble, the Oakland-based choir brings rich harmonies and collaborative spirit to every song.

Over in the Amphitheater, a Hip-Hop dance lesson with Samara Atkins offers an engaging, all-levels experience rooted in accessible, dynamic movement. From warm-up to choreography, the class creates space for dancers of all ages and abilities to move with confidence and joy.

Rounding out the night, AMAL curates a genre-spanning music set—from funk and house to R&B, disco, global grooves, and future beats—blending styles seamlessly to keep the energy flowing across the dance floor.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature a dynamic gallery offering with 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 and Special Exhibition admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:30–6:30 pm Hip-Hop Dance Lesson with Samara Atkins | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by CO-LLAB Choir | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm DJ Set by AMAL | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

CO-LLAB Choir

Samara Atkins

AMAL

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About CO-LLAB Choir

CO-LLAB Choir is an Oakland-based contemporary vocal ensemble for adults working with vocal artists and singer-songwriters to bring their music to life in a vocal ensemble setting. The ensemble co-arranges and co-writes music together as well as collaborates with professional artists on studio recordings and performances. The choir has performed at venues and festivals such as Super Bowl 60, Outside Lands, the Oakland Coliseum, the Fox Theater, SFJazz, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Yoshi’s, Bandcamp Oakland, Empire Records, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, MOAD, Berkeley Rep, the Academy of Sciences, the Empress Theatre in Vallejo, the Paramount, and the Vermont in LA. The CO-LLAB Choir is currently touring, recording, and performing with the artist LaRussell and works regularly with Empire Records on studio recordings. CO-LLAB Choir is directed and founded by longtime Oakland music educator and artist, Cava Menzies.

About Samara Atkins

Oakland-born Samara Atkins uses Hip-Hop and street dance as an arts practice to both connect with the world and as a vehicle to cope, celebrate, heal, and express joy. Samara is a co-founder and co-director of the all-female dance company Mix’d Ingrdnts, is a member of the GRAMMY-Award winning music group Alphabet Rockers, and is a seasoned teaching artist at Destiny Arts Center. Samara brings a beautifully hype and fun energy to her dance style that invites and encourages people of all ages to get up and be moved.

About AMAL

AMAL is a DJ, music curator, and event producer based out of Oakland, California. With music at the center of her work and creations, Amal’s multifaceted sound, inspired by her Egyptian and Bay Area roots, holds no genre boundary. From R&B to future beats, soul to world, house to hip-hop, and everything in between – Amal’s work holds a common thread of building feeling, connection, and community.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Spring Teacher Night
2026-05-08 16:30 - 19:00
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Calling all teachers! After everything you’ve given this year, let us celebrate you. Join us for OMCA’s Spring Teacher Night to explore the galleries, enjoy live music, great food, and good company.

Stop by a special teachers’ lounge in the California Room to learn about OMCA field trips and connect with other educators. While you’re here, explore OMCA’s galleries and exhibitions, including last chances to see Good Fire: Tending Native Lands, focusing on Native California cultural burning practices, and Students on Strike, an installation exploring student activism at San Francisco State University, both closing May 31.

Check out OMCA’s student and teacher guides for our galleries and exhibitions, and then head to the garden to hang out and vibe to the music of Friday Nights at OMCA. Enjoy late-night gallery access and Off the Grid food trucks.

Bring your team! This event is free for teachers and principals, including free gallery admission for all teachers and chaperones, plus Off the Grid food truck and drink tickets for the first 100 arrivals. No RSVP required.

