Events

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

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

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

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

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

OMCA is the place to be this July! Our July Friday Nights lineup kicks off with the New Orleans sound of CHELLE! & Friends that’s great for the whole family. Led by New Orleans-native Michelle Jacques and featuring some of the Bay Area’s most distinguished musicians, CHELLE! & Friends concocts a sweet and spicy musical gumbo incorporating the many flavors in the New Orleans music scene that is sure to get people of any age excited and moving. That beat will pair well with the Deep House and Disco DJ stylings from Yuka Yu. Drag storytime with Per Sia offers another moment of delight as she reads We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom. During all the excitement be sure to take a moment to create some nature-inspired clay art as a memento of another family fun-filled Friday Night at OMCA.

Switch it up this Friday night at OMCA as we welcome the innovative sounds of The Dogon Lights ft. Mamadou Sidibe to the Garden Stage. Self-described as “West Africa meets West Oakland,” this crew makes seriously danceable music with a mix of African vocals and instruments paired with Hip Hop and funk. Get further perspective with an immersive genre-defying sonic experience created and performed by Sami Freeman. Using a blend of deep bass, synth, and organic instrumentation, Freeman’s music moves the audience through a shifting cinematic soundscape. DJ Sizzle is sure to get you to shift your body and find new angles on the dance flow with an irresistible mix of Cumbia, Reggaeton, Salsa, Banda, Merengue, Hip Hop, RNB, Top 40’s, and more!

Celebrating 30 years since their debut album, The Souls of Mischief return to their hometown Oakland and take the Garden stage at Friday Nights at OMCA. After more than 150 shows worldwide, Souls of Mischief will perform a mix of tracks from their classic album, 93 Til Infinity, as well as other favorites. This will be a night full of great memories—both old and new. Prepare for high-energy, classic, homegrown Hip Hop!

July’s final addition to Friday Nights at OMCA brings The Whoadees to the Garden stage! Self-described as “a gumbo of styles and sounds from around the globe including roots sounds of world music, Hip Hop, funk, and jazz,” the Whoadees stay true to their Bay Area roots by bringing a fusion of multiple genres to the mix inspiring you to dance or simply close your eyes and be filled with soulful sounds.