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Events

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Upcoming Events

  • ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing & Experimental Dance

    OMCA campus

    Settle into the warm, after-hours glow of the 2026 ThursDates season with a signature cocktail, laid-back beats from DJ China G, and the kind of unhurried energy that allows connection and creativity to flourish. This Thursday, DJ China G will be setting a groove-worthy atmosphere in Town Fare for a Mahjong (麻将) game night, all while Sketchboard Co. hosts enchanting unrestricted live figure drawing sessions in the Gallery of California Art. Models Paz Hidalgo and Quinn animate each session, bringing gentle butoh dance and experimental movements to their poses.

    Admission ticket required
  • ThursDates at OMCA with Diana Gameros ft. Patrick Wolff

    OMCA campus

    Slip into the easy cadence of ThursDates with an evening that blends music, flavor, and community. Begin by exploring a curated tasting from Black Vines*, featuring wines crafted by Black-owned wineries, paired with tasty bites from Town Fare. As you wander, DJ Mark DiVita sets a smooth, soulful backdrop that gently fills the cafe. Later, settle in for an intimate set by acclaimed singer-songwriter Diana Gameros, joined by Patrick Wolff on clarinet and saxophone, offering reflective melodies rooted in stories of home and belonging. It’s a night designed for lingering conversations, quiet discoveries, and the pleasure of experiencing art, music, and culture at your own pace.

    Admission ticket required
  • ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing & Trivia Night

    OMCA campus

    Unwind in the gentle pulse of ThursDates at OMCA with a signature cocktail and smooth beats from DJ Mark DiVita, setting the perfect backdrop for a relaxed evening of creativity and connection. This Thursday, make new connections with a “Spaces of Belonging” trivia night in Town Fare, while Sketchboard Co. hosts uninstructed live figure drawing sessions in the Gallery of California Art. 

    Admission ticket required
  • ThursDates at OMCA with Mia Pixley

    OMCA campus

    Ease into an evening of creativity and connection at ThursDates, where music, movement, and hands-on art come together in the warm after-hours shine of OMCA. Start with Crochet Jam, a relaxed, no-rules finger-knitting experience rooted in African American weaving traditions, where you can weave, chat, and unwind at your own pace. In the same gallery, lose yourself in the meditative sounds of Mia Pixley, whose cello, voice, and spoken word combine classical and experimental influences to create stirring, transformative melodies. All the while, DJ Mark DiVita fills Town Fare with eclectic beats, setting a vibrant and inviting atmosphere with cocktails, bites, and mingling among new friends or old.

    Admission ticket required

Ongoing events

Evening hours ThursDates at OMCA

Experience ThursDates at OMCA – your weekly night out at the Museum rich with cocktails, culture, and community. Mingle at Town Fare Cafe by Chef Michele McQueen, where you can enjoy drinks and light bites against a backdrop of music, or explore the galleries which come alive at night with a mix of pop-up performances, chats, live drawings, and more–  just for adults! 

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Evening hours Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid, Oakland’s favorite free weekly block party is back, April—October!

Gather with family, friends, and community every Friday 5—9 pm for live music, hands-on activities, Off the Grid (OTG) food trucks, and late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions, with a Museum ticket.

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Gallery Events Gallery Chats at OMCA

Join us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.

 

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Third Sundays Spotlight Sundays

Every third Sunday, OMCA invites visitors to Spotlight Sundays, a series of conversations, performances, and experiences that showcase California visionaries.

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First Sundays 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.

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Gallery Events Group Tours

Interested in bringing a group to engage more deeply with our gallery content? Sign up for a Group Tour where knowledgeable facilitators share insights and help make meaning with your group in OMCA’s galleries.

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Annual events

Community Event White Elephant Sale

The Oakland Museum Women’s Board started the White Elephant Sale over sixty years ago. The annual event is not-to-be-missed.

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Community Celebration Lunar New Year

OMCA celebrates the Lunar New Year and explores the shared connections between the diverse Asian cultures of the Bay Area. These family-friendly programs will include both virtual and in-person offerings that celebrate and honor Lunar New Year traditions through storytelling, performances, activities, cooking demonstrations, and more. OMCA holds space for our AAPI communities to come together and uplift each other with both in-person and virtual healing circles.

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Community Celebration Día de los Muertos

In collaboration with OMCA’s Día de los Muertos Committee, we honor Day of the Dead every October and November.

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