Modern Funk Fest, LGBT Film Screening & Off The Grid | Friday Nights at OMCA

Submitted by the Event Organizer

“Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid” Block Party + DJs (Oakland)

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. Join us every Friday, April–October, at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions. Limited flat rate parking for Friday Nights is available in the OMCA Garage for $10.

Friday Nights at OMCA are back and ready to kick off the season in style on April 3, 2026.

Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond,  purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

Between April and October, every Friday, 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

 

Friday, September 18, 2015
“Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid” Block Party + DJs (Oakland)

What to expect on September 18:

5–9 pm: Half-off gallery admission for adults, free for ages 18 and under
5–9 pm: Local beer and wine specials in the Blue Oak beer garden
5–9 pm: All Museum galleries open late
5–9 pm: Gourmet food trucks from Off the Grid featuring the best in local cuisine: get the weekly list here
5–9 pm: Gardens open for family fun, with a special lawn bar by Blue Oak café and lawn games available for free with a photo ID
5–9 pm: New! Family-friendly Books & Blankets program available for free with a photo ID at the Level 2 ticketing desk
5–9 pm: OMCA Store pop-up in the Redwood Burl area
5–9 pm: Select featured artists Aarti Menon (locally-designed Fair Trade), Heather Jacks, Monica Tiulescu(digitally modeled images), and Carolyn Simon (jewelry) selling their wares in Redwood Burl area
5–8 pm: Creative Impact 2015 Kickoff, an event bringing together teachers, artists, parents, and students for a conversation about the state of arts education, as a part of National Arts in Education Week
5–9 pm: A Modern Funk Fest, featuring Sweaterfunk DJs and other special musical guests, including Brian Ellis, XL Middleton, Moniquea, and Diamond Ortiz, and Starship Connection presenting the best of funk from today and yesteryear all night long
5–6:30 pm: September resident DJ spinning hits in the 10^th Street Amphitheater
5–8 pm: Family-friendly drop-in art activity: quilting with paper, in honor of special exhibition Yo-Yos & Half Squares: Contemporary California Quilts
6–9 pm: Makers & Tasters series featuring WikiAPA, a social evening of Wikipedia editing, dedicated to creating, updating, and improving articles about Asian Pacific American art and artists hosted at OMCA in honor of special exhibition Pacific Worlds, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and API Equality — Northern California
6:30–7 pm: dance instruction in the 10^th Street Amphitheater
7–8:45 pm: film presentation of KUMU HINA, an award-winning documentary in honor of Oakland LGBT Pride Month and special exhibition Pacific Worlds

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.