OMCA Carnival Takeover

May 31 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Free

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.

As we celebrate the vibrant cultural tapestry of the Bay Area, OMCA also welcomes the Alameda County Community Food Bank as it brings its mission to end hunger to Friday Nights with OMCA and Off the Grid! Come meet the Food Bank and get hands on with its breadth of programs and services, including grassroots advocacy, nutrition education, and CalFresh (food stamp) enrollment assistance. Staff and volunteers from across the food bank will be on hand all night sharing about their work—which also includes providing 1 million meals worth of food every week—and the ways to both access their services, volunteer, and other ways to give back.

Lastly, throughout the night Gallery Chats in Special Exhibition, Por el Pueblo: The Legacy and Influence of Malaquías Montoya provides another opportunity to be inspired by the social fortitude that holds our vibrant community together as facilitated community-led conversations allow guests to dive deep into the gallery content.

Program Schedule:

5—9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket

5—8 pm Alameda County Community Food Bank Community Event | Garden

5—6:45 pm Carnival Takeover with MasFX and VibeHauss | The Garden Stage

5:30—6:30 pm Soca Meets Samba Dance Workshop | The Garden Stage

6—8 pm Gallery Chats | The Great Hall

6:45—7:30 pm Cardinal Calypso Steel Pan Band | Amphitheater

7:30—8:45 pm Vibe Hauss DJ Set | Amphitheater

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.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.