Oakland Arts & Culture

Rub shoulders with performance artists, mural painters, African drummers, industrial artists and other creatives in Oakland, home to one of the West Coast's most happening cultural scenes.

Oakland doesn't make it easy to feel smug about your insider art knowledge. You might have your finger well and truly on the cultural pulse, but all the same, the arts scene here will never stop blindsiding you. Keeping up with all the latest events, exhibits and performances will test your organizational skills to the max.

On the weekends, Oakland's parks and public spaces are stages where artists and performers go wild. But even during the week, the city is alive with creative types doing what they do best.

Oakland is a multicultural city, where Asian, African-American, Hispanic and Pacific Islander influences are strong. Keep everything (eyes, ears, heart, mind) open as you explore and you'll be set up for some very gratifying cultural experiences.

Organized Creativity

  • Get walking in downtown Oakland, where experimental art galleries celebrate Oakland's heritage.
  • Party with the art crowd at Friday Nights at Oakland Museum of California, when DJs, local craftspeople and more stage an atrium takeover.
  • Head to the redwood-covered hills for a performance or a nature-based adventure at the Art Deco Woodminster Amphitheater.

Creativity on the Street

  • On the first Friday of each month, Oakland's KONO district buzzes with artists celebrating their work together. Catch a poetry reading and see street performers.
  • Water bottle? Check. Walking shoes? Check. You'll need to be prepared when you visit all of Oakland's public murals, as there are just so many.
  • It's Burning Man every day in the city's DIY scene, where industrial artists put together the elaborate machines that head out to the desert each year.

Creativity in the Community

  • Get an idea of the city's many cultural influences at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts.
  • Watch performances, hear new ideas or take in some art at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.
  • Keep an eye out for performances, screenings and exhibitions by the Black Aesthetic Team, a multidisciplinary group that honors Oakland's African-American heritage.

Created in partnership with Visit Oakland

Popular Oakland attractions

This city has a lot to offer, so start exploring and satisfy your cultural palate in Oakland.

Peer at the night sky through antique and state-of-the-art telescopes and enjoy dazzling light shows at this superb space center. 

Delve into Californian history at this interdisciplinary museum, which features enthralling exhibits of landscape paintings, cultural artifacts and natural science under one roof.

Bring the kids to one of America’s first themed amusement parks. Storybook sets, rides and animal residents ensure everyone experiences a “happily ever after.”

Watch alligators being fed, ride a train through the Australian outback and see a herd of elephants on the African savannah at this animal park.

Walk or jog around the lakeside path, rent a sailboat and relax on the water and enjoy bird-watching when you visit Oakland’s sparkling centerpiece. 

Your guide to Oakland

Ensure your Oakland stay runs smoothly by packing these travel tips with you.
Weather
TEMPERATURE °F
AV. RAINFALL (IN)
54°F J 4
55°F F 4
56°F M 3
59°F A 2
61°F M 1
65°F J 1
68°F J 0
68°F A 0
69°F S 0
65°F O 1
59°F N 2
54°F D 4
Read more
Getting Around

With careful planning-and assuming you aren't looking to get off the beaten path-you can enjoy Oakland with only a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) pass and a comfy pair of walking shoes. However, a rental car is a big advantage, especially if you like the freedom to change plans as the spirit moves you.

Read more

What to do in Oakland

Oakland is sure to keep you busy. Check out these great ways to spend your time while visiting this experience-rich city!