LEARN MORE

Program Schedule:

4:30pm Teacher Night Check-in Table and Lounge Open | California Room, Lower Level

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by Elujay During Friday Nights | Garden Stage

7 pm Teacher Night Check-in Table and Lounge Close—Friday Nights Continues

9 pm Off the Grid Food Trucks Close | 10th Street

9 pmOMCA Galleries Close

SUBSCRIBE TO EDUCATOR EMAIL LIST

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Elujay
2026-05-08 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by Elujay, R&B Dance Lesson with Sara Templeton, Music Set with DJ Harmonyy, Spring Teacher Night, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night at OMCA, Elujay ignites the Garden Stage with his live band, delivering a genre-blending sound that weaves together alternative R&B, jazz, soul, house, and dream pop. Known for his honey-toned vocals and introspective songwriting, his performance promises a rich, immersive musical experience rooted in Oakland and resonating far beyond. Keeping the energy flowing, DJ Harmonyy brings an electrifying set filled with feel-good tracks and infectious rhythms.

Guests are encouraged to step into their groove with Sara Templeton, leading a beginner-friendly R&B dance lesson. Blending smooth grooves, Hip-Hop foundations, and expressive choreography, this session invites dancers of all levels to learn new moves and build confidence on the dance floor.

Earlier in the evening, OMCA’s Annual Spring Teacher Night is back! In celebration of our school communities, educators and principals are invited to unwind in a dedicated lounge space, connect with fellow educators, and explore the Museum’s galleries and resources. The gathering highlights OMCA’s school programs and exhibitions like Good Fire: Tending Native Lands and Students on Strike, while offering a chance to experience the vibrant Friday Nights atmosphere.

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:

4:30–7 pm Spring Teacher Night Check-In and Lounge | California Room, Lower Level

5:30–6:30 pmR&B Dance Lesson with Sara Templeton | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by Elujay | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm Music Set by DJ Harmonyy | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Elujay

Sara Templeton

DJ Harmonyy

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Elujay

Elujay is a singer, songwriter, producer, and director from Oakland whose sound fluidly blends alternative R&B, jazz, soul, house, and dream pop. A multi-instrumentalist with a honey-toned voice and forward-thinking production style, he has released multiple critically acclaimed projects over the past four years, toured internationally, and secured major TV placements. His latest offering, A Constant Charade, with tracks like “Hyundai” and “Flotilla,” showcases his ability to pair pacifying vocals with restless and inventive production that nods to early ’80s soft rock, drum’n’bass, and house without losing its soulful core.
As JEMS!—a duo alongside J. Robb—Elujay expands his sonic palette with rhythmic experimentation and left-field R&B in projects like Gems in the Cornerstore and Gems in the Cornerstore 2. With each release, Elujay continues refining a sound that feels both deeply Oakland-rooted and globally resonant.

About DJ Harmonyy

DJ Harmonyy, also known as the love DJ (with two yy’s), is a California-based female DJ with a household name who has built a brand around energy, intention, and human connection. Known for her ability to move effortlessly across live performances, festivals, club events, and corporate gatherings, she—by design—operates completely outside of traditional categories.

About Sara Templeton

Sara is a SF-based choreographer, teacher, and dancer. She started her professional career as a Hip-Hop dancer and later expanded her expertise to include modern, ballet, Dunham technique, and the dance forms associated with her Puerto Rican heritage. Sara has choreographed for both stage and film and currently teaches at studios around the Bay Area.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with La Cumbiamba Colombiana & Combo Tezeta
2026-05-15 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Dance by La Cumbiamba Colombiana, Live Music by Combo Tezeta, Music Set by DJ Olga T, Live Figure Drawing by Sketchboard Co., and Gallery Chats

This evening, Friday Nights at OMCA brings vibrant rhythms, rich cultural traditions, and dance-floor energy to the Garden Stage. La Cumbiamba Colombiana kicks off the evening with a lively dance performance celebrating the roots of Colombian cumbia, weaving together ancestral steps and Afro-Caribbean influences in a colorful, high-energy showcase. Then, Combo Tezeta, whose psychedelic take on cumbia, chicha, and música tropical blends surf rock textures with hypnotic Latin rhythms, takes the stage to create an irresistibly danceable atmosphere that bridges past and present.

Over in the Amphitheater, DJ Olga T delivers a dynamic set filled with Latin rhythms, Afrobeats, R&B, and soulful house. Known for her seamless genre-spanning mixes and infectious energy, she’ll keep the crowd moving and the vibes flowing all night long.

In the galleries, Sketchboard Co. is here to help guests scratch their creative itch with uninstructed live figure drawing.

We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. A costumed model representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the Gallery of California Art for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

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:

5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art*

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6–6:30 pm Live Dance by La Cumbiamba Colombiana | Garden Stage

6:45–7:45 pm Live Music by Combo Tezeta | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm Music Set by DJ Olga T | Amphitheater

6:45–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art*

* Paid gallery admission required

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

La Cumbiamba Colombiana

Combo Tezeta

DJ Olga T

Sketchboard Co.

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Sketchboard Co.

Sketchboard Co. is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

About La Cumbiamba Colombiana

La Cumbiamba Colombiana is a non-profit folkloric group established in 2014 with the mission of preserving Colombian heritage, culture, and folklore in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Best known for showcasing the traditional Colombian Cumbia, a rhythm that was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of all Colombians, the group proudly represents empowerment, resilience, and freedom through their dances.

About Combo Tezeta

Based out of the Bay Area, Combo Tezeta plays a highly danceable blend of instrumental Cumbias, Chichas, and Musica Tropical inspired by the late 60’s and early 70’s era of psychedelic Peru.
Combo Tezeta has performed at many local venues as well as toured up and down the West Coast. Recent highlights include 2024’s The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Noise Pop’s Summer of Music Fest (w/Thundercat), two performances in the Great American Music Hall, and opening for Los Mirlos of Peru and Los Bitchos from the UK. Their growing momentum is demonstrated as they headline their own shows and are increasingly requested to open for other high-profile artists as they travel through the Bay Area.

About DJ Olga T

Olga T, a Puerto Rican lover of all things music, community, and human connection through rhythm and beats, was born in NYC and raised in San Francisco, and has an explosive style of DJing that never fails to grab your attention on the dance floor. A Northern Californian legend known for masterfully transitioning through nearly every genre of music while creating live unrehearsed remixes, Olga T consistently delivers a uniquely infectious excitement to the audience. DJing for the past 20 years while producing iconic Bay Area events year-round in addition to teaching DJ classes, creating exclusive remixes, edits and mixtapes is Olga T’s full-time passion. Go to www.soundcloud.com/djolgat to explore a plethora of mixtapes of various music genres created by DJ Olga T.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with Pacific Mambo Orchestra
2026-05-22 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Music Set by Dj Sizzle, Salsa Dance Lesson with Ramón Ramos Alayo, OMCA Members’ Lounge, and Gallery Chats

Friday Nights at OMCA is set to kick off your weekend with bold Latin sounds, vibrant dance, and nonstop rhythm. Pacific Mambo Orchestra takes over the Garden Stage with an electrifying live performance, blending mambo, salsa, Latin jazz, and big band tradition into a high-energy vibe that’s both timeless and fresh. Known for their explosive stage presence and world-class musicianship, the Grammy Award-winning ensemble delivers a powerful, dance-ready experience.

Keeping the energy alive, Dj Sizzle spins a lively mix of cumbia, reggaeton, salsa, merengue, Hip-Hop, R&B, and global beats, curating a feel-good soundtrack that keeps the dance floor moving.

Guests are invited to step into the rhythm with Ramón Ramos Alayo who will lead a salsa dance lesson rooted in Cuban tradition. With an emphasis on connection, musicality, and joyful expression, this session welcomes dancers of all levels to build confidence and add a little extra flavor to their moves.

On the Upper Level Terrace the Museum welcomes its Members to a special Members’ Lounge. Members can enjoy light refreshments, sidewalk chalk, family-friendly games, and a bingo give-away featuring awesome OMCA merch! It’s the perfect way to mingle with fellow OMCA enthusiasts all while overlooking the Garden buzzing with Friday Nights energy.

