We reviewed 550+ Bay Area event sources to pick the 21 best free things to do in Oakland, CA between August 15 and August 21. Updated daily.
to see a personalized list by location, interest, and age group.
Highlights for August 15 – August 20
Family Movie Morning (Dimond Branch, Oakland)
A movie morning showing Pixar’s Elio with free popcorn; bring blankets and settle in the Dimond Branch community room. Saturday, August 15, 11 AM–1:30 PM. Free. Ages families, kids, teens; popcorn provided.
Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club @ Fruitvale (Fruitvale Branch, Oakland)
A D&D game session where teens can play with provided dice and starter characters under Dungeon Master Vic. Saturday, August 15, 12 PM–2:30 PM. Free. Ages teens, tweens; dice and characters supplied.
Oakland Pride Festival (Oakland Public Library)
A citywide Pride celebration with parade, performances, and community programming hosted by the Oakland Public Library. Sunday, August 16, 12 PM–6 PM. Free. All ages; parade and performances.
Sprout Pop Up! (Golden Gate Branch, Oakland)
Free seed sprouts for flowers, herbs, fruit, and vegetables available for pickup at the Golden Gate Branch seed library. Tuesday, August 18, 1 PM–3 PM. Free. Ages adults, families, teens; limited supplies.
Teen Zine Club: Draw a Dream (Main Library TeenZone, Oakland)
A teen zine‑making workshop where participants create their own self‑published mini‑zines. Wednesday, August 19, 3 PM–5 PM. Free. Ages teens; bring ideas for your zine.
Garden Playdate (Melrose Branch, Oakland)
Open garden playtime with fresh vegetables and herbs to explore in the Melrose Branch garden and patio. Thursday, August 20, 11 AM–12 PM. Free. Ages birth to 5; open garden play.
Our best picks: free things to do in Oakland, CA — August 15–21
Sunday, August 16
Join Oakland Public Library in downtown Oakland for a full day of celebration. More than a single event, Oakland Pride reflects the city's culture, resilience, and creativity with a vibrant parade, local artists, and community programming. Pride is rooted in connection, health, and inclusion while supporting LGBTQ+ Oak…
Teens! Do you like games that involve worldbuilding, narrative, and strategy? Come and meet other teens and play the fun Magic the Gathering (MtG) game Commander . Open to new and experienced players. All teens aged 12-18 welcome. All materials provided (including snacks!).
Do you have a well-loved garment in need of repair? Join our two-session Mending (Machine Edition) workshop . Sewing machines will be provided, so all you need to bring is your existing machine experience (threading, bobbin winding, and straight stitching). This workshop is designed for those who already know how to us…
Enjoy a delicious mocktail while you learn new crafts. For Adults. All supplies will be provided. Third Sundays of the month, 2-3 PM Disfrute de un delicioso cóctel (sin alcohol) mientras aprende nuevas manualidades. Para adultos. Se proporcionará todos los materiales. Cada tercer domingo del mes, 2-3 PM Get accessibil…
This women’s big band swings at the Doyle Street Park, celebrating Black women musical geniuses Melba Liston and Mary Lou Williams . Bring your chair, hat, --and your dancing shoes!
Get your personalized event picks for free
- Personalized event feed based on your interests, city, and age groups.
- Weekly event picks delivered to your email inbox.
- Search and filter the full event catalog.
Monday, August 17
Learn safe driving strategies and you could earn a discount on auto insurance.* Hit the road with confidence, courtesy of the newly updated, award-winning AARP Smart Driver course. You will learn helpful driving strategies, and you may even qualify for a multiyear discount on your auto insurance! This is a two-part cou…
Songs, active rhymes and stories especially for ages 18 months to 3 years. Every Monday morning at 10:30am. Stay and play after Storytime with fun age-appropriate toys. Get accessibility information .
Bring your babies to the library for songs, socializing, and playtime! This event is suited for little ones who are 0 to 18 months. Storytime will start at 11:45am and there will be playtime after until 1pm. This library does not have a bathroom. Bathroom facilities can be found outside the library, adjacent to the nea…
DungeonMaster Vic Presents... Dungeons & Dragons Club! Mondays 4:00-6:00pm Free and open to all teens 12-18; no experience needed. All materials provided, including snacks! Space is limited and fills quickly. Please call the TeenZone to confirm availability. Get accessibility information .
Tuesday, August 18
Alameda Health System mobile dental and medical services on the third Tuesday of the month. Dental services for all ages including cleaning, assessment and creation of care plan. Medical exam, blood pressure, vaccinations, connection with other health services for adults. Referral to other services, and financial couns…
Come pick up free sprouts for your garden! We offer a variety of flower, herb, fruit, and vegetable sprouts. Take your pick! Sprouts are seeds that have just started to take root in the soil. The sprouts come from seeds from the Golden Gate branch's seed library and from library patrons who have grown their plants to s…
Join Our Weekly Pokémon Card Club! Calling all Pokémon Trainers! Whether you are brand new to the Pokémon Trading Card Game or already a deck-building master, come hang out, play, and connect with other fans. Each week, you’ll have a chance to: Learn how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game Build your own deck Teach a…
Tired of the same old mimics and gelatinous cubes? Join us to discover the games beyond D&D! Players can expect short campaigns featuring interesting and innovative TTRPG systems led by an experienced and imaginative DM. This event is suitable for beginners and seasoned players alike who are interested in collaborative…
Wednesday, August 19
Join us at 10:30 am for storytime with songs, movement and stories! We will also host a 1 hour free play time after storytime at 11:00am . This program is especially for those 18 months to 4 years old. ____________________________ Acompáñenos a las 10:30 am para la hora de cuento s con canciones, movimientos e historia…
✂️ Make your own zines at our monthly Teen Zine Club! ✂️ This is a chill space for you to get creative, express yourself, and hang out with new and returning zine makers. No prior knowledge or experience needed! For teens ages 13-18. 🗓️ Date: 3rd Wednesday of every month ⏰ Time: 3:00 - 5:00 PM 📍 125 14th St, 2nd Floo…
Join us for an inspiring evening of meaningful conversation, community, and connection at The Black Love Forum . This engaging panel discussion brings together respected community voices, authors, and leaders to explore what it takes to build and sustain healthy Black relationships, families, and communities. Featured…
Thursday, August 20
Join us in the Melrose Branch Garden and Patio for open play time! Try some seasonal, fresh vegetables from the garden! Pick herbs for tea and cooking. Acompañanos a jugar en el Patio de Melrose. ¡Prueba algunas verduras frescas de temporada de la huerta! Recoge hierbas para infusiones y para cocinar.
Say hello to mixed-media artist Eric Murphy and his personal guests' panel of Oaklanders sharing Oakland history of individuals who contributed to America's history. Experience the exhibition through the eyes of Murphy, as he conducts an artist walk-thru tour. RSVP (510) 637-0200 or register here.
Friday, August 21
Try out our new handheld engravers and engrave a keychain that you can take home. All supplies and instructions included, so just bring yourself (and a friend).
Friday Night at OMCA sets the stage for an evening of soulful sounds as Bay Area artist Sabrina Shauna brings her signature blend of R&B and pop to the Garden Stage. Featuring powerhouse vocals, heartfelt songwriting, and infectious energy, her performance showcases fan favorites, new music, and an uplifting spirit tha…
Saturday, August 22
A Tribe Called Queer Book Club at the Main Library - led by founder Sabine, this monthly book club centers the QTBIPOC experience, and intentionally discusses the work of QTBIPOC authors. We will read books written by both well known and emerging QTBIPOC authors. This book club centers self love, discovery, education,…