May 2nd First Friday!
The FIRST of FIVE MONTHS OF SUMMER ARTIST MARKET FUN is HERE — and the Benson Creative District is blooming with creativity, connection, and live energy!
From art markets and gallery shows to open studios and street music, there’s something for everyone this First Friday.
Support free, public arts programming all year long — become a Friend of BFF at bffomaha.org/friend!
𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗧: WILLOW STARGIRL!!!
Poster sponsored by BLICK — stock up on supplies and thank them for supporting local art!:
THE RETURN OF THE BFF SUMMER ARTIST MARKETS!!
🛍️ ☀️ BFF SUMMER ARTIST MARKET ☀️
It’s the official kickoff to summer in Benson — and this year’s Artist Market is our biggest yet! 🎉
Join us for an open-air celebration featuring more than 75 vendors and community partners across two full blocks, filled with handmade goods, zines, prints, jewelry, live music, and community-powered joy.
🧡 NORTH MARKET – Military Ave (between Maple & Binney)
🎨 Featuring: Live Art by Joy Cotton + Music by DJ B
💙 SOUTH MARKET – 62nd St (between Maple & Miami)
PETSHOP: UNLEASHED - VOLUME 1
We’re feelin’ Brand New and ready to get MAD!
Petshop: UNLEASHED Volume 1 drops First Friday May 2 with Mad Darling!
Plus special guests Dos Mundos and Maddy and Sarah!
Live in the Petshop backlot during the BFF Artist Market at 62nd & Maple!
6–10 PM | FREE | All Ages
Plus—get a sneak peek at our new green space project blooming behind Petshop!
Let’s UNLEASH it!!!
Supported in part by the Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraska Cultural Endowment
🎉 MORE ON-STREET HAPPENINGS! 🎉
🎙 Tilt23 Showcase @ Ted & Wally’s (6023 Maple St.)
Live performances from Ogi Kidd, Aqu, and Zaiyon
A genre-blending, high-energy showcase from emerging local artists curated by Tilt23.
🎤 Crooner’s Corner: Soul Flow
📍 Omaha Mobile Stage (61st & Maple)
🕛 6–9 PM
Presented by CCVisions & Jus.Bmusic — featuring smooth soul and R&B from Corbin, Jordan, and Denzell, hosted by Lyriq Lashay.
FIRST FRIDAY OPENING RECEPTIONS
🍬 Bittersweet / BFF Crew Exhibition
📍 Petshop (2727 N. 62nd St)
🕛 6–10 PM
Bittersweet brings together work from BFF Omaha’s staff, board, and collaborators to explore eroticism as both personal expression and cultural commentary. Through painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, the exhibition reflects on intimacy, identity, desire, and the ways bodies are shaped by — and resist — societal norms.
🧭 Unfolding Voices
📍 BFF Gallery (5901 Maple St.)
🕛 6–9 PM
Created by seniors through the Nebraska Arts Council’s Creative Aging Arts Program, led by Kim Darling. A celebration of storytelling and imagination at every stage of life.
🌿 Garbage Gardens | Shya Thayer
📍 MaMO Gallery (2725 N. 62nd St)
🕛 6–9 PM
An interactive installation made from found objects — reflecting on sustainability, food, and creative reuse.
🪐 Alternate Plains | Nolan Tredway
📍Ming Toy Gallery (6066 Maple St.)
🕛 6–9 PM
Nolan Tredway presents a speculative and surreal vision of the Great Plains, blending history, naturalism, science fiction, and cryptid folklore to reimagine wide open landscapes as sites of magic, mystery, and possibility.
📝 Annual Art Expo & Benefit + Omaha Post-it Show
📍 Radial Arts Center
🕛 6–9 PM
Celebrate local creativity at Radial’s Annual Art Expo & Benefit, featuring the beloved Omaha Post-it Show — a massive display of original 3x3” artworks priced at just $25 each. Proceeds support artists and Radial’s community-focused arts programming.
🏠 TRUDY’S - STUDIOS + EDUCATION
📍 6108 Maple St.
🕛 6 - 9PM
Explore the intersection of art, healing, and creative practice in one of Benson’s newest creative hubs.
🧠 Patient: Anonymous / DOB: Unknown
An exhibit honoring Mental Health Awareness Month — featuring artwork created by patients in inpatient care.
🖨 Free Printmaking Workshop w/ Jesse Fisher | 6–8 PM
Drop-in printmaking for all ages and experience levels — all materials provided!
