Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid Returns for Spring 2026
Weekly Outdoor Celebration Brings Live Music, Food Trucks, Art, and Community to the Museum Every Friday Evening
Every Friday, April—October 2026, 5–9 pm
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Press Kit
Oakland, CA — March 31, 2026 — Spring has arrived in Oakland, and with it the return of Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid, the Oakland Museum of California’s beloved weekly gathering that brings together music, food, art, and community every Friday evening from April through October, 5–9 pm.
Featuring culture and creativity with a uniquely Oakland vibe, Friday Nights at OMCA invites visitors from across the Bay to kick off the weekend on OMCA’s campus with family, friends, and neighbors. The lively outdoor event features a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks, live music and DJs, hands-on activities, and interactive experiences for all ages. With a Museum ticket, guests can also enjoy late-night access to OMCA’s galleries and special exhibitions while engaging with Gallery Chat facilitators throughout the evening.
Visitors can savor local flavors from Off the Grid vendors along 10th Street, while OMCA’s Town Fare by Chef Michele McQueen offers beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic beverages near the Koi Pond. Set against the backdrop of OMCA’s gardens and views of Lake Merritt, the event’s relaxed picnic-style atmosphere features lawn seating, games, dancing, and cultural programming that highlights the creativity and diversity of the Bay Area.
APRIL SCHEDULE
Friday, April 3 | 5–9 pm
Live music by Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia, a music set by DJ Kream, Drag Storytime with Per Sia,
and a hands-on dance ribbon making activity celebrating movement and spring.
Friday, April 10 | 5–9 pm
Brazilian rhythms from SambaDá, a Baile Funk dance lesson with Weslei Guimarães,
and a DJ set by murcutian, plus a special OMCA Members’ Lounge.
Friday, April 17 | 5–9 pm
Soulful sounds from The Philharmonik, a high-energy music set by DJ Hauna Bauna, and interactive live figure drawing with Sketchboard Co. in the galleries.
Friday, April 24 | 5–9 pm
Powerful live vocals from CO-LLAB Choir, a Hip-Hop dance lesson with Samara Atkins, and a genre-spanning DJ set by AMAL.
MAY PREVIEW
Friday, May 8 | 5–9 pm
Live music by Elujay, whose honey-toned vocals and genre-blending sound span soul, jazz, and electronic influences, plus a music set by DJ Harmonyy, and the return of OMCA’s annual Spring Teacher Night.
Friday, May 15 | 5–9 pm
A live dance performance by La Cumbiamba Colombiana, live music by Combo Tezeta blending psychedelic cumbia and chicha rhythms, and a music set by DJ Olga T.Friday,
May 22 | 5–9 pm
High-energy live music by Grammy Award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra, known for its explosive blend of mambo, salsa, and Latin jazz, and a music set by DJ Sizzle.
Alongside music and performances, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm, offering visitors an opportunity to explore OMCA’s exhibitions through informal conversations with museum facilitators.
OMCA offers $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.For more information and a full event schedule, visit the OMCA website.
Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is proudly supported 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.
ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
Founded in 1969 as a “museum of the people,” Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) tells the diverse stories of California’s art, history, and natural environment. Through inclusive exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, OMCA creates space for meaningful dialogue and strives to build more equitable, empathetic, and connected communities. With more than 2 million objects, OMCA’s collection of art, history, and natural science is a resource for understanding California’s dynamic heritage—all within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus. A leading Bay Area cultural institution rooted in Oakland, OMCA is dedicated to fostering an environment where visitors from the region, state, and beyond feel valued and empowered to shape the future of California’s cultural landscape.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, in Oakland. Museum admission is $19 general admission; $16 for seniors; and $12 for youth ages 12 to 17 as well as for students and educators with valid ID, and free for Members and children 12 and under. There is a $6 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions in the Great Hall. OMCA offers onsite underground parking and is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station, on the corner of 10th Street and Oak Street. An accessibility ramp is located at the 1000 Oak Street main entrance to the Museum.