THE ACT OF PLAY IS EXPERIENCING FREEDOM
What's That Song Trivia Night
We're saying so long for now. Join us for our last event and an evening of music, trivia, and games!
Date: Thursday December 12, 2024
Time: 6pm-9pm
Location: Merritt House, 203 E 18th St, Oakland, CA 94606
Join thePLAYCE’s very last event on Thursday, December 12 from 6pm-9pm at Merritt House for a fabulous music trivia night! Bring a team or get paired up with up to 4 folks and be ready to guess a series of songs as well as other music trivia.
Tia Valeria (They/She/Sir) will be our emcee for the night. Tia is an award winning storyteller, actor, adventurer, alchemist, artist, musician and [redacted]. Defiantly thriving in the face of natural laws and physics, institutional sabotage, and General Wackness!
Tickets are on a sliding scale of $20-$40. All proceeds will go to the Understory Worker Collective as they prepare to re-open in a new space.
Complimentary snacks are included with your admission. Understory will be offering a limited selection of additional food items for purchase. Full bar at Merritt House open for alcohol and NA purchases.
Merritt House is ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible. Masks are requested when not eating or drinking. Please help take care of your community by staying home if you are sick or have had a known exposure.
We have had a great run over the past 3 years and are closing this chapter on a high note. Please attend and celebrate all the memories made together!!
September Play Workout
Game on!
Date: Sunday September 19, 2024
Time: 10am-11am
Location: Bushrod Park - 560 59th Street, Oakland, CA 94609 (on the Racine street side, by the bleachers)
Come outside and move around with us for an hour! Get your sweat on, explore different ways to relate to movement, or just have some fun in good company. We're mixing up familiar games with quirky challenges. The games bin will be around so you can also do your own thing or cheer folks on from the bleachers.
To sign up, DM us on Instagram (@wearetheplayce) or email us at wearetheplayce@gmail.com and let us know how many people are coming. Suggested donation $5-$25 on Venmo.
One More Lagoon Party
We're going back for more Cull Canyon!
Date: Sunday August 25, 2024
Time: 12-4pm
Location: 18627 Cull Canyon Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94552
We just can't get enough of Cull Canyon! See you there on Sunday Aug 25 from 12pm-4pm. You know the deal: this his lagoon is a gorgeous public space, shared by lots of folks. Bring a friend, bring a boo/s, bring your kids. Hang out with us at a picnic table, set up your chairs on the beach, or go for a swim.
Buy your ticket directly through the East Bay Regional Site ($4 per person) or you can purchase them on the day of at the ticket kiosk. Parking is free. Per usual we’ll have some plant-based food for the grill and you can also bring your own grillin goodies!
Lagoon Party!
Come hang out and splash around with us at Cull Canyon!
Date: Sunday July 21, 2024
Time: 12-4pm
Location: 18627 Cull Canyon Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94552
Hey ya’ll, it’s pool party season and we’re going back to Cull Canyon! Meet us there on Sunday July 21 from 12pm-4pm. This lagoon is a gorgeous public space, shared by lots of folks. Bring a friend, bring a boo/s, bring your kids. Hang out with us at a picnic table, set up your chairs on the beach, or go for a swim.
Buy your ticket directly through the East Bay Regional Site ($4 per person) or you can purchase them on the day of at the ticket kiosk. Parking is free. We’ll have some plant-based food for the grill and you can also bring your own grillin goodies!
Movie Trivia Night - A Benefit Event
Come show off your movie nerd skills and support AROC!
Date: Wednesday June 5, 2024
Time: 6pm-9pm
Location: Understory, 528 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607
Movie lovers! Join us for our "What's That Movie?" Trivia Night. Bring a team or get paired up with up folks in teams of 3-5 people and be ready to show off your movie nerd skills. Film buffs, Joss & Woods, will be our dynamic MC duo and quizmasters for the evening.
This event is a benefit for the Arab Resource and Organizing Center. They fight for racial and economic justice of Arab and Muslim communities and have been working tirelessly to end the war on Gaza and free Palestine.
Take part in the silent auction and treat yourself to some amazing experiences and gifts such as Frameline Film Fest passes, an Oakland Museum membership, a Good Vibes gift bag, a Friends and Family gift card, and more!
Tickets are sliding scale $20-$40. If you have extra funds to share, please consider paying at the high end of the scale.
Drinks and food will be available for purchase.
May Play Workout
Come move around with us!
