Grow Omaha
Arts & Culture

Le French Jam will be presented at the Candlelight Bar & Grill at 5031 Grover Street on Sunday, May 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. Le French Jam is a showcase of French-themed music and entertainment presented in an informal cabaret style as a nod to the theatrical entertainment that was popular in small Parisian bars and nightclubs in 19th century France. It mixes music, song, dance and comedy while audiences are eating and drinking. Sponsored by and performed by members of the Alliance Française Omaha and Café et Conversation. Admission is free, but reservations are requested. Visit their website for more information.

The Durham Museum will offer “Happily Ever After Hours: $5 After 5,” a special-admission event every Tuesday evening starting June 2nd through August. The Durham will have $5 admissions after 5 p.m., with visiting hours extending until 8 p.m. This special event gives visitors the opportunity to explore the entire museum including the summer exhibition Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume.

It offers a fun and affordable option for family outings, date nights or an evening at the museum after work. Museum members can also bring an additional guest for just $5 on Tuesday evenings. Admission for children age 2 and younger remains free.

The Waiting Room Lounge will present Artikal Sound System with Josh Heinrichs on Tuesday, June 16 at 8 p.m. Artikal Sound System is a reggae band based out of South Florida which formed in 2012. After nearly a decade of playing together, the band honed their tune backing a series of Caribbean singers, creating the sound of friendship, hard work, imagination and the hope to spread their message of love, as well as the importance of having a good time. Heinrichs is another acclaimed reggae artist, originally the lead singer of the indie reggae band, Jah Roots, now current owner/operator of indie reggae record label, GanJah Records. Doors open at 7 p.m. Visit their website for tickets.

Omaha Performing Arts will present the musical Wicked at the Orpheum Theater June 17th through July 5th. This Broadway smash hit musical based on The Wizard of Oz takes place before Dorothy – when a young, misunderstood woman born with green skin named Elphaba meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular named Glinda. Their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” Experience the wondrous songs and set live on stage this summer. Visit HERE for tickets.

Omaha Performing Arts has also announced that Sonic LIVE In Concert will be coming to the Orpheum Theater October 15 as part of their world tour. The iconic video game title character, Sonic the Hedgehog, celebrates 35 years of Sonic games with the recently announced world concert tour by SEGA. With singers and a rock band performing live music in sync with in-game footage displayed, it’s a performance for both longtime and new fans. Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 28 at 10 a.m.

The Omaha Symphony and the Texas Tenors will perform at the Holland Center May 23 at 7:30 p.m., and May 24 at 2 p.m. Conductor Ernest Richardson and these artists will blend country, classical, Broadway and pop music, all with breathtaking vocals, humor and cowboy charm. Since appearing on America’s Got Talent in 2009, the Texas Tenors released five albums, two PBS specials, four DVDs and multiple singles that have earned them three Emmy Awards, multiple #1 debut albums on the Billboard Charts and an induction into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022. Visit here for tickets.

Taste of Omaha is coming to Heartland of America Park May 29 through May 31 starting at 5 p.m. Friday. Celebrating its 29th year, Taste of Omaha brings together a selection of great foods and culinary delights, attracting people from throughout the Midwest to taste, relax and enjoy. Watch cooking demos, several live performances including music and wildlife encounters, browse vendors, amusement rides, balloons, face painting, a great view of the Festival from the Big Ferris Wheel and much more! Details here.

Opera Omaha will present UnShakeable June 5 through June 7 at Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center at 1001 South 6th Street in Council Bluffs. This production, blending opera and audience interaction, imagines a world where memory has fractured after a mysterious epidemic, leaving two actors to reconstruct their relationship through the works of Shakespeare.

Opera Omaha will partner with Old School Shakespeare Omaha to present a special performance “Shake Night” Saturday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m. It will begin with the opera and will be followed by an immersive performance of Hamlet in the lobby. There will also be a Relaxed performance the same day at 2 p.m. Surrounding the production, Opera Omaha will also host free community events including a youth art show, open conversations exploring themes of memory and identity, and pre-performance discussions with librettist Andrea Fellows Fineberg. Tickets and information can be found on their website.

The Rose Theater will present Frozen starting June 5 at 6:30 p.m. and running through June 28. Based on the iconic Disney film directed by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee, this classic story has been reimagined as a full-length musical, bringing its iconic music to the stage such as “For The First Time in Forever,” “Do You Want To Build a Snowman” and the award-winning “Let It Go.” It will include “spectacular set designs, dazzling special effects and puppetry to bring lovable characters to life.” Frozen is a story about sisterhood, self-discovery and the enduring power of life, making it a heartwarming experience for all ages. Visit their website for tickets.

