Free events in Alameda, CA

Crybaby is hosting LIFE OF THE PARTY, Oakland’s First Friday get-together with live DJ sets and high-energy club vibes. The lineup includes Cutso, EDDY, and Hvff, plus a patio takeover by Bussdown Collective. There will be happy hour drink specials for the first hour and a 360 stage. Event is 21+ and doors open at 10 PM. Free entry is available for the first 25 with RSVP, and ticket prices increase at the door.

CASA, NCRA, Mission Blue San Francisco Bay Hope Spot, DOER Marine, and the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department organize a monthly coastal clean up at Alameda Point. Participants come together for a community effort to keep the shoreline clean.

First Presbyterian Church of San Leandro and Rise Against Hunger are teaming up for a hands-on volunteer event to package 10,000 meals for families facing hunger around the world. Volunteers of all ages can take part in an assembly-line style effort, working alongside friends, relatives, and neighbors to help provide nutritious food to communities in need. Snacks and refreshments will be available. Registration is required to participate. Organizers are looking for meal-packaging helpers, about 3 to 5 people to assist with setup and cleanup, and a few volunteers who can help with lifting up to 50 pounds.

Enjoy a free-to-play trivia night at Dog Haus Biergarten Berkeley. Teams compete for prizes, with a soft cap of seven players per team for top prize eligibility. Larger groups are welcome, though awards may favor teams within the size guideline. No registration is required. Solo players can check in with the host before the game to be paired with others or a friendly team of regulars. Events do not run on major holidays, and any last-minute cancellations may be announced on the @playtriviaca Instagram.

OmniSwing offers a weekly progressive West Coast Swing program that supports dancers from their first steps through more advanced skills. Instruction is organized into Levels 1 through 3 and taught in monthly modules that build on each other. From Level 2 onward, supplemental classes help participants meet the program’s benchmarks before moving up. No partner or prior experience is required, just bring energy and enthusiasm. After class, the evening continues with a practica and a social so everyone can put new moves into practice and connect with the community. First-time students receive their class free. Pricing options include a drop-in class for $25 with a $5 pre-sale discount available, a social-only option for $15, and a class plus social option for $35 paid at the door. To keep dance education accessible, The Omni Movement offers a work-trade Ambassador program with discounts at 50 percent and 100 percent, along with The Omni Promise, which reserves discounted spots for community members in need. The current discount available through that program is 50 percent.

Play Cafe is a family-friendly storytime and play session designed for parents and caregivers with kids ages 0 to 5. It includes stories, songs, and a chance for little ones to play together.

A casual, welcoming Dungeons and Dragons night at The New Parkway features multiple tables running at the same time, each led by a different Dungeon Master. Players of every experience level are supported, from first-timers to seasoned adventurers, with beginner-friendly options and a warm community that includes regulars and folks who began as players before stepping up to lead games. It is easy to drop in for a single session or return on a weekly rhythm, with no prior experience and without any ongoing commitment. Attend solo or with friends, choose a table that suits your style, and dive into a collaborative story filled with creativity and fun. Food and drinks are available for purchase, and arriving a little early is suggested so there is time to get settled before play begins.

A lively trivia night awaits at Headlands Brewing on the UC Berkeley campus. It is free to participate, teams can include up to six people, and prizes are up for grabs. Arriving early is recommended to secure preferred seating. During student break periods, please confirm with the venue that the event is running.

Discover Bachata in a welcoming, progressive program that blends guided learning with social practice. Designed to build skills from the ground up, these partner dance classes do not require a partner or any prior experience, and your first class is complimentary. The program typically features Level 2 Dips and Tricks and Level 1 Directional Changes, followed by a short demo with announcements, then a practica and weekly social to put new steps into action. Instructors include Imaan Taghavi, Angela Vujkovic, Xavier Wong, Tina Wang, Helen Vazquez, Dvij Patel, and Natalie Keller. First-time visitors can use an access guide to navigate to the studio. The Omni Promise sets aside a portion of spots for community members in need, with a current 50 percent discount available via promo code after completing a short form.

Enjoy a laid-back creative night at The New Parkway Theater focused on drawing, a drink in hand, and time spent together in a welcoming space. All experience levels are invited, from first-time doodlers to seasoned sketchers. Bring your own art materials or use supplies that are available, come solo or with friends, choose from beer, wine, or non-alcoholic drinks for purchase, and ease into the evening at your own pace. There is no formal lesson and no pressure, just relaxed creativity and good company.

Settle into The New Parkway Theater in Oakland for a relaxed team trivia night that puts fun first. Play solo or with a crew, meet new people, and enjoy friendly competition without the pressure. It is free to play, and prizes are handed out along the way, including movie tokens redeemable for a ticket at The New Parkway and pesos worth one dollar off food at concessions. The theater serves classic concessions and a full menu, plus beer and wine, with plenty of vegan choices available. Seating can fill up, so arriving a little early can help you secure a table, get comfortable, and grab food and drinks before the questions start. Whether you are a trivia regular or trying it for the first time, everyone is welcome.