Date: Sunday May 19, 2024
Time: 10am-11am
Location: Bushrod Park - 560 59th Street, Oakland, CA 94609, on the Racine street side (by the bleachers)
Come outside and move around with us for an hour! Get your sweat on, explore different ways to relate to movement, or just have some fun in good company. We're mixing up familiar games with quirky challenges. The games bin will be around so you can also do your own thing or cheer folks on from the bleachers.
BYOM (bring your own mat, if you like). Some movement may happen on the ground for those who opt in.
To sign up, DM us on Instagram (@wearetheplayce) or email us at wearetheplayce@gmail.com and let us know how many people are coming. Suggested donation $5-$25 on Venmo.
2024, Here We Come!
Hello friends! We took a little play break but we are baaaaack and ready to host some badass events in 2024. Between May and October, we will be focusing on three concepts: play workouts, game nights, and everyone’s favorite….pool parties! Stay tuned for details.
We can’t wait to see you!
Pool Party
Pool, Games & BBQ!
Date: Sunday September 17, 2023
Time: 3pm-6pm
Location: Lions Pool @ Dimond Park - 3860 Hanly Road, Oakland
Tix: RSVP via IG or email (name, email, how many people are coming)
Get ready for some new gaymes in the pool! For the land lovers, hang out, and make some new friends, and play some pool-side games.
Bring your appetite! Dat BBQ will be serving up some mouthwatering chicken wings, chips and smoked guac, and vegan “pulled pork” sliders. (IG: dat_bbq)
Limited capacity! To RSVP, DM us on Instagram (@wearetheplayce) or email us (wearetheplayce@gmail.com) and let us know how many people are coming.
This event is free. We highly encourage you to make a donation (Venmo @theplayce) to support us putting on this event.
Suggested donation: $10 BIPOC Community // $20 Allies
Lagoon Party
Return of the Pool Parties!
Date: Sunday Aug 20, 2023
Time: 12-4pm
Location: 18627 Cull Canyon Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94552
It’s official! Back by popular demand we are doing pool parties again! The first of our two events will take place at Cull Canyon Recreational Area in Castro Valley. This lagoon is a gorgeous public space, shared by lots of folks. It's a great spot for parents to bring their littles. Hang out with us at a picnic table, set up your chairs on the beach, or go for a swim. Tickets are $4 per person, parking is free. Email us or DM us on Instagram (@wearetheplayce) to register.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Queer Trivia Night - A Benefit Event!
Study your queer history in preparation for Pride!
Date: Wednesday June 21, 2023
Time: 6pm-9pm
Location: Understory, 528 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607
Happy Pride month! In celebration, we are hosting a Queer Trivia Night!
Mz' Love' O is a passionate quizmaster and trivia enthusiast, known for her engaging and entertaining quiz nights. She creates a lively and inclusive atmosphere, encouraging friendly competition and fostering a sense of camaraderie among participants. Her charismatic hosting style and quick wit keep players engaged and entertained throughout the event.
This is a benefit event for Sins Invalid, a disability justice based performance project that incubates and celebrates artists with disabilities, centralizing artists of color and LGBTQ / gender-variant artists as communities who have been historically marginalized. Led by disabled women and nonbinary people of color, Sins Invalid’s community engagement and performance work explores social and climate justice, embodiment, and the disabled body, developing innovative work where paradigms of “normal” are challenged, offering a vision of beauty and justice inclusive of all bodies and communities. Check out their work and events on the Sins Invalid website.
There will be a silent auction! Treat yourself to some amazing experiences and gifts while supporting Sins Invalid. You can also donate to them directly here.
Tickets are sliding scale $20-$40. If you have extra resources to share, please consider paying at the high end of the scale. Complimentary snacks are included with your admission. Drinks and food will be available for purchase.
Movie Night
Join us for our first movie night - featuring Sister Act!
Date: Friday May 12, 2023
Time: 7:30pm-10:30pm
Location: Oakland Dimond neighborhood, at a community member's backyard. The space has limited capacity, so please RSVP by email to wearetheplayce@gmail.com and let us know your name and how many guests you are bringing. Once we receive your email, we'll send you the address.
Come by yourself or with friends and bring all the things you need to get cozy (e.g. blankets, chairs, bean bags…).
Bring your appetite! Flip N’ Trays Catering will be providing a fabulous Filipino meal for us. Vegan options will be available.
This event is free! Please consider making a donation which helps us cover the cost of equipment and food. Venmo us @theplayce.
Get Set!
