Friday Nights at OMCA Featuring Skip the Needle
Oakland-based formidable female powerhouse quartet Skip the Needle brings a depth of personal insight and performing experience to their politically astute hard rock/funk songcraft.
Free
Events
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Upcoming Events
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Friday Nights at OMCA: Cool Down for Summer and Celebrate East Bay Creeks and Waterways
Enjoy the multi-layered songs and stories of musician and story keeper John Paul, dive into making a hands-on watershed model and learn about the intricate nature and history of East Bay creeks and waterways with a team of guest experts. Then, move to the music of DJ Don Reeser.
Free
Friday Nights at OMCA: Musician Jake Zimma, Debajo Sound System collective, and DJ Mai Girl
Hip-hop, reggae, R&B, and more come together with indie musical artist Jake Zimma; Debajo Sound System collective plays energetic and move-to-it music and song in multiple languages; and DJ Mai Girl electrifies the dancefloor with a hand-picked blend of eclectic music that will keep you moving all night!
Free
Friday Nights at OMCA: Let’s Lab with mayx/maya, JUJU, Dj Jerry Ross, and Lorenzo on Keys, and DJ Durt
Come dance and sing along while simply enjoying another beautiful day of life. There will be songs for OMCA’s multigenerational community to enjoy. And if you have little ones, we’ll have some tunes they will enjoy as well. Musical Performers include JUJU, Dj Jerry Ross, and Lorenzo on Keys on the Garden Stage, Let’s Lab with mayx/maya in Oak Street Plaza and DJ Durt spinning tunes in the Amphitheater.
Free
Friday Nights at OMCA: Afrobeats Oakland Friday Night Takeover featuring emcee Christina Alexandria, live music by Seyi Sax and Matias, dance lessons with Danaite, DJs Juan G, Koko and TieDye Trippin
Afrobeats Oakland is taking over the OMCA for one evening and showcasing various elements of African pop culture. Each corner of the Museum will be activated, highlighting live street music performances, a two–hour dance class focused on the most popular dance moves trending across the continent, and a live performance by Afrobeats Oakland’s DJs in the garden. People of all ages are invited to participate and enjoy this taste of the biggest musical movement in the world.
Free
Friday Nights at OMCA: The Roots of Hip Hop Culture
The root of Hip Hop culture is the African continent. As we salute and respect the pioneers of Hip Hop, many of their parents and families come from the Caribbean, by way of various western countries in Africa. As a way to begin our celebration of Hip Hop culture in an authentic way, we lift up the drum, the first instrument, and the power of drums being used as a form of communication. With drum circle, we share a sonic message with the community of culture, confidence, and celebration.
Free
Friday Nights at OMCA: A Celebration of Hip Hop Culture
Join 55 Bay Area Hip Hop artists, activists, and educators from the Hip Hop community as they are inducted into the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives in a public ceremony celebrating this historic moment.
Free
Friday Nights at OMCA: Hip Hop Meets Jazz
Explore, honor, and celebrate two African American artforms that cross-pollinate and without which we would not have modern American culture: Hip Hop meets Jazz.
Free
Friday Nights at OMCA: Hip Hop as Community Healing
On Friday August 25, experience Hip Hop as a tool for communal healing. Let’s Lab with Afterthought, part of the “Family Not a Group” collective, brings smooth sounds to the Garden stage.
Free
Friday Nights at OMCA Labor Day Weekend – Reppin’ Rosie The Riveter!
Friday Nights at OMCA kicks off the Labor Day weekend with hands-on bandana making honoring the legacy of Rosie the Riveter.
Free
Gallery Activation Hour During Friday Nights at OMCA
OMCA Great Hall 1000 Oak, Oakland, CaliforniaJoin us for Gallery Activation Hour for an informal drop-in experience during Friday Nights at OMCA to experience Into the Brightness.
Special exhibition ticket required
Special Edition Gallery Activation Hours
OMCA Great Hall 1000 Oak, Oakland, CaliforniaJoin us for Gallery Activation Hour for an informal drop-in experience to go deeper into our special exhibition, Into the Brightness.
Special exhibition ticket required
Ongoing & Annual events
Evening hours
Thursday After Hours
Experience Thursday After Hours 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.
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.
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.
Gallery Events
Group Chats
Knowledgeable facilitators share insights and help make meaning with your group in OMCA’s galleries.