The Omaha Art Fair will be coming back to the Aksarben Village June 12 through 14, starting at 11 a.m. on Friday. Organized by local artists, the art fair’s mission is to bring creativity, community, accessibility and inspiration to all ages. The festival brings together 160+ artists from across the nation, showcasing a wide range of artistic mediums and styles.

Visitors can enjoy live demonstrations, several local crafts and creations, live entertainment, a children’s activity center with plenty of activities and various food and drink vendors. Making its debut in 2025, it carries on the legacy of the beloved Summer Arts Festival, which ended in 2024 after a 50-year run. Details here.

Cinco de Mayo Omaha returns this weekend May 15 through May 17 on historic South 24th Street between L to O streets. Presented by Casa de la Cultura, in partnership with Supermercado Nuestra Familia, this festival is recognized as Nebraska’s No. 1 cultural attraction and recipient of the prestigious Henry Fonda Tourism Award.

Celebrating 106 years of Mexican festivals, Cinco de Mayo Omaha brings together more than 100,000 attendees from across six states for an unforgettable weekend of culture, community and entertainment. Highlights include the Sweet 98.5 and Woodmen parade on Saturday, CHI Health fair, grand marshalls, a mariachi mass, live concerts and several authentic food vendors and exhibitors.

The Durham Museum is opening its summer exhibition Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume on May 23. Kick off the Memorial Day weekend with a grand look at nearly 70 costumes worn on film from decades of Disney movies, from iconic characters such as Maleficent, Captain Jack Sparrow, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Cinderella and more. Additional programs include Disney Trivia on Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m., special tours, lectures and movie screenings on select Sundays to enhance the Disney Magic experience.

KVNO Classical Radio and The Omaha Symphony will present Symphonic Connections Live: An Evening with Ernest Richardson on Thursday, May 21, at the Strauss Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. The event will feature a live taping of KVNO’s Symphonic Connections program, blending classical performance with audience discussion and behind-the-scenes storytelling. Conductor Ernest Richardson will lead the symphony through selections inspired by listener questions, including works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonio Vivaldi, Maurice Ravel and more. Designed for seasoned listeners and newcomers alike, the evening blends performance and storytelling in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Guests are encouraged to arrive when doors open at 6:00 p.m. to enjoy conversation, coffee and the company of fellow classical music enthusiasts. Following the program, attendees are invited to stay for a reception, offering the opportunity to meet Ernest Richardson, Omaha Symphony musicians and KVNO on-air hosts. Purchase tickets here.

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts will open two summer exhibitions on June 5, exploring themes of memory, care and personal connection to landscape:

Miatta Kawinzi: An Alphabet of Unfolding highlights the Kenyan-Liberian-American artist’s multidisciplinary work spanning sculpture, installation, sound, video and text. Kawinzi’s exhibition marks a return to Omaha, having been a Bemis Center artist-in-residence in 2016 and later the first recipient of the organization’s Ree Kaneko Award in 2019. The exhibition draws from themes of migration, labor, language and ecological connection through a site-responsive installation across two galleries.

MOTHER TIME: Measuring ourselves within the landscape features photography and image-based works by Rachel Cox and Rose Marie Cromwell. It is centered on motherhood, intimacy and the emotional relationship between people and place. Cox turns her lens toward the tenderness and vulnerability found within familial and personal relationships, while Cromwell weaves together personal and political narratives. Together, they create a layered meditation on intimacy and perception.

Both exhibitions will run through September 13. Admission to all programs and tours is free; ticket reservations are encouraged.

The Old Market Association [OMA] will host COLLECTIVE ’26: The Arts at KANEKO at 1111 Jones Street Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m.. The reimagined annual fundraiser will celebrate the artists, creatives and community leaders who helped shape the Old Market into one of Omaha’s cultural centers. This year’s event honors the legacy of artists Ree and Jun Kaneko, whose influence helped define the district’s collaborative and artistic spirit.

Guests can expect an evening inside KANEKO’s galleries featuring dinner from FIG chef Tyler Johnson, desserts by CENTI owner Erik Landa, live music from BROADWAY BAR led by Curtis Reynolds and a curated auction highlighting local and Old Market experiences. Proceeds from the event will support the Old Market Association’s ongoing efforts to connect and promote the district. The event’s attire theme is “Summer Creative,” encouraging colorful and expressive styles. Visit here for information.