OCTOBER FIRST FRIDAY: HANDMADE PARADE
🗓️ Friday, October 3 | 📍 Benson Creative District
🎭 This month BFF Omaha and Giant Joy Collective are taking art to the streets with the first annual Handmade Parade! Giant puppets, DIY floats, costumes, and community creations will fill Benson with color and energy. Join neighbors, families, and artists as we celebrate our theme: UNITY THROUGH CREATIVITY.
🎨 October’s First Friday poster by Oria Simonini @oriasimonini
🎉 Handmade Parade 2025: Unity Through Creativity 🎉
📅 Friday, October 3 | 📍 Benson Creative District
🖌️ Pre-Parade Fun (Free & Family-Friendly!)
📍 Rosehill Elementary Blacktop | 4–6 PM
✨ Creation Station – Mask & prop making
✨ Collaborative Faces Mural – Add your mark
✨ Face Painting – by Liudmyla Levinson
📍 Benson Community Center | 1–3 PM
✨ Schools Out Craft Day – kid-friendly DIY projects
🎭 Handmade Parade
📍 Rosehill Elementary | Lineup 6 PM | Parade Start 6:30 PM
Neighbors, artists, and organizations bring UNITY THROUGH CREATIVITY to life with puppets, costumes, floats, and people-powered magic!
🎶 Post-Parade Party
📍 Petshop Gallery & Backlot | 7:30–10 PM
🎵 The Cruel Idiots (7:00)
🎵 Root (7:30)
🎵 Hair Person (8:00)
🎵 The Mercurys (8:30)
Puppet theatre, skateboarding, face painting, library fun, DIY junk wall, photo ops & more along 62nd Street!
🌟 Get Involved
Everyone’s invited to march, build, perform, or cheer from the sidelines.
🙏 The first annual Handmade Parade is made possible thanks to the support of Dundee Bank, WP Engine, Rose Hill PTO, Montessori Co-Op School, Central Skate Shop, Park Omaha, The Nebraska Arts Council and Cultural Endowment.
👉 Learn more & sign up: bffomaha.org/parade
The Race for People Who Hate Running
🏃♂️ Benson Bolt .5k
🗓️ Friday Oct 3
📍 Starts at 6 PM at St. Andrews Pub (6102 Maple St.) | Check-in 5 PM
Why run 26 miles when you can stumble just .31? The Benson Bolt kicks off with a shot at St. Andrews, detours to The Sydney for round two, then wraps up right in time to join the Handmade Parade. Costumes? Highly encouraged. 🎭
🎟️ Your registration includes:
• Benson Bolt bandana
• .5k decal
• 2 shots for the run
Best part? Proceeds support The Deck Exchange, a new Central Skateshop program giving local youth free skate decks for crushing it in school. 🛹
✨ Spots are limited—register today!
👉 Sign up here
FIRST FRIDAY OPENING RECEPTIONS
🚦Amoral City Folk
📍 Petshop Gallery
🗓 September 5 | 6–10 PM
Three New York City artists bring new work to Omaha.
Breathing Occupation
📍 MaMO Gallery - 2725 N. 62nd St
🗓 October 3 | 6–10 PM
A vignette into the West Bank, Gaza, and the Palestinian diaspora in Omaha.
NATA Educator Art Show
📍 MaMO Gallery - 2725 N. 62nd St
🗓 October 3 | 6–10 PM
Nebraska Art Teachers Association (NATA) annual educator art show — curated by Bart Vargas. On display through October 18.
FACES | Danielle Emsick
📍 Ming Toy - 6066 Maple St.
🗓 October 3 | 6–9 PM
Danielle Emsick, a breast cancer survivor, presents Faces, a body of work born from her diagnosis in 2018. Using unconventional tools and bold techniques, her art reflects resilience, creativity, and transformation.
“There's More To See” — Baylee Bennett
📍Radial Arts Center 5915 Maple St
🗓 October 3 | 6–9 PM
Explore everyday objects and interiors, where repetition and observation give ordinary items new presence and personality.
Off Shift
📍 Star Deli Gallery (6114 Military Ave)
🗓 October 3 | 5 PM
Joslyn Staff Group Show curated by Justin Holman
📍 Nebraska AIDS Project (6220 Maple St)
🍂 5:00–6:30 PM — Carve Out Hope Pumpkin carving & decorating (free!)
🌙 8:00–10:00 PM — KINKTOBER (19+) Spooktacular Performances $5 suggested donation
MORE FIRST FRIDAY FUN!
❤️ Benson Brewery (6059 Maple St.) Window Display: Connor Brandt
❤️ Burke's Pub (6117 Maple St.) Window Display: Chester Wer
❤️ Eleven Eleven (6061 Maple St.) Featured Artist:
❤️ Five Nine (6105 Maple St.)
❤️ Jake's Cigars (6206 Maple St.) Featured Artist: Chloe Hoffschneider
❤️ Reverb Lounge (6121 Military Ave)
❤️ Super Groovy’s (6003 Maple St.) Featured Artist: Off Primary
❤️ Shakedown Street Tavern (2735 N. 62nd St) CTRL+ALT+DEL
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
🔹 Slowdown
🔹 Taco Co.
🔹 The Garage by the Grey House
BFF Omaha: Building Community Through Arts Engagement!