🎨 Open Artist Studios: Mood Studios, No Hand Outs Clothing, 2neuro Grotto, and Authento Creative
❤️ A Taste of New Orleans (6023 Maple St.)
❤️ Alley Cat Vintage (6132 Military Ave.)
❤️ Au Courant (6064 Maple St.)
❤️ B5 Brewing Company (6115 Maple St.)
❤️ BFF Gallery (5901 Maple St.)
❤️ Beercade (6104 Maple St.)
❤️ Benson Brewery (6059 Maple St.)
❤️ Benson Community Center (6008 Maple St.)
❤️ Benson Theatre (6054 Maple St.)
❤️ Board and Brush (6016 Maple St.)
❤️ Burke's Pub (6117 Maple St.)
❤️ Burrito Envy (6113 Maple St.)
❤️ Bärchen Beer Garden (6209 Maple St.)
❤️ Centre for Useless Splendour (6916 Maple St.)
❤️ Ceremony (6107 Maple St.)
❤️ Chingon (6207 Maple St.)
❤️ Choice Gallery (5905 Maple St.)
❤️ Collectives Corner (7008 Maple St.)
❤️ Dundee Bank (5015 Underwood Ave.)
❤️ Dungeon Crate (6404 Maple St.)
❤️ Edge of the Universe (6070 Maple St.)
❤️ Eleven Eleven (6061 Maple St.)
❤️ Five Nine (6105 Maple St.)
❤️ Floors! Floors! Floors! (7052 Maple St.)
❤️ Found Vintage (6022 Maple St.)
❤️ Haney Shoes (6060 Maple St.)
❤️ Hardy Coffee Co. (6051 Maple St.)
❤️ Ika Ramen (6109 Maple St.)
❤️ Jake's Cigars (6206 Maple St.)
❤️ JoJo’s Diner (6118 Military Ave.)
❤️ Kai Tei (6109 ⅓ Maple St.)
❤️ Krug Park (6205 Maple St.)
❤️ Legend Comics & Coffee (6068 Maple St.)
❤️ Lover Luxuries (6065 Maple St.)
❤️ MaMO Gallery (South lot of Petshop)
❤️ Mantra (6913 Maple St.)
❤️ Maple St. Construct (5912 Maple St.)
❤️ Ming Toy Gallery (6066 Maple St.)
❤️ Musette (6020 Maple St.)
❤️ Nebraska AIDS Project (6220 Maple St.)
❤️ Needles and Ink (6110 Maple St.)
❤️ Omaha Public Library (6015 Binney St.)
❤️ Petshop Gallery (2727 N. 62nd St.)
❤️ Radial Arts Center (5915 Maple St.)
❤️ Rail + Steam (6013 Maple St.)
❤️ REVERB (6121 Military Ave.)
❤️ Ruby’s Place (5913 Maple St.)
❤️ Sailor’s Grave (6208 Maple St.)
❤️ Shaheen's Afghan Cuisine (6121 Maple St.)
❤️ Shakedown Street Tavern (2735 N. 62nd St.)
❤️ Snowy Sundaes (6015 Maple St.)
❤️ Soundarte.net Studio (Inside Petshop - 2729 N. 62nd St.)
❤️ St. Andrew’s (6102 Maple St.)
❤️ Star Deli (6114 Military Ave.)
❤️ StudioDaze (6601 Maple St.)
❤️ Super Groovy’s (6011 Maple St.)
❤️ Taco Co. (6108 Maple St.)
❤️ Ted & Wally's (6023 Maple St.)
❤️ The Byrd Bath (6124 Military Ave.)
❤️ The Sydney (5918 Maple St.)
❤️ The Tenant (6201 Maple St.)
❤️ The Waiting Room Lounge (6212 Maple St.)
❤️ Tip Top Thrift Shop (5910 Maple St.)
❤️ Trudy's (2814 N. 60th St.)
❤️ Veg.Edible (2740 N. 61st St.)
❤️ Virtuoso Pizzeria by David Losole (6056 Maple St.)
❤️ Word Play Gallery (5917 Maple St.)
❤️ Yoshitomo (6011 Maple St.)
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
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
Veg.Edible: Free Cookie
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:
🔹 Gregg Grossman, Inc.
🔹 Heather Tedesco, Realtor, BHGRE
🔹 Metropolitan Community College
🔹 Taco Co.
🔹 The Garage by the Grey House
BFF Omaha: Building Community Through Arts Engagement!