✨ January First Friday 2026 ✨
🗓️ Friday, January 2 📍 Benson Creative District
First Friday kicks off 2026 with art, music, and community across the Benson Creative District. Start the year strong by exploring exhibitions, meeting artists, and supporting the creative spaces that make Benson a one-of-a-kind destination.
🎯 2026 artist opportunities are now live 👉 bffomaha.org/artists
🎨 January First Friday poster by JP Gurnett @johnpaul_michael_g
🖼️ Posters sponsored by @blick_omaha
💖 Benson First Friday made possible thanks to: @mutualofomaha • @tedandwallys
✨ What’s Happening This First Friday ✨
🎉 Friend of BFF Happy Hour
📍 The Sydney | 5918 Maple St.
⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM
Friend of BFF Membership Drive
Get into the mix for 2026 and become a Friend of BFF this Friday.
✨ Revolution Clay Studio Takeover
📍 Ming Toy Gallery | 6066 Maple Street
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
Ming Toy Gallery kicks off January with a takeover by artists from Revolution Clay Studio.
Featuring work by Mari Dailey, Trevor Lare, and Micah Vogel.
✨ RAC Studio Artists
📍 Radial Arts Center | 5918 Maple St.
Featuring work by
Baylee Bennett • Nolan Bennett • Kimberly Glass • Sarah Craw
✨ Star Deli Featured Artist
📍 Star Deli | 6114 Military Ave
Featured Artist: Angelica Tapia
✨ 6007 Maple Street Open House
📍 6007 Maple Street
⏰ 4:00–8:00 PM
Available space for rent.
Imagine yourself in this Maple Street storefront and join the Benson creative community.
💖 BFF Omaha Galleries & Markets
BFF Omaha–operated galleries and markets are closed for January and will return with programming soon.
✨ Returning February First Friday with NEW exhibitions
💗 Petshop Gallery | 2725 N. 62nd St.
💗 BFF Gallery | 5901 Maple St.
💗 MaMO Gallery returns in April
✨ BFF Artist Market returns February–April
📍 Benson Theatre | 6054 Maple St.
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
💖 Friend of BFF Perks (January First Friday)
⭐ Alley Cat Vintage: 20% off purchase
⭐ Benson Brewery: Half off draft beer (3–6 PM)
⭐ Beercade: $1 off all drinks
⭐ Burke’s Pub: Buy one apple pie shot, get one for a penny (3–6 PM)
⭐ Burrito Envy: Free cinnamon crisp with purchase
⭐ Edge of the Universe: Free cookie with drink purchase
⭐ Jake’s Cigars: Half off sangria on tap
⭐ Kai Tei: Buy one, get one sake
⭐ Snowy Sundaes: $1 off any drink
⭐ St. Andrew’s: $1 off tap beers until 7 PM, $1 off sangria all night
⭐ Star Deli: 10% off purchase
⭐ Ted & Wally’s: Free scoop of ice cream
⭐ The Sydney: $1 off all drinks
👉 Become a Friend of BFF: bffomaha.org/friend
✨ Thank You to Our First Friday Sponsors ✨
Mutual of Omaha
Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium Homemade Ice Cream
💖 Friend of BFF Business Members
ASL Interpreting Services • Access Period • Blue Line Coffee • The Bay • Central Skate Shop • Dahlia House • FiberFirst • Gregg Grossman, Inc. • Heather Tedesco, Realtor (BHGRE) • Jake’s Cigars • Maven Social • Metropolitan Community College • Ming Toy Gallery • Nebraska AIDS Project • Omaha Roller Derby • RAIL + STEAM • Removery • SET the Bar • Shaheen’s Afghan Cuisine • Shipment Vintage • Slowdown • Snowy Sundaes • Star Deli • StudioDaze Omaha • Taco Co. • The Garage by the Grey House • The Sydney
💖 BFF Omaha | Building Community Through Arts Engagement
✨ WHAT TO EXPECT ✨
🎄 BFF Artist Market
📍 Benson Theatre – 6054 Maple St.
⏰ 6–9 PM
Celebrate the season at the BFF Holiday Artist Market! 🎁 Shop local, support Omaha artists, and find one-of-a-kind handmade gifts from your favorite makers, creators, and BFFs—all inside the beautifully festive Benson Theatre.
FRIEND OF BFF HAPPY HOUR
6:00 - 7:00
The Sydney
Celebrate the season of connection and community with a special First Friday Happy Hour at The Sydney!
Featuring a live performance by:
Lisa Bautista & Jason Domonkos
PLUS: You could win a FREE Friend of BFF Membership!
FIRST FRIDAY OPENING RECEPTIONS
C418 ALPHA presents new laser-cut paper works by Reagan D. Pufall, blending childhood landscapes, mythic imagination, and the Great Plains’ vastness into intricate cut-paper scenes framed in 3D prints
BFF Made a Maze
December 5 · 6-9pm
❤️ BFF Gallery (5901 Maple St.)
BFF Made a Maze is a community art project inspired by the movie Dave Made a Maze. Using absurdity and the power of some paint and hot glue to create a whimsical place where anything can happen.
Year of the Snake Invitational
📍 Ming Toy Gallery — 6066 Maple Street
🗓️ December 5–27
Friday, December 5 | 6–9 PM
The Year of the Snake Invitational explores the dual nature of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac—its wisdom, intuition, and charm balanced by secrecy and intensity. Artists interpret these traits through works reflecting intelligence, mystery, and transformation.
Live at The Bay at BCC
Omaha Girls Rock Showcase w/ The Cruel Idiots, Midusa, and The Agents of Apollo!
📍 Benson Community Center
🗓️ Friday, December 5
⏰ Doors 5:30 PM | Show 6–8 PM
🎟️ Free & All Ages
Live at The Bay is back on 12/5 for Benson First Friday! Pull up for an Omaha Girls Rock showcase featuring The Cruel Idiots, Midusa, and The Agents of Apollo. Doors at 5:30, show at 6. Free + all-ages!
Become a Friend of BFF and enjoy PERKS every First Friday!
Alley Cat Vintage: 20% off purchase
Benson Brewery: Half off draft beer (3-6 PM)
Beercade: $1 off all drinks
Burke’s Pub: Buy one apple pie shot, get another for a penny (3-6 PM)
Burrito Envy: Free cinnamon crisp with purchase
Central Skate Shop: 10% Off Purchase
Edge of the Universe: Free cookie with drink purchase
Jake's Cigars: Half off sangria on tap
Kai Tei: Buy one get one sake
Shaheen’s: 15% off any purchase
Snowy Sundaes: $1 off any drink
St. Andrew’s: $1 off tap beers until 7. $1 off Sangria all night
Star Deli: 10% off purchase
Ted & Wally's: Free scoop of ice cream
The Sydney: $1 off all drinks
Become a Friend of BFF HERE!
Thank You to Our First Friday Sponsors!
⭐ Ted & Wally's Ultra-Premium Homemade Ice Cream
Friend of BFF Business Members:
🔹 The Bay
🔹 Gregg Grossman, Inc.
🔹 Heather Tedesco, Realtor, BHGRE
🔹 Metropolitan Community College
🔹 Removery
🔹 Slowdown
🔹 Taco Co.
🔹 The Garage by the Grey House
BFF Omaha: Building Community Through Arts Engagement!