Fall's inching closer, but Omaha's calendar is still packed for the last stretch of August. Here's what's coming up Thursday through next Wednesday:

  • 🎷 NOMAfest brings four days of live music to North 24th Street, plus a free Saturday show at Gene Leahy Mall

  • 🍽️ Fresh restaurant news around town, from Culinary Dropout's grand debut to a Yard House on the way

  • 🎟️ A packed lineup of concerts and events, from Beach Bunny at Slowdown to acres of sunflowers at the Sunflower Festival

Grab a coffee and let's get into it.

NEWS
💗 Project Pink'd raises more than $600K at annual gala

Courtesy: Project Pink’d

💗 Project Pink'd raises more than $600K at annual gala
Hundreds of breast cancer survivors filled a La Vista ballroom Friday night for the "Viva La Vida" gala. Project Pink'd brought in over $600,000, and every dollar stays local to help patients cover groceries, utilities and other bills during treatment.

🎷 NOMAfest returns to North Omaha for its fifth year
Four days of live music hit the city this week. NOMAfest runs Thursday through Sunday with jazz, R&B and hip-hop on North 24th Street. Saturday's show moves to Gene Leahy Mall and it's free. The festival raises money for youth music programs.

🎒 Bellevue church hands out 200 backpacks for the new school year
Glory Tabernacle Church filled its Sunday drive with music, food and activities, not just supplies. The pastor says smaller neighborhood drives feel more approachable than big events. The church stocked 200 backpacks this year, double last year's total.

👟 Pleasant Green Baptist Church gives away 2,000 pairs of shoes
The North Omaha church held its fifth annual back-to-school shoe giveaway Sunday afternoon. Pastor Brian Page shopped for all 2,000 pairs himself. Kids had to be there in person to pick out a pair, and everyone was welcome until the shoes ran out.

🌲 A nature-based charter school opens soon in Crescent
The Red Barn Schoolhouse starts classes in two weeks, tuition free and open through fourth grade. Kids spend more time outside and less on screens. One parent said the school fills a gap left when Crescent's elementary closed in 2023.

🌉 Lake Cunningham closes two trail bridges for repairs
Trail access is cut off near entrances one and four while crews rebuild bridge foundations. Old flooding sank the anchors and created a safety hazard. Officials call this a permanent fix after years of patch jobs. Both bridges should reopen Wednesday.

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RESTAURANT NEWS
What's Cooking In Omaha's Restaurant Scene 🍽️

Here's the latest on Omaha's restaurant scene - openings, moves, and what's next.

  • Culinary Dropout finally planted its flag in Nebraska last week with a new spot at Village Pointe Shopping Center. The Scottsdale-born brand runs 17 restaurants across 10 states, and until now the nearest ones were all the way out in Denver and Indianapolis. Village Pointe Shopping Center

  • Fifth House has closed for good after less than a year on the scene. The vegan spot opened in October 2025, and its Facebook post pointed to slow sales plus busted HVAC and kitchen equipment as the reasons for calling it quits. The restaurant-and-bar space is back on the market. 3901 Farnam Street

  • Yard House is making moves on its first Omaha-area location, with exterior work already going up per a City of Omaha permit dated July 27. The California chain has close to 100 restaurants around the country, and right now you'd have to drive to Kansas City to hit the nearest one. 19051 Davenport Street, in the Avenue One district southeast of 192nd & West Dodge Road

  • Omaha Bagel Co. finally has a real storefront, opening its first brick-and-mortar last week. The shop got its start back in 2022 as a cottage bakery selling sourdough bagels online, and now it's slinging hot bagels, cream cheese, coffee and cold brew. Fun bit of history: the building was the original Tasty Pizza before that shop relocated. 5423 Leavenworth Street

  • Ref's Sports Bar is going for a third location, this time in The Tower District, a 120-acre mixed-use project northwest of 84th & Highway 370 in Papillion. Don't hold your breath though, since the opening is targeted for late spring of 2027. The bar already has spots in La Vista at 96th & Giles Road and at 192nd & Harrison Street.