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:

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

5:30–7:30 pm Member Lounge | Upper Level Terrace

5:30–6:30 pm Salsa Dance Lesson with Ramón Ramos Alayo | Amphitheater

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by Pacific Mambo Orchestra | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm Music Set by Dj Sizzle | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Dj Sizzle

Ramón Ramos Alayo

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Pacific Mambo Orchestra (PMO) is a Grammy Award-winning Latin big band from San Francisco that has become one of the leading forces in keeping the great mambo and Latin jazz orchestra tradition alive in the 21st century. Founded in 2010 by pianist Christian Tumalan and trumpeter Steffen Kuehn, the 19-piece ensemble gained international recognition after winning the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album with its debut release, launching the band onto major stages around the world. Combining the spirit of Tito Puente, Machito, and the classic mambo orchestras with bold original compositions and modern arrangements, PMO delivers explosive, high-energy performances marked by virtuoso musicianship and powerful big band sound. From major jazz festivals to concert halls across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Latin America, Pacific Mambo Orchestra has earned a reputation for unforgettable live shows that celebrate the past, present, and future of Latin big band music.

About Dj Sizzle

Dj Sizzle is an artist and producer based in California, where she splits her time between The Bay Area and Los Angeles. She is the co-founder and director of Cumbiaton, an intergenerational cultural movement that celebrates Afro-Latin culture, community, and self-expression.

About Ramón Ramos Alayo

Ramón Ramos Alayo was selected by the Cuban government to study dance in Santiago de Cuba at age eleven. In 1990, he earned a master’s degree in contemporary and folkloric dance and dance education from Havana’s National School of Art. As a graduate specializing in folkloric and contemporary dance, he was a principal dancer with several prominent Cuban dance companies, including Danza del Caribe and Narcisco Medina Contemporary Dance Company, touring throughout Europe, Belize, and Canada. His success continued after relocating to the U.S. in 1997; he has performed as a dancer with numerous outstanding companies, including Robert Henry Johnson, Kim Epifano, Sara Shelton Mann, Zaccho Dance Theatre and Robert Moses’ Kin. Ramon currently teaches Cuban popular dance, Afro-Cuban modern dance, and children’s movement at several local dance studios and schools.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Friday Nights at OMCASpecial Members Lounge
2026-05-22 17:30 - 19:30 | OMCA Garden, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, California, 94607, United States
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Join us Friday, May 22 for our rescheduled Member Lounge!

Calling all Members! You’re invited to a special Member Lounge on the Upper Level Terrace, overlooking our Garden, in celebration of you! Mingle with fellow OMCA enthusiasts while enjoying light refreshments, games, and bingo, where we’ll be giving away some amazing items from the OMCA Shop. Bring your friends and family, and enjoy Friday Nights together!

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

Friday, May 22 | 5-9 pm

Friday Nights at OMCA is set to kick off your weekend with bold Latin sounds, vibrant dance, and nonstop rhythm. Pacific Mambo Orchestra takes over the Garden Stage with an electrifying live performance, blending mambo, salsa, Latin jazz, and big band tradition into a high-energy vibe that’s both timeless and fresh. In the Amphitheater, step into the rhythm with Ramón Ramos Alayo who will lead a salsa dance lesson rooted in Cuban tradition. With an emphasis on connection, musicality, and joyful expression, this session welcomes dancers of all levels to build confidence and add a little extra flavor to their moves. Keeping the energy alive, Dj Sizzle spins a lively mix of cumbia, reggaeton, salsa, merengue, Hip-Hop, R&B, and global beats, curating a feel-good soundtrack that keeps the dance floor moving. Throughout the evening, Gallery Chats invite visitors to join meaningful conversations with OMCA facilitators, offering fresh perspectives on the museum’s exhibitions. It’s not just a Friday night—it’s your Friday night at OMCA.

