Children’s Fairyland turns 75 and is celebrating with an exhibit at OMCA

Some of the historical items on display from Randal Metz personal collection. Credit: Azucena Rasilla

​In a heartfelt tribute to one of Oakland's most cherished landmarks, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) has unveiled Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic, an exhibit celebrating the 75th anniversary of Children’s Fairyland. The display, nestled near the museum’s Natural Sciences Gallery, features handcrafted miniatures by Bay Area artists, vintage memorabilia, and rare artifacts from longtime puppet theater director Randal Metz’s personal collection. The exhibit offers visitors a nostalgic journey through the park’s whimsical history and its enduring role in Oakland’s cultural landscape.

The collaboration between Fairyland and OMCA was sparked by a conversation over lunch between Fairyland Executive Director Kymberly Miller and OMCA Executive Director Lori Fogarty. Fogarty, a 2016 East Bay Fellow with the LeaderSpring Center, emphasized the strength of Oakland's cultural community, noting, “One of the things that is really unique about Oakland is that there’s such a strong cultural ecology here that immediately people were reaching out to figure out ways of working together.”

The exhibit is part of OMCA’s broader efforts to engage the community through collaborative storytelling and shared history. Visitors can experience the exhibit during the museum’s popular Friday Nights events, which feature live music, food trucks, and after-hours access to galleries.

Learn more about OMCA: https://museumca.org/