  • T101 is heading to the Old Market, taking over the space Juice Stop is vacating when it closes permanently on August 23rd. Owner Thanh "T" Huynh is putting together a menu of boba, smoothies, banh mi, ramen and more, with an October opening expected once renovations wrap. Huynh also runs Yum Chaa, the bubble tea shop at 74th & Pacific Street. 510 South 12th Street

  • Wetzel's Pretzels, Cold Stone Creamery and Planet Smoothie have all opened up shop in the Bennington area, joining Papa Johns and Jimmy John's in the same retail center. That's a solid lineup if you're in the mood for something sweet, salty or blended. 15601 Whiting Circle, southwest corner of 156th & State Street

  • Mediterranean Gyros and Bakery is setting up at a spot on the east side of the Big Fred's Pizza building, according to a City of Omaha building permit. The owner says the doors should open "in a couple weeks." The space was previously home to Farm Fresh Market. 1111 South 119th Street

  • Timber Wood Fire Bistro shut its doors temporarily for renovations, with a reopening planned for August 19. If the work wrapped on schedule, the American bistro should be back in business by now. 8702 Pacific Street in Countryside Village

  • The Capital Grille has broken ground on its first Nebraska location, with grading and site prep underway on a 1.9-acre lot wedged between the Carson Group and Union Bank buildings. The upscale steakhouse is putting up a 9,144 sq. ft. building. Founded in Rhode Island in 1990 and now owned by Darden, the brand has 77 locations in 30 states, with the closest ones in Kansas City and Minneapolis. 14500 Branch Street, southwest of 144th & West Dodge Road

FUN
Nebraska Trivia

Q: Long before Earth Day, what holiday was first proposed by J. Sterling Morton, a newspaper editor in Nebraska City, resulting in the planting of one million trees in Nebraska on April 10, 1872?

(Answer below.)

Play Word Search! New Nebraska themed game every day.

Play Wordie (Nebraska themed Wordle)! New word each day.

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CONCERTS
Upcoming musical performances in OMA/LNK



*Dates and times can change, so please confirm with the venue before you go.

EVENTS
Upcoming non-musical events in Omaha

  • Aug 20, 2026, Curator-Led Tour, This tour with Rachel Adams, Bemis Center's Chief Curator + Director of Programs, offers..., Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts

  • Aug 20, 2026, Ball Boot Camp, Step into ballroom culture at this free, all-ages Ball Bootcamp kicking off Nebraska Black..., Culxr House

  • Aug 21, 2026, Jeni Grouws, Jeni Grouws returns to Jewell on Capitol after a sold-out 2025 performance. Blending blues..., Jewell on Capitol

  • Aug 21, 2026, Built to Move: A Pop-up Workout at the Capitol District, Get moving in the heart of The Capitol District with Built to Move, a..., The Capitol District

  • Aug 22, 2026, Ohana Fun Weekend, Take a Hawaiian rollercoaster ride to the museum and meet Stitch!, Omaha Children's Museum

  • Aug 22, 2026, Andre Vander Velde -- Songwriters in Rounds, Join Iowa‑based songwriter André Vander Velde for an intimate "songwriters in the round" evening..., Jewell on Capitol

  • Aug 22, 2026, Sunflower Festival, Wander through acres of sunflowers featuring more than 20 specialty varieties at Nelson Produce..., Location TBA

  • Aug 22, 2026, Black Opulence Ball, Dress to impress and experience the energy of the Black Opulence Ball during Nebraska..., Level Event Center

  • Aug 22, 2026, Saturdays at Stinson Park, Head to Stinson Park with your cooler and a blanket for an outdoor music..., Stinson Park

  • Aug 22, 2026, La Vista Local Market, Shop local this summer at the La Vista Local Market. Stroll Main Street at..., Main Street in La Vista City Centre

  • Aug 23, 2026, Nebraska Black Pride Family BBQ, Wrap up Nebraska Black Pride weekend with an all-ages Family BBQ celebrating community, connection..., Miller Park Pavilion



*Dates and times can change, so please confirm with the venue before you go.

TRIVIA ANSWER

A: Arbor Day

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