Join us for an afternoon of fun, food, and friend time!
Date: Sunday April 23, 2023
Time: 2pm-5pm
Location: Dimond Park - 3860 Hanly Road, Oakland, CA 94602
Grab your besties and favorite picnic munchies, and join us for a Sunday funday of games, schmoozing, and snack time. Our activity this month is centered around ROPES & STRINGS. Think Double Dutch, three legged or handed relays, cats cradle, tug-a-war, and other random stringy things. No skill required, just come with a sense of curiosity and adventure!
This event is for ages 18 and up, and it’s FREEEE! Chill furry friends are welcome to join and must be on leash per park rules.
BGS End of Year Party
ThePLAYCE hosting some activities at Brown Girl Surf End of Year Party!
Date: Friday December 9, 2022
Time: 5pm-9pm
Location: Oakstop, 2323 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
We’re so excited to collaborate with Brown Girl Surf and design some games for their year end party at Oakstop! Check out IG @browngirlsurf for more info on the event!
Pool Party 2
Soak up the last of summer, games in water and on land!
Date: Sunday October 2, 2022
Time: 3pm-6pm
Location: Lions Pool @ Dimond Park - 3860 Hanly Road, Oakland (see slide 3 for suggested ways to get there due to other events happening this day that close off some roads!)
Not ready for summer to end? Great, cuz we are throwing a SECOND pool party! Get ready for some noodle jousting, sharks and minnows, and more pool games! Bring your own floaties or use ours. The games bin will be there for the land lovers.
The pool party is FREE! Please consider making a donation to our Venmo @theplayce. Suggested donation:
$10 from our BIPOC Community
$20 Allies
To RSVP to this event, DM us on Instagram (@wearetheplayce) or email us (wearetheplayce@gmail.com) and let us know how many people are coming so we can keep track of the number of attendees per rental rules.
Summer Surprise Pool Party
Water games and Renaissance on repeat!
Date: Sunday August 21, 2022
Time: 3pm-6pm
Location: Lions Pool @ Dimond Park - 3860 Hanly Road, Oakland
The pool party is FREE!
Please consider making a donation to our Venmo @theplayce. Suggested donation:
$10 from our BIPOC Community
$20 Allies
To RSVP to this event, DM us on Instagram (@wearetheplayce) or email us (wearetheplayce@gmail.com) and let us know how many people are coming so we can keep track of the number of attendees per rental rules.
Bring your favorite floaties and flippy floppies. thePLAYCE is hosting a pool party! We'll have some fun games to play in the pool for the mer-people and poolside for the land lovers. Can't get enough of Bey? We'll have Renaissance on repeat. See you there!
This event is for ages 18 and up.
Play Date
ThePLAYCE is excited to announce our first collabo with our friends at Understory!
Date: Thursday August 11, 2022
Time: 5pm-8pm
Location: Understory, 528 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607
Eat + drink + play tabletop games like telestrations, musical murals, jenga, and more!
10% of drink sales will be donated to thePLAYCE to support future popup events.
This event is free! Masks are required indoors and are optional when outside in the parklet.
Understory is a collectively-operated restaurant and incubation kitchen that highlights cuisines of Filipino, Moroccan, and Mexican origins. Understory prioritizes immigrant, working class, and people of color chefs through pathways to worker-leadership, project support and training, and economic opportunities.
Get Set!
Be there or be square!
Date: Sunday June 12, 2022
Time: 12pm-3pm
Location: Bushrod Park - 560 59th Street, Oakland, CA 94609
Grab your favorite people and some picnic munchies, and join us for another afternoon of games, food, and friend time. This month, our activity is centered around spacial awareness and called Nine Square in the Air. Expect a cross between four square and volleyball using a big pink beach ball. No skill required, just come with a sense of curiosity and adventure!
This event is for ages 18 and up! Chill furry friends are welcome to join and must be on leash per park rules.
Get Set!
Join us for an afternoon of fun, food, and friend time!
Date: Sunday May 15, 2022
Time: 12pm-3pm
Location: Dimond Park - 3860 Hanly Road, Oakland, CA 94602
Grab your besties and favorite picnic munchies, and join us for a Sunday funday of games, schmoozing, and snack time. This month, our activity is centered around the theme of “senses”. Expect a creative variation of the classic games: Telephone, Charades, and Read My Lips. No skill required, just come with a sense of curiosity and adventure!
This event is for ages 18 and up! Chill furry friends are welcome to join and must be on leash per park rules.