August 1st First Friday + New American Arts Festival!
Schedule
Fri, 01 Aug, 2025 at 05:00 pm to Sat, 02 Aug, 2025 at 02:00 am
Location
Downtown Benson | Omaha, NE
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? August First Friday + New American Arts Festival? Benson Creative District
?️ Friday, August 1 | ⏰ 5–2 AM
? FREE & Open to All
BFF Omaha’s August First Friday celebrates art, culture, and community with the return of the New American Arts Festival (NAAF) — a vibrant evening spotlighting Omaha’s immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities through bold visual art, live music, and global flavor.
? NAAF supported by: soundarte.net + CIRA: Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement
? UNLEASHED Vol. 3 – Summer Concert Series (NAAF)
? Behind Petshop (2725 N. 62nd St.)
? 7–10 PM – FREE
A powerful outdoor showcase of immigrant & refugee musicians:
Los Estereotips, Loss Benky’s, Sapphire, Sanjana Jayanti, AIFS Youth Drumming Circle
?️ BFF Summer Artist Market – Penultimate Edition!
75+ vendors, handmade goods, DJs, and family-friendly fun.
? Featuring the Madonnari Chalk Mural by Rosa Chaidez Nelson (Military Ave) – a live street art experience you won’t want to miss!
?? Youth Artist Market @ Benson Community Center
? 6008 Maple St. | ⏰ 6–8 PM
A special youth-led market in collaboration with The Bay, powered by the Omaha Community Foundation and Omaha Parks and Recreation. Come support the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs!
? Tilt23 Showcase @ Ted & Wally’s (6023 Maple St.)
Live music by Blackbird Rock Co., AIFS Youth Drummers, Pablo Arza
? Friends of BFF get a FREE ice cream scoop!
?️ Exhibitions + Gallery Highlights
? Petshop (2727 N. 62nd St.)
Yuanjun Chen – Most of My Works To-Date
Film photography and projected works from Omaha to Guangzhou.
? MaMO (2725 N. 62nd St.)
Margarita Velazquez – Always Shining: Beauty in the Grit
Sculpture inspired by labor, resilience, and her family’s carwash.
? BFF Gallery (5901 Maple St.)
Russ Oberg – JEONG
Korean-inspired works exploring connection and quiet care.
? Ming Toy Gallery (6066 Maple St.)
Alyssa Schmitt – Coping
Sketches + Cloud Gazing installation: an immersive alleyway canopy.
? CHOICE (5905 Maple St.)
C. Fisher – Peas in My Wetsuit
Raw, provocative artwork from Pennsylvania.
? Nebraska Skateboarding Archive – 1 Year Anniversary
? Central Skate Shop (2905 N. 59th St.)
? 5–10 PM
Celebrate local skate history with videos, giveaways & a mystery release.
? Conor Oberst Lookalike Contest
? Floors, Floors, Floors (7052 Maple St.)
Dress as your favorite Conor era and compete for ultimate elder emo glory.
? Friend of BFF Happy Hour @ The Sydney
? 6–7 PM – Featuring Omnipleasures
See full map + schedule at: bffomaha.org
BFF Omaha: Building Community Through Arts Engagement!
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Where is it happening?
Downtown Benson, 6204 Maple St, Omaha, NE 68104-4000, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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