By Kathleen Nay
It’s golden hour, and Oaklanders are ready for the weekend. A crowd gathers around a DJ table being set up at the Lake Merritt Pergola. The music starts, and people of all ages and backgrounds draw in. There’s dancing, and laughter. As the setting sun gives way to the glittering reflection of the Necklace of Lights, the lake reminds us why her moniker is Oakland’s “Crown Jewel.” It’s a stunning backdrop for the joyful community dance parties known as Days Like This.
Days Like This is a free, inclusive community party held every Friday night at the Pergola. Everyone’s welcome: all ages, all races, all abilities, no dance experience required. The evening kicks off at 5:00 pm with a dance lesson, followed by a come-as-you-are dance party led by a rotating lineup of DJs spinning deep house, Afro house, and soulful tracks.
What began in 2020 as two friends, a boombox, and a need to connect during COVID lockdowns has grown into a weekly celebration that draws up to 300 people at a time. For regulars, it’s more than a party — it’s a place of joy, belonging, and community.
Organizers are intentional about creating a safe, welcoming environment. Officially alcohol- and drug-free, each event begins with a short talk about safety, consent, and keeping the area clean.
Julia K., a regular attendee — and a park ranger at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park — sticks around after the party winds down to help pick up litter. “I try to value public spaces and the people who take care of them,” she says. In partnership with Lake Merritt Institute, she uses the U-Clean-It boxes on Friday nights, and organizes a few group cleanups each year, too. Her efforts, along with those of other dancers and community members, help keep trash out of the lake and protect our cherished urban ecosystem.
She shares some fun memories she’s made at Days Like This, recalling an experience in 2023: “Normally we cancel for rain, but this rain” — the first of the season — “started during the event. Everybody was so alive, dancing in the rain. It was just the most glorious night. I’ll never forget that feeling.”
These days, DJs line up to play the event, and sometimes public figures show out, too. In March, Mayor Barbara Lee joined the five-year anniversary party, reflecting how beloved Days Like This has become to Oaklanders.
“It’s my church,” Julia says. “It’s a consistent space where you feel safe, where you can be free, dance, and connect — and it’s done at 9:30, so you can go home and get a good night’s sleep!” She laughs. “There are very few opportunities to dance like that earlier in the evening and have it be such a joyful party. You really see people being free and joyful.” Her advice to newcomers: “Let your inhibitions go and know that you’ll be accepted.”
Public joy fosters stewardship. Days Like This is part of what makes Lake Merritt feel alive, strengthening human-to-human and human-to-nature connections, and reminding us why it’s worth protecting our shared public spaces.
Dancing can be an act of resistance and reverence. Join in the fun! Fridays at 5:00 pm (dance class), DJs until 9:30 pm. Cost: free (though donations are welcome). Bring your whole self — and maybe a trash bag!
Follow along at instagram.com/dayslikethis.oakland
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