Oakland Museum 2025 White Elephant Sale
Jan 26–March 2, 2025
Museum Fundraiser
Organized by Oakland Museum Women’s Board
Image: White Elephant Mural, 2014. Ernest Doty, Griffin One, Vogue TDK, Oakland.
Location
333 Lancaster Street
Oakland, CA 94601
White Elephant Sale Website
White Elephant Sale Instagram
Overview
Today’s LOVE LETTER TO ART features the Oakland Museum’s annual White Elephant Sale. The event is basically a GIGANTIC donation sale held by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board (since 1959!!), and is the OMCA’s main fundraiser of the year. It’s a thrifter’s dream, and something I’ve enjoyed since the 1990s.
The cashless event takes place in a large warehouse (White Elephant Mural, 2014 by local artists Ernest Doty, Griffin One, and Vogue TDK) in Oakland’s Jingletown neighborhood at 333 Lancaster Street. The event kicks off with its $50 Preview Sale (January 26) and continues through the next few weeks ($7 admission) to conclude with its FREE Final Clearance Sale (March 1 and 2).
$7 Tickets for OPEN WAREHOUSE DAYS ON JAN 29–FEB 22 are available online (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.)
- WALK-IN SHOPPERS ($7) are welcome starting at 11:00 a.m.
- WALK-IN SHOPPERS ARE FREE from 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
- FREE ADMISSION FOR Pre-K–12 TEACHERS starting at 11:00 a.m. with photo ID and proof of employment.
- CARTS AND BACKPACKS MUST BE CHECKED IN at the door before entry.
- *NO CHILDREN UNDER 12 (including infants in front carriers).
🆓 *FREE online tickets for the FINAL CLEARANCE SALE ON MARCH 1 & 2 are currently SOLD OUT (10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.), however walk-ins will be admitted starting at 11:00 a.m. EXPECT TO WAIT IN LINE.
- WALK-IN SHOPPERS (limited) are welcome starting at 11:00 a.m.
- CARTS, STROLLERS, AND BACKPACKS MUST BE CHECKED IN at the door before entry.
- *CHILDREN OF ALL AGES are welcome on March 1 & 2.
Preview of Oakland Museum’s 2025 White Elephant Sale
🗓 Oakland Museum’s White Elephant Sales runs through March 2, 2025. Tickets are available online: $50 (Jan 26 Preview Sale); $7 (Jan 29–Feb 22 Open Warehouse Days); and FREE (March 1–2 Clearance Sale).
💌 Did you attend the sale? What did you think? Let us know in the comments (in the Reviews section located on the second tab at the top of the page).
*TIP: On the weekends, it’s a very busy event with limited parking. Would suggest getting dropped off via rideshare.
QUICK GUIDE: OAKLAND MUSEUM WHITE ELEPHANT SALE
⭐ LOCATION: 333 Lancaster Street, Oakland, CA 94601
⭐ HOURS: Jan 26 Preview Sale (10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.); Jan 29–Feb 22 Open Warehouse Days (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.); March 1–2 Clearance Sale (10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.)
⭐ ADMISSION: Tickets are $50 (Jan 26 Preview Sale); $7 (Jan 29–Feb 22 Warehouse Days); and FREE (March 1–2 Clearance Sale). Walk-ins welcome at 11:00 a.m. *PRE-K–12 teachers are FREE with ID/proof of employment. No children under 12 from Jan 29–Feb 22. Children of all ages are welcome on March 1 & 2.
⭐ RESTROOMS: Restrooms are portable (outdoor).
⭐ SHUTTLE: A free shuttle will run between Fruitvale BART (Oscar Grant III Way) and WES on Preview (Jan 26) and Clearance (March 1 & 2) sale days. Service starts at 8:00 a.m., with the last shuttle leaving WES at 3:45 p.m. from Ford & Lancaster, one block from the warehouse. Shoppers can take BART or park at Fruitvale BART and ride the shuttle.
⭐ PARKING: There is NO PUBLIC EVENT PARKING, so drop-offs are highly recommended. There are a few accessible parking spaces available at the warehouse. FREE PARKING is available Saturdays and Sundays at the Fruitvale BART garage (3401 E. 12th St.), about a 10-15 MIN WALK TO THE SALE. *Park near the train tracks at your own risk, as police have been ticketing cars there recently.
⭐ FOOD: Coffee, hot dog and taco vendors are located outside of the sale. For nearby dine-in options, see below.
A LOVE LETTER TO ART RECOMMENDS
NEARBY DINING
*TIP: For sit-down dining, I recommend driving into Alameda (5-7 min away). The Bridgeside Shopping Center on Blanding and the Park Street area has several dining options, with my nearby faves below.
More nearby suggestions are always welcome. Feel free to add in the comments!
QUICK GUIDE: OAKLAND MUSEUM
⭐ OAKLAND MUSEUM HOURS: Open Wednesday–Sunday 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Thursday 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m (18+). CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
⭐ OAKLAND MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS:
- Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California (Nov 8, 2024–June 22, 2025)
- Ancestral Visions: An Installation by Chelsea Ryoko Wong (Feb 7, 2025–Feb 1, 2026)
- Black Power [Ongoing]
- Collecting a Moment [Ongoing]
- You Are Here: California Stories on the Map [Ongoing]
- OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace [Ongoing]
- FREE 1ST SUNDAYS (Next one is Sunday, March 2, 2025)
- Discover and Go (Free w/library card – may not apply to all counties)
- Museums for All $1 ADMISSION (No need to show ID/EBT card. Just say “Museums For All” at ticket counter.)
- Museums on Us (show your Bank of America/Merrill card/ID) on the FIRST weekend of month
- Blue Star Museum Discount (FREE Admission to U.S. military personnel and veterans plus up to 5 family members from the 3rd Sat in May until the 1st Monday in Sept.)
- $9 General Admission for individuals with disabilities.
- $3 General Admission for Alameda County Courthouse active jurors (show proof).
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Author: ALoveLettertoArt
