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Things to do in Oakland, CA

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We reviewed 550+ Bay Area event sources to pick the 24 best 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 21

  1. Family Movie Morning (Dimond Branch, Oakland)

    A library movie morning showing Pixar’s Elio with blankets and free popcorn in the Dimond Branch community room. Saturday, August 15, 11 am–1:30 pm. Free. Ages families, kids, teens; bring blankets and enjoy popcorn.

  2. Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club @ Fruitvale (Fruitvale Branch, Oakland)

    A drop‑in Dungeons & Dragons session where teens can play with provided dice and starter characters. Saturday, August 15, 12 pm–2:30 pm. Free. Ages teens and tweens; materials supplied; space fills quickly.

  3. Oakland Pride Festival (Oakland Public Library, Oakland)

    A citywide Pride celebration with a parade, performances, and art installations hosted at the Oakland Public Library. Sunday, August 16, 12 pm–6 pm. Free. All ages welcome; bring a chair for outdoor activities.

  4. Jazz on Sunday in the Park (Oakland Public Library, Oakland)

    A women’s big band performs swing jazz in Doyle Street Park. Sunday, August 16, 3 pm–5 pm. Free. Bring a chair and dancing shoes; outdoor venue.

  5. Hikes for Tykes: Redwood (Reinhardt Redwood, Oakland)

    A guided short hike in Reinhardt Redwood with a playground stop, designed for young children. Tuesday, August 18, 10:30 am. Adults must accompany; bring a snack; strollers not recommended.

  6. Mars: The Ultimate Voyage (Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland)

    A 25‑minute planetarium show exploring the challenges of traveling to Mars. Friday, August 21, 11 am–12 pm. Ages 8+; suitable for kids interested in space.

Our best picks: things to do in Oakland, CA — August 15–21

Sunday, August 16

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Oakland Pride Festival

12 PM – 6 PM·Oakland Public Library

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…

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Einstein’s Gravity Playlist

12 PM – 1 PM·Chabot Space & Science Center · Oakland

23 minutes Ages 8 and up Einstein’s Gravity Playlist is an original planetarium show that explores the ripples in space-time known as gravitational waves. Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916, and a century later, scientists detected these waves using incredibly precise laser tec…

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RECURRENT

Crafts and Mocktails | Manualidades y Bebidas

2 PM – 3 PM·Fruitvale Branch, Oakland

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…

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RECURRENT

Teen Magic the Gathering (MtG) Club @Main TeenZone

2 PM – 4:30 PM·Main Library TeenZone, 2nd floor , Oakland

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!).

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RECURRENT

Mending: Machine Edition

2 PM – 4 PM·Main Library, 1st Floor Reading Room, Oakland

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…

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RECURRENT

Jazz on Sunday in the Park

3 PM – 5 PM·Oakland Public Library

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!

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Monday, August 17

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Azure Mccall

Yoshi's, Oakland

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Tuesday, August 18

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RECURRENT

Mobile Dental & Medical Clinic

10 AM – 3:30 PM·Main Library, RV in parking lot at corner of Madison St. and 13th St., Oakland

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…

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RECURRENT

Sprout Pop Up!

1 PM – 3 PM·Golden Gate Branch, Located in adult room, on seed catalogue cart. , Oakland

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…

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RECURRENT

Eastmont Anime Club

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM·Eastmont Branch, Oakland

Teens! Watch Anime! Eat Snacks! Make Friends! Every Tuesday at 3:30pm, join us at the Eastmont Teen Zone to watch and discuss an episode or two of your favorite new and classic anime series. New anime fans are always welcome! (For Teens 13-18 years old).

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RECURRENT

Tuesday Night Art Club with Lellobird

6 PM – 7:30 PM·Montclair Branch, Back Reading Room ADA Accessible, Oakland

The Tuesday Night Art Club is the easiest club to join: Just show up and make art. All materials provided, no experience necessary, and we have an emphasis on process over product, so whether or not you think of yourself as An Artist, you’ll enjoy playing around with materials and methods. Classes are designed for adul…

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Wednesday, August 19

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Performer: Storyteller Brother Ben

11:30 AM – 12 PM·Emerald City Stage, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, CA

Performer: Storyteller Brother Ben About Playing at the Emerald City Stage

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Phantom of the Universe

3 PM – 4 PM·Chabot Space & Science Center · Oakland

Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt For Dark Matter 25 minutes Ages 8 and up An exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bang to its anticipated discovery at the Large Hadron Collider. The show will reveal the first hints of its existence through the eyes of Fritz Zwicky, the scientist who coined the term “dark…

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The Black Love Forum

5 PM – 7 PM·Martin Luther King Jr. Branch, Children's Room, Oakland

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…

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RECURRENT

Adult Arts & Crafts

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM·Main Library, 1st Floor Meeting Room, Oakland

Unwind and discover your creative side! Join us on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month for a relaxed, guided crafting session. All supplies are included, and no experience is needed—just bring your curiosity. Each session varies, you can check the list below to see what is going on each session. July 15th: Sand Art…

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Thursday, August 20

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RECURRENT

Garden Playdate

11 AM – 12 PM·Melrose Branch, Outside Garden, Oakland

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.

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Puppet Show: The 3 Little Pigs in the 1920’s

11 AM – 11:30 AM·Children's Fairyland · Oakland

Playing at the Storybook Puppet Theater 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.

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Mexica Archeoastronomy

12 PM – 1 PM·Chabot Space & Science Center · Oakland

20 min, 8 and up Through impressive scenarios, “Mexica Archaeoastronomy: between space and time” illustrates the important role played by astronomical observation for the evolution of pre-Hispanic cultures in central Mexico.

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Oakland City of Stars: From the Archive Exhibition

5 PM – 7 PM·African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Museum Gallery, 2nd Floor, Oakland

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.

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Friday, August 21

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Mars: The Ultimate Voyage

11 AM – 12 PM·Chabot Space & Science Center · Oakland

(25 min) Ever wondered what it will take for astronauts to travel to the Moon, Mars and beyond? On this long journey, what challenges will astronauts face? How will they stay motivated and healthy on their spacecraft so far away from Earth? The new, Bell original planetarium show Mars: The Ultimate Voyage , explores th…

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Teens: Engrave Your Own Keychain at Brookfield

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM·Brookfield Branch, Oakland

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).

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Sabrina Shauna

5 PM – 9 PM·OMCA campus · Oakland

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…

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Saturday, August 22

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Canine Capers

9 AM·Roberts, Oakland

ROBERTS RECREATION AREA (OAKLAND) - The restorative effect of spending time outdoors with a friend, furry or otherwise, is well-known! Join this monthly adventure to nurture our inner and outer selves by exploring and learning about the natural world around us as we hike park trails. 8 plus years Adult Participation Re…

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RECURRENT

A Tribe Called Queer Book Club

10:30 AM – 12 PM·Main Library, First Floor Conference Room, "Fishbowl", Oakland

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,…

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