Friday Nights at OMCA with Kim Nalley Band

When

Where

1000 Oak Street, Oakland, California 94607, United States

Details

About

Juneteenth! at the Museum Live Music by the Kim Nalley Band, DJ Set by LEXAPEEL, Haitian Folkloric Dance Lesson with Portsha T. Jefferson, Community Tabling with Lake Merritt Institute, and Gallery Chats Friday Night at OMCA comes alive during the opening week of OMCA’s latest Special Exhibition, Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory, with a lineup inspired by the artist’s deep connections to music, movement, cultural memory, and public engagement. On the Garden Stage, the Kim Nalley Band delivers powerhouse vocals that blend jazz, blues, and soul. Known for captivating audiences from intimate clubs to global concert halls, Nalley brings warmth, wit, and commanding presence to every performance. Behind the turntables, LEXAPEEL sets the tone with a genre-spanning mix of global sounds, R&B, Hip-Hop, and house. With a seamless style and sharp instinct for reading the crowd, she builds an infectious energy that keeps the dance floor moving all night. Guests are invited to move with purpose in a Haitian folkloric dance lesson led by Portsha Terae Jefferson. Centered on the celebratory rhythms of the carnival dance known as RARA, this all-levels workshop blends cultural tradition with joyful expression, offering a chance to connect and honor Haiti’s rich living heritage through movement. Throughout the evening, Lake Merritt Institute hosts interactive community tabling that highlights the beauty and stewardship of Lake Merritt. Through games, puzzles, art-making, and chances to win prizes, guests of all ages can explore ways to care for this beloved local ecosystem while celebrating the vibrant community that surrounds it. Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also features  Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived