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Friday Nights at OMCA with Oakland Ballet Company

Friday, October 18, 2024 - 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Music, activities, garden access is all free; food and drinks for purchase; gallery entry requires Museum ticket purchase

OMCA (Oakland Museum of California) | 1000 Oak Street Oakland, CA 94607

Free / Learn More

Friday Nights at OMCA | Live Performance of by the Oakland Ballet Company (La Luna Mexicana) , Dance Lesson with Samantha Valazquez, DJ set by Black, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night, packed full of dance, music and celebration kicks off with a captivating performance by the Oakland Ballet Company, showcasing excerpts from La Luna Mexicana. This enchanting presentation captures the essence of Dia de los Muertos, blending vibrant dance, colorful costumes, and joyous music to honor family and tradition in an elaborate celebration.

Following the ballet, get ready to cultivate your own  moves with an introductory Salsa and Bachata lesson led by Samanth Velazquez. This engaging class will introduce you to the basics of these lively dances, focusing on rhythm, technique, and creative expression in a welcoming and energetic setting. The night wraps up with a dynamic DJ set by Black. Known for his deep-rooted expertise in global rhythms and infectious beats, Black will keep the energy high and the dance floor packed.

Friday Nights at OMCA Program Schedule:

  • 5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket
  • 5:30–6:30 pm Intro Samba & Bachata w/ Smantha Valasquez | Amphitheater
  • 5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats  | Gallery of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences
  • 6–7:15 pm Oakland Ballet– Excerpts fromLuna Mexicana| OMCA Garden
  • 6:45–8:45 pm Set by Black  | Amphitheater

In addition to an outstanding event experience, every Friday Nights at OMCA also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our exhibitions.

About Friday Nights:

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

Bring your own or grab dinner from any one of the 8 Off the Grid food trucks on 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets. Beer, wine, mixed and non-alcoholic drinks are available for sale. After grabbing a meal from a wide and weekly changing menu of culinary creations, head to the OMCA Garden where you’ll find picnic tables and blankets to enjoy your local eats. Play lawn and table games, enjoy weekly rotating Museum programming, and create new memories at one of the Town’s most treasured spaces right in the heart of Oakland.

No outside alcohol permitted. Performances are subject to change. Limited $10 flat rate parking for Friday Nights is available in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm.

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

October 18, 2024 | 5—9 pm
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland
FREE (for food truck access and outdoor activities)

– Optional late-night museum admission for purchase

How To Get There

  • BART: OMCA is at the corner of Oak and 10th Street and is located one block from the Lake Merritt BART Station.
  • AC Transit: OMCA is accessible by a number of AC Transit bus lines. OMCA is at the corner of Oak and 10th Street. An accessibility ramp is located at the main entrance on Oak Street between 10th and 11th. For more information, visit actransit.org.
  • Free Bike Parking: Free, on-street bike parking is available outside the Oak Street entrance to the Museum. Limited free covered bike parking is available in the OMCA Garage during garage hours, and on Oak Street Plaza, which is on the third level of the Museum, during Museum hours
  • Street Parking: Free street parking of often available.
  • Garage Parking: Event parking is available at the Museum Garage, with a $10 flat fee starting at 5 pm.
  • Get Driving Directions

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE*
*Music, activities, garden access is all free; food and drinks for purchase; gallery entry requires Museum ticket purchase
Categories: *Top Pick*, Art & Museums, Dia de los Muertos, Eating & Drinking, In Person, Kids & Families, Live Music, Other, Sponsored, Theater & Performance
Address: 1000 Oak Street Oakland, CA 94607

Friday, October 18, 2024

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*Floor stock is readily available for purchase
9:00 am   Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Free from 9-10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; otherwise non-resident admission is $12 - $16 depending on the season. San Francisco residents are always free with valid ID
11:00 am   “Pay-What-You-Can” Taco Day at SF’s Tato (Every Friday)  FREE*
*Every Friday pay anywhere from $0 up to $10. When a customer pays the full price of $10, TATO will give a free meal to someone in need in The City. Please note promotion might end at any time
5:00 pm   The 1st Ever “Castro Night Market” (Launches Oct. 2024)  FREE
5:00 pm   “Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid” Block Party + DJs (Oakland)  FREE*
*Most outdoor activities and entertainment is free and open to the public from 5-9pm. Regular Museum applies to enter the galleries
5:00 pm   $1 Drink Fridays: “Battle of the Decades” DJ Party (North Beach)  FREE*
*Free admission with RSVP on Eventbrite
6:00 pm   SF’s Free Outdoor Movie Night: “The Nightmare Before Christmas”  FREE
7:00 pm   SF’s HellaSecret “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (7p + 8:45p)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $15 adv / $20 door tickets also available
7:00 pm   “Rush Hour Comedy Night” w/ SFs Best Black & Asian Comedians (The Function)  FREE*
*RSVP Required
7:00 pm   Laugh GPT: SF’s First AI-Powered Stand-up Comedy Show (2024)  FREE*
*Use secret code HUMAN for comp tickets, otherwise, $10 off with secret code FUNCHEAP
7:00 pm   “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (The Function)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $15 adv / $20 door tickets also available
7:00 pm   FREE: Oakland’s HellaSecret Comedy & Cocktail Night 2024 (7p + 9p Shows)  FREE*
*Limited free tickets with code FUNCHEAP (donations appreciated). Otherwise use code FUNCHEAP5 for $5 off early bird and general admission tickets
7:45 pm   SF’s Free Fall 2024 Outdoor Film Fest at Proxy (LGBTQ+ Night)  FREE*
*all events are free and open to the public - come as you are and bring you'r friends! food and beverages will be available onsite for purchase
8:00 pm   SF’s 17-Year Run “Secret Improv Society” (Fridays & Saturdays)  $20*
*Normally $25, use secret code FUNCHEAP for $5 off tickets
8:00 pm   $5 Off Tix: The Olivier Award-Winning Comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” at SF Playhouse (Sept. 21-Nov. 9)  $15*
*Tickets normally start at $20, but you can get $5 off with code FUNCHEAP. Not valid for past purchases. Subject to availability.
8:00 pm   “The Stoner Comedy Jam” Friday Nights (SF)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP (21+ with Valid ID) - One item minimum purchase per person required
8:45 pm   SF’s HellaDesi Comedy Night (Every Friday & Saturday)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 100 people. $10 advanced tickets or $20 at door without RSVP
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