EVENT DETAILS

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Non Stop Bhangra
2026-05-29 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music and Dance by Non Stop Bhangra, DJ set by Lychy Jelly, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night at OMCA turns up the energy with vibrant rhythms, cultural celebration, and nonstop movement. Non Stop Bhangra takes over the Garden Stage with an immersive, high-energy experience celebrating the music and dance of Punjab, India. Featuring live drumming, DJs, dance performances, and interactive lessons, this joyful, all-ages dance party invites everyone to jump in, let loose, and feel the beat.

Keeping the vibes flowing, Lychy Jelly delivers a powerful DJ set rooted in sound that hits with the intensity of a festival mainstage and yet has the familiar warmth of home. This duality, coupled with the duo’s electric stage presence, pulls the crowd into an experience that feels massive and yet profoundly intimate.

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:

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

5–8 pm Live Music and Dance by Non Stop Bhangra | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm DJ Set by Lychy Jelly | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Non Stop Bhangra

Lychy Jelly

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Non Stop Bhangra

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 21 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.

About Lychy Jelly

Lychy Jelly is the San Francisco-based DJ duo of Rushil and Diksha, partners in life and behind the decks. Their sets weave together global EDM genres, including House, Baile Funk, Bass, and more, blended with Pop and Desi anthems they grew up loving.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Oakland Rising
2026-06-05 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by Oakland Rising, Night on the Town with Alameda County Community Food Bank, DJ Set by FELA KUTCHii, Drag Storytime with Per Sia, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night at OMCA, Oakland Rising takes over the Garden Stage with a dynamic live set rooted in the city’s cultural legacy. Known for lush harmonies, original music, and soulful reinterpretations of classics, the collective brings together some of Oakland’s most exciting emerging voices in a celebration of collaboration and community.

Keeping the rhythm alive, FELA KUTCHii delivers a genre-fluid DJ set blending soulful grooves, global influences, and feel-good energy. Her sound invites guests on a vibrant journey designed to move both body and spirit, creating a shared sense of joy on the dance floor.

Throughout the evening, Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) hosts Night on The Town, featuring interactive experiences for all ages that center community and food justice. From a hands-on art corner and game zone to resource-sharing and special activities, this lively space invites guests to connect and engage with meaningful local initiatives.

Families can also gather for a joyful Drag Storytime with Per Sia, reading The Rainbow Parade by Shane Jordan and Rick Hendrix. Through colorful storytelling and themes of acceptance and self-expression, this uplifting experience celebrates the power of community and inclusion.

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:

5–8 pm ACCFB Night on The Town | Garden

5:15 pm Drag Storytime with Per Sia | Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by Oakland Rising | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm DJ Set by FELA KUTCHii | Oak Street Plaza

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Oakland Rising

FELA KUTCHii

Drag Storytime with Per Sia

Alameda County Community Food Bank

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Oakland Rising

Oakland Rising is a collective of standout emerging artists from Oakland committed to sharing the stage, honoring the city’s rich cultural legacy, and channeling their energy into bringing light to this world. In the eighteen months since launching, they have performed at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, The Kennedy Center, The Mountain Winery, and more, supporting artists ranging from Rhiannon Giddens to Sheila E. Oakland Rising is led by three artists—August Lee Stevens, B DeVeaux, and Naima—who headline their own shows and write their own music. The band often features cameos from other rising artists from Oakland.

About FELA KUTCHii

Rooted in Oakland, FELA KUTCHii is an award-winning DJ and soundscape curator, as well as the official DJ for Oakland Soul SC. Her work centering Black sonic traditions and radical joy grounds sound in memory, identity, and emotional connection. Through genre-fluid, intention-driven sets, she bridges time and space to cultivate community and move bodies and spirits.

