Upcoming Events


Cowboys, Wizards, and Vampires…Oh My!!
Dec
6

Cowboys, Wizards, and Vampires…Oh My!!

Cowboys, Wizards, and Vampires…Oh My!! is a group exhibition themed around archetypes curated by the Arts Management Mentees at The Joslyn’s Kent Bellows Mentoring Program. The theme was chosen by the mentees because of the vast way the term archetype can be interpreted. “We also really wanted to have a show with fun vampire fan art in order to fully appreciate the rich history of vampire folklore” - Ava, KBMP Mentee.

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December 6th First Friday
Dec
6
to Dec 7

December 6th First Friday

🎅🏻 Krampus Claws is Coming to Town! 🎅🏻

On Friday, December 1st, join us for the BAD KID SCAVENGER HUNT! Krampus is back and looking to round up the "Bad Kids of Benson." 🧸👀 “Bad Kid” dolls will be hidden throughout the neighborhood, and if you spot one, bring it to Petshop (2727 N. 62nd St) by 10 PM to claim a prize! 🎁

❄️ Winter Coat & Food Drive for Project Hope ❄️

Spread the love this season by participating in our Winter Clothing & Food Drive! We’re thrilled to partner with Project Hope to help our community stay warm and fed this winter. 🧥🍽️

📅 When: Now through First Friday, December 6th
📍 Drop Locations:

  • Petshop Gallery

  • Trudy's

  • Star Deli

  • Sydney

Items of Need Include:

  • Food: Cereal, canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, cooking oil, coffee, and more!

  • Household and Personal Care Items: Dish soap, laundry soap, hand sanitizer, shampoo, deodorant, and more!

  • Baby and Paper Products: Diapers, wipes, toilet paper, and facial tissues

  • Clothing: Winter coats and clothing for all ages

All donations will be delivered to Project Hope on December 10th. 

🎨 DIY Snowglobe Workshop at Trudy’s 🎨

Round off our holiday events with some hands-on fun at our DIY Snowglobe Workshop!

📅 Date: Friday, December 6th
📍 Location: Trudy’s, 2814 N 60th Street
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Come create your own winter wonderland in a jar! This workshop is open to all ages and all supplies are provided ❄️✨

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BFF Ball and Art Auction
Nov
8

BFF Ball and Art Auction

Feel your faux fur fantasy at BFF's fiercest fete yet! The BFF FUR Ball and Art Auction! Located at BFF Gallery and the Mercer Masonic Lodge (5901-5903 Maple Street) and you’re invited!

Featuring live music from the genre blending trio Parfait; The FUR Ball and Art Auction will be a night of fun, dancing, performances, and crowning of the 2025 BFF Royalty!

Featuring: FREE Food, FREE Drinks, Special Performances, photo-ops, and more!

The 2024 BFF Ball - The FUR Ball and Art Auction is brought to you thanks to our partners Benson Brewery and the Nebraska Arts Council.

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Mystery MaMO
Nov
1

Mystery MaMO

The Mystery MaMO invites viewers into an immersive installation that blurs the lines between reality and the spectral, transforming the concept of a haunted house into a captivating exploration of memory and fear. Through a provocative interplay of life and death, the space evokes a sense of discombobulation and unease, inviting participants to navigate through rooms laden with spooky artifacts that echo the ghosts of the season. This evocative journey engages the senses and prompts a deeper reflection on the narratives that haunt our collective consciousness.

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BFF Auction Preview Night
Nov
1

BFF Auction Preview Night

BFF Auction Preview Night!

First Friday November 1st

6:00 - 9:00PM

BFF Gallery (5901 Maple St)

Check out the artwork featured in the 2024 BFF Fur Ball and Art Auction before anyone else this November First Friday! Browse the work of over 75 artists, and if you love it, buy it now!

Need a little more time to think about it? Come back November 8th and place your bids during the 2024 Fur Ball and Art Auction!

Tickets for the Ball and Art Auction are available now at bffomaha.org/ball

psssst... tickets are FREE for Friends of BFF! Become a Friend today at bffomaha.org/friend

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November 1st First Friday
Nov
1
to Nov 2

November 1st First Friday

Never fear! November First Friday is here!
Keep the Halloween spirit alive and wear those costumes out to First Friday! Thrills and chills await you in the Benson Creative District!

2024 BFF Art Auction Preview at The BFF Gallery
Check out the artwork featured in the 2024 BFF Fur Ball and Art Auction before anyone else this November First Friday! Browse the work of over 75 artists, and if you love it, buy it now!
Need a little more time to think about it? Come back November 8th and place your bids during the 2024 Fur Ball and Art Auction!

Tickets for the Ball and Art Auction are available now at bffomaha.org/ball

Día de Muertos Celebration: Equal Before Life and Death at Trudy’s

Equal Before Life and Death, a Día de Muertos celebration that blends global traditions and reflections on life, death, and equality. Experience an evening of live music, visual art, and performances inspired by mythological figures like La Catrina, the Grim Reaper, and more.

We invite you to bring photos of your loved ones who have passed to the next realm and place them on the ofrenda, honoring their memory in the traditional way.

