Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required
Events
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Upcoming Events
12 events found.
Events
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Spotlight Sundays: Trans Ancestors in History and Creative Practice
OMCA Lecture Hall 1000 Oak, Oakland, CaliforniaDuring the month of Trans Day of Visibility, join us for a creative exploration of trans ancestors and their indelible legacies of resistance. Community historian Andrea Horne will give a talk about her life’s work unearthing histories of Black trans luminaries. Learn about her groundbreaking research that confronts a limited written record and unveils stories—from the fantastic to the everyday—of how Black trans women changed the world. This talk is open to all, and tickets are required.
$1 – $30 -
ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Burlesque and Belly Dance & Trivia Night
OMCA campusStep into ThursDates at OMCA and let the evening unfold at the pace of connection. In Town Fare, DJ Mark DiVita sets the atmosphere with incredible grooves perfect for cocktails and conversation. Guests are invited to test their wits with Trivia Night: Stories of Resilience, celebrating creativity, community, and unexpected insights. Meanwhile, the Gallery of California History comes alive with Sketchboard Co.’s uninstructed live figure drawing sessions, where models Andy Rose and Kitty KaPowww will interweave spellbinding burlesque performances between poses.
Admission ticket required -
Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required -
ThursDates at OMCA with The Bay Area Book Festival
OMCA campusUnwind into a reflective and creative ThursDates evening at OMCA, where storytelling, art-making, and music unfold at an easy, welcoming pace. OMCA and the Bay Area Book Festival team up this Thursday to present Maw Shein Win, Burmese American poet and inaugural poet laureate of El Cerrito, for a collaborative program that moves through the Museum. The evening begins with a performance bySPRINGTWIN (Win and guitaristDanny Allen), followed by a drop-in writing workshop in the Gallery of California History, inviting guests to reflect on personal and collective histories throughfree-writing exercises. The program culminates in Town Fare with an open mic, where participants can share their writings while enjoying cocktails and bites. All the while, DJ La Femme Papi provides soulful, expansive music throughout the evening, creating a warm and immersive soundtrack for the night.
Admission ticket required -
Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required -
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Friday Nights at OMCA with Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia
OMCA campusFriday Nights at OMCA kicks off the 2026 season with the vibrant and joyful rhythms of the Caribbean as Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia take the Garden Stage. Blending timba, salsa, son, and tropical fusion, their high-energy set will have you dancing and celebrating all night long. The party continues with Oakland’s own DJ Kream, spinning soulful, rhythm-forward beats rooted in deep house, funk, and feel-good grooves to keep the dance floor moving.
Free -
Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required -
OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk
OMCA campusWalk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture.
Free -
Friday Nights at OMCA with SambaDá
OMCA campusStep into your weekend with Brazilian-inspired music, dance, and joyful connection at Friday Nights at OMCA. On the Garden Stage, SambaDá delivers a joy-filled set rooted in electric Brazilian rhythms with a funky American twist. Blending samba, funk, soul, and global grooves, their infectious live performance brings radiant energy and irresistible beats that keep the crowd moving.
Free -
POSTPONED—Friday Nights at OMCA
Special Members LoungeOMCA Garden 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, California, United StatesDue 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!
Free for Members -
Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
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!
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.
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.
Third Sundays
Spotlight Sundays
Every third Sunday, OMCA invites visitors to Spotlight Sundays, a series of conversations, performances, and experiences that showcase California visionaries.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.