About Per Sia

San Francisco’s current Drag Laureate, Per Sia, is a first-generation Trans Mexican American drag artist raised in South Central Los Angeles, with drag roots in San Francisco’s Mission District. Her multidisciplinary practice spans performance, curation, television, and storytelling, presented in spaces ranging from local bars to major museums, including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Oakland Museum of California. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, she is a co-founder of Drag Story Hour and an educator with Children’s After School Arts, with work featured on KQED Arts, National Public Radio, and CNN.

About Alameda County Community Food Bank

Alameda County Community Food Bank’s mission is to partner with the community to end hunger and its root causes. They believe that food is a basic human right and envision an Alameda County where all people are nourished and thriving. They are committed to providing food with dignity and choice right now, while also working to re-imagine the system that has created food insecurity in the first place.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Kim Nalley Band
2026-06-12 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by the Kim Nalley Band, DJ Set by LEXAPEEL, Haitian Folkloric Dance Lesson with Portsha T. Jefferson, and Gallery Chats

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.

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

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Kim Nalley Band

LEXAPEEL

Portsha Terae Jefferson

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Kim Nalley Band

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.

About LEXAPEEL

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.

About Portsha Terae Jefferson

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.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with The Seshen
2026-06-26 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU

Live Music by The Seshen, DJ set by Nikki Diamonds, Country Line Dance Lesson by Nora Gomperts and Leo Orringer, and Gallery Chats

Friday Night at OMCA brings The Seshen to the Garden Stage with their signature blend of R&B, synth-pop, and electronic sound. Powered by lush synth layers, live percussion, and magnetic vocals, the six-piece crafts a fluid set that shifts between intimate moments and full-bodied sonic lift.

As the evening unfolds, Nikki Diamonds keeps the floor in motion with a vibrant, genre-hopping mix of house, R&B, funk, disco, and more. Her sets move effortlessly between eras and moods, shaping a dance floor that feels communal, alive, and impossible not to get swept into.

Guests can also step into the rhythm with a beginner-friendly country line dance lesson led by Nora Gomperts and Leo Orringer. Designed for all levels, this easygoing session breaks down accessible moves you can pick up quickly and bring straight to the dance floor.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:

5:30–6:30 pm Country Line Dance Lesson with Nora Gomperts and Leo Orringer | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:30–7:45 pm Live Music by The Seshen | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm DJ Set by Nikki Diamonds | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

The Seshen

Nikki Diamonds

Nora Gomperts and Leo Orringer

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About The Seshen

The Seshen is a San Francisco Bay Area-based six-piece band led by singer/lyricist Lalin St. Juste and bassist/producer Akiyoshi Ehara. To create their multidimensional music, St. Juste and Ehara are joined by four remarkable bandmates: drummer Chris Thalmann, keyboard/synth player Mahesh Rao, percussionist Mirza Kopelman, and sampler Kumar Butler. They take inspiration from across the musical spectrum; their individual influences range from recognizable artists (Erykah Badu, Jai Paul, James Blake, Radiohead, and Broadcast) to genres and eras that don’t initially appear to fit together (Hip-Hop, indie rock, early electronica, and 70’s dub). Their unique alchemy of seemingly disparate sounds has led fans and critics alike to describe the band as defying categorization.

About Nikki Diamonds

Nikki is a proud queer Nicaraguan/Samoan DJ, born and raised in the San Francisco Mission District. Her core memories are wrapped around listening to music with her nana and mom—those moments that shaped everything they know about the power of a good song. For Nikki, community means everything. The joy she feels being surrounded by family and friends, listening to music, and dancing, is what freedom looks like to them.

About Nora Gomperts and Leo Orringer

Nora Gomperts and Leo Orringer met each other on the dance floor at Sundance Saloon two days after Nora got to town, and later found themselves teaching line dance together at Scuff. They recently started their own community event in Oakland to offer more opportunities for advanced line dance learning and practice. Nora is currently on the board of Starlight Strut, and both Nora and Leo are in a performance group called The Heartstompers.

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.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

Return to Events