The Mystery MaMO Haunted House

The Mystery MaMO invites viewers into an immersive installation that blurs the lines between reality and the spectral, transforming the concept of a haunted house into a captivating exploration of memory and fear. Through a provocative interplay of life and death, the space evokes a sense of discombobulation and unease, inviting participants to navigate through rooms laden with spooky artifacts that echo the ghosts of the season. This evocative journey engages the senses and prompts a deeper reflection on the narratives that haunt our collective consciousness.

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Out in the Park
Oct
13

Out in the Park

Out in the Park:
Celebrating Queer History and Community! 

Join us on Sunday October 13th at Elmwood Park for a day dedicated to preserving and celebrating queer history! Help us contribute to the Queer History Mapping Project, share your stories, and explore our community’s heritage. Enjoy drag performances, live entertainment, and connect with local partners while you picnic in the park! This is an all-ages event, so bring your friends, family, and pride! 

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co-motion commotion // Madeleine LeMieux
Oct
4

co-motion commotion // Madeleine LeMieux

co-motion commotion
Madeleine LeMieux
First Friday October 4th
7:00 - 10:00PM
Petshop Gallery

co-motion commotion is a state of excited movement, of mental stimulation and confusion, and of resistance. Three bodies of work come together through materially rich and visually dense works which aim to explore alternative understandings of the home, the family, and sexuality.

LeMieux is a mixed media artist focusing on painting, drawing, fibers, photography, and assemblage. Her work explores themes of feminist identity using the body as primary subject matter. She is interested in the overlapping space between embodied experience and the public expression and consumption of the body through technology.

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October 4th First Friday
Oct
4
to Oct 5

October 4th First Friday

🎃 Oh My Gourd?! It’s First Friday! 🎃

Don't let October catch you off guard! Here's what's in store for this First Friday in the Benson Creative District

🌟 Friend of BFF Membership Drive

There’s no better BFF than a Friend of BFF! Join us at the Friend of BFF Happy Hour at The Sydney and make it official! Sign up in person and score FREE BFF swag! Plus, enjoy exclusive First Friday PERKS and snag FREE tickets to the 2024 BFF Fur Ball and Art Auction! 🎟️

🎶 Omaha Symphony at the BFF Artist Market

The Omaha Symphony Ensemble will be playing a FREE concert outside the BFF Artist Market! Join the serenade at 8 PM outside Mercer Masonic Temple. 🎻✨

👩‍🎨 Trudy at Trudy’s!

Come meet the namesake, Trudy Swanson, at Trudy’s for a FREE clay workshop! Learn something new every First Friday with these creative workshops! 🏺✨

🗳️ Get Out the Vote!

Election day is November 5th—are you registered? Don’t worry, you’ll see reminders all around First Friday. Make your plan to vote today! ✅

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Remnants of the Past
Sep
6

Remnants of the Past

Artist Amelia Broussard has spent the past month at the Genealogy and Local History Room illustrating your family stories through art! In a series of collage workshops, Amelia invited the community to create art incorporating elements of their family history.

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FERAL FRIENDS
Sep
6

FERAL FRIENDS

"Feral Friends," curated by Kim Darling and Alex Jochim at Omaha's fabulous Petshop Gallery, showcases works by over 40 national and international artists and explores the untamed bonds connecting us to the wild world, focusing on the feral nature of dogs.

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Synthetic Synesthesia
Sep
6

Synthetic Synesthesia

Step into a world where art transcends the visual and evokes the senses in unexpected ways. Synthetic Synesthesia brings together the work of 11 local artists inspired by the nostalgic magic of scratch 'n' sniff stickers.

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September 6th FURst Friday
Sep
6
to Sep 7

September 6th FURst Friday

𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬
Benson has gone to the dogs! This FURst Friday, we're celebrating our Best Furry Friends with The Byrd Bath! Bring your best pooch down to the Benson Creative District for a doggie day out!

Pop-up Dog Park with Beer Paws

Benson Pet Parade: Meet at 7:20 PM outside the Benson Community Center; depart at 7:30 PM

Feral Friends opening reception at PETSHOP with Muddy Paws Rescue

FURst Friday at Nebraska AIDS Project with pet treats and bandana decorating
Featured pet-friendly establishments on the First Friday map

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PETFEST 2024
Aug
17
to Aug 18

PETFEST 2024

PETFEST is BFF Omaha's annual music & art festival on August 17th at Petshop Gallery (2725-2729 N. 62nd St). Featuring 20+ musicians, bands, and performers, PETFEST is Omaha's most original music festival experience!

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Have We Met Before? // Mimi Yu
Aug
2

Have We Met Before? // Mimi Yu

Have We Met Before? // Mimi Yu

Opening Reception

First Friday August 2nd

7:00 - 10:00PM

PETSHOP Gallery

2725 N. 62nd St.

Will we meet again? Mimi Yu invites viewers into an exploration of sentimentality and melancholy through her latest series of cross-disciplinary art. Inspired by the subtle interplay between the desperation of recollecting memories and acceptance, this body of work captures moments of intimacy, offering an introspection into how people try to remember friends and loved ones.

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Madonnari Street Mural Workshop
Aug
2

Madonnari Street Mural Workshop

This year, the New American Arts Festival proudly presents the Madonnari Street Mural & Workshop in the heart of Benson. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to participate in a vibrant tradition that blends contemporary artistry with rich historical roots.

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