April is full of fun on the island
There’s something special about April in Alameda. Little League players and fans are filling up local parks, the flowers are blooming, and long summer days are on the horizon. This weekend, check out the For the Love of the Cake [1] fundraiser at the Elks Lodge, the new Alameda on Camera [2] gallery and reception at Frank Bette, STEM Day [3] aboard the USS Hornet, and Alameda Soul Club’s Vinyl 60s Dance Party [4] at The Fireside Lounge.
This author is headed out of town soon for a personal spring break, so I’ve included a list of exciting events throughout the rest of month. Snag your ticket for a crawfish boil at Humble Sea [5] before they sell out, lace up your shoes for the first Alameda Post History Walking Tours [6] of 2026, celebrate Earth Day at the annual Alameda Spring Shindig [7], and more. Be sure to check out our free, self-service Community Events Calendar [8]—and add your own events, too!
[9]
For the Love of the Cake
Saturday, April 11
If you’ve been salivating over viral videos of huge cake parties, you’re in luck this weekend. The Alameda Elks Lodge No. 1015, 2255 Santa Clara Avenue, is hosting For the Love of the Cake [1], a sweet new fundraiser, on Saturday, April 11. Check-in begins at 11 a.m., and you don’t want to be late.
Each ticket holder is required to bring a cake and a cake server. The cakes can be store-bought or homemade, but they must be cakes—not pies, cupcakes, or other desserts. All of the beautiful cakes will be spread out like a giant sugary feast, and then the fun begins.
Attendees will receive wristbands and will be organized by group number. Once your group is called, you’ll have just two or three minutes to pick out your cake slices. There will be three rounds of cake selections, and the final round is a 10-minute “thunderdome” round free-for-all.
Tickets are $25 per person, and must be purchased online in advance [10]. Please read all of the rules and instructions [1] thoroughly. Proceeds benefit the Alameda Elks Lodge’s Local Charities Fund, which supports charities in Alameda, Oakland, and Emeryville. Learn more about the Elks philanthropy online [11].
[12]Alameda on Camera Reception
Saturday, April 11
Local photographers have been hard at work capturing images of our island, and their works are now open to the public. Check out the opening reception of the 20th annual Alameda on Camera [2]exhibit at Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street, on Saturday, April 11 from 3 until 5 p.m.
Alameda on Camera is an annual, juried event with a fun twist. The chosen photo-based artists are assigned a section of Alameda and are allowed just 48 hours to get the perfect shot. Artists display their works in creative ways with a wide variety of mediums. Check out the 2025 gallery [13] to see what last year’s participants dreamed up.
If you can’t stop by this weekend, don’t fret. You can still catch Alameda on Camera until May 30. Frank Bette Center for the Arts is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
[14]
USS Hornet STEM Day
Sunday, April 12
If NASA’s latest Artemis II launch has your kids looking toward the moon and stars, don’t miss the USS Hornet’s STEM Day [3] on Sunday, April 12, at 707 West Hornet Avenue. The event is free for Alameda youths, and the museum has planned a full day of activities, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Interactive, drop-in stations will be available all day for curious learners. Attendees are invited to design and test catapults, program robots, learn about fluid mechanics, explore air pressure mechanics, and more. In addition to these all-day activities, participants are invited to pre-register [15] for a number of special presentations from Morse code and cryptography lessons, to hydraulic and pneumatic systems demonstrations.
Adult admission is $25, Alameda youths under 18 get in for free with proof of residency, and children under 6 are always free. Thanks to Museums for All [16], guests who receive SNAP benefits are eligible for a reduced admission cost of $2. Please bring your EBT card to present to the Admissions Desk if you would like to receive this reduced rate. See the USS Hornet website [17] for more information on admission.
[18]Alameda Soul Club
Sunday, April 12
An exciting new dance club is gaining momentum in Alameda, and you’re invited to join the fun. The Alameda Soul Club is moovin’ and groovin’ at their Vinyl 60s Dance Party [4] on Sunday, April 12 from noon until 6 p.m. at The Fireside Lounge, 1453 Webster Street. This 21+ event has no cover charge.
The afternoon begins with a group dance lesson at noon. You don’t need to learn the moves perfectly, and you’re welcome to add your own flair. The event celebrates “Northern Soul [19],” a dance style born on UK dancefloors in the 1970s. You’ll hear Motown and soul music straight from vinyl, spun by a rotating panel of DJs.
The Sunday afternoon timeslot was chosen intentionally so that attendees can dance their heart out and still wake up refreshed on Monday morning. “We encourage new folks to come to our events. We want this to grow,” founder Lisa Ferguson told the Alameda Post. The Club threw their first bash at Forbidden Island in October 2025, and they’ve already outgrown that dance floor. By October 2027, the Club aims to host a three-day “weekender” dance convention in Alameda, complete with record swaps, meet-ups, and more.
Keep an eye on the Alameda Soul Club’s website [20], Facebook [21], and Instagram [22] for upcoming monthly events and Club news.
[23]Save the Date
Spring is in full swing, and Alameda’s social calendar is packed! Be sure to check out the fantastic local events that the island has to offer [8] in the upcoming weeks. Take a sneak peek, grab your tickets, and mark your calendar:
- Alameda Point Night Market [25] | Friday, April 17: Celebrate Malaya Botanical’s seventh anniversary with local makers, food, drinks, live performances, and more.
- Flight Lessons: A Folk Opera by Deborah Crooks [26] | Friday, April 17: Catch a one-night-only performance at Rhythmix Cultural Works inspired by the peregrine falcons on the Fruitvale Bridge.
- Alameda Spring Shindig [7] | Saturday, April 18: Don’t miss the City’s annual free, family-friendly celebration of Earth Day at Alameda Point Gymnasium.
- She Shreds Women’s Music Festival [27] | Saturday, April 18: Stop by Webster Park for a free, all ages music festival featuring all women artists.
- A Grand Night for Singing [28] | Saturday, April 18: Alameda Sings! presents their free spring concert at the Veteran’s Memorial Building
- “The Boil” at Humble Sea Brewing [5] | Sunday, April 19: Reserve your plate in advance for a crawfish feast, all the fixings, and a playlist that will transport you to New Orleans.
- Alameda Post History Walking Tours [6] | Saturday, April 18, Sunday, April 19, Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26: They’re finally back! Join award-winning historian Dennis Evanosky for the first tours of the season highlighting Alameda’s founders and Park Street’s humble beginnings.
- “Ocean Photographer of the Year” U.S. Premier Gala [29] at Hangar 41 | Friday, April 24: Kick off the much-anticipated art exhibition in style with a gala, or stop by the exhibit during select weekend hours [30] through May 17. Check out the West End Arts District website [30] for special events throughout the exhibit.
- Spring Art Boutique at Mastick Senior Center [31] | Saturday, April 25: “Discover one-of-a-kind handmade creations by Mastick members including paintings, ceramics, stained glass, weaving, pots, needlecrafts, jewelry, honey, soaps, scones, chocolates, decorations, pet items, and more!”
Amanda Laird is the Content Manager and Events Editor of the Alameda Post [32]. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Amanda-Laird [33]. Reach her at [email protected] [34].