What to do this weekend - July 31, 2025
Hi,
Welcome to This Week In Lincoln. I don't have a lot for you today, other than the usual roundup of events. I've got a lot of Lincoln-related stuff I that want to write, including a deeper dive into Roger Welsch's Inside Lincoln, some essays about local history, and more exhibit reviews. (If you're a new subscriber, check out my piece from last week on the International Quilt Museum's "Aftershock.") But nothing came together this week in a way that I was satisfied with. More soon!
For now, I wanted to highlight two zine-related things. First, there's the Salt Creek Zine Fest, which is happening noon to 4 pm on Saturday, August 9 at the F Street Community Center. If you've been reading this newsletter for a while, then you've already seen me rave about zines, so I won't repeat my thoughts here. But I don't think I've mentioned that I also make zines, and I'm excited to announce that I'll be tabling at the fest! Stop by and say hello!!
Second: The folks behind the collaborative local zine Junk Drawer are soliciting submissions for their next issue. They're looking for art, poetry, photography and anything else that's creative and can fit onto a 5x7 inch page. The only requirement is that you be from, in or somehow connected to Nebraska. So if that's you, consider submitting something. The deadline is August 17th! Find more details — including how to submit — on their Instagram page.
Finally: Got an event you want to see included in next week's newsletter? Submit it here. You can also send feedback, suggestions, compliments and criticism to tynanstewart@proton.me
Thanks so much for reading. Talk to you again next Thursday!
~ Ty
P.S. This newsletter is a free, reader-supported publication. And I want to keep it that way! A community events calendar shouldn't be locked behind a paywall. But if you find the work I'm doing valuable, please consider supporting This Week In Lincoln financially. I do offer paid subscriptions at $5 a month or $50 for a year. For now, it won't get you anything extra (aside from my eternal gratitude), but you'll be helping to ensure that this newsletter remains sustainable for me and available to everyone who wants to read it.
Thursday, July 31
Thursday, July 31
Books: Just Desserts
+ When: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
+ Where: Bennett Martin Public Library, 4th Floor Auditorium (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Monthly discussion of a mystery novel. For July, the group is reading We Solve Murders (2024) by Richard Osman. Participants are encouraged to bring a dessert to share!
Thursday, July 31
Fair: First day of the Lancaster County Super Fair
+ When: The fair runs all day, with stuff starting at 8 am
+ Where: Sandhills Global Event Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $15 per vehicle gets you a day pass
There's a ton going on: Vendors, exhibits, family activities, a petting zoo, competitions, live music, food, and more. The fair runs through Saturday, August 9.
Thursday, July 31
Film: Before We Forget
+ When: 5 pm, 7:20 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 at 5 pm | $12 at 7:20 pm
From the Ross's website: "An Argentine filmmaker, unable to finish editing a movie about his unrequited first love, receives an unexpected invitation to revisit his past, reconstruct his memories, and perhaps even find a new ending to the story."
Last chance to see this at the Ross!
Thursday, July 31
Film: Ran
+ When: 6:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $12
From the Ross's website: "Akira Kurosawa’s epic retelling of King Lear returns to theaters in a beautiful 4K restoration celebrating the film’s 40th anniversary."
Last chance to see this at the Ross!
Thursday, July 31
Music: KZUM Stransky Park Concert Series presents Andy Williams & The Nebraska All Stars
+ When: 7 to 9 pm
+ Where: Stransky Park (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Friday, August 1
Friday, August 1
Art: August First Friday at the LUX
+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: LUX Center for the Arts (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
More details from the LUX's website: "This August First enjoy refreshments and community while exploring new exhibitions on display during our First Friday Opening Reception. Experience interactive RGB light installations by Joshua D. Lux and a meditative sound bath by sound healer Jennifer Becwar (Blue Bindu). There will be limited-edition photo prints and plants from Oak Creek Flowers for sale to raise funds for a local resident, Joshua Lux, battling cancer. Come support!"
Friday, August 1
Art: August First Friday: Learning is Magic
+ When: 5:30 pm
+ Where: International Quilt Museum (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
This is part of the museum's First Friday programming. Enjoy free access to the galleries from 4 to 7 pm.
More details from the museum's website: "our 'Learning is Magic' event begins with a family-friendly magic show from Colorful Magic by Bruce. Afterwards, IQM Education Coordinator Lindy Clausen will give a presentation highlighting past education events as well as what's in store for the future. Refreshments will be provided as well as an all-ages art project. Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite witch or wizard to help celebrate how learning is magic!"
Friday, August 1
Art: First Friday Art Walk
+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: Downtown Lincoln (See a map of participating locations here)
+ Cost: Free!
Friday, August 1
Books: First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Charlie Peck
+ When: noon
+ Where: Zoom
+ Cost: Free! But $5 donation encouraged.
Presented by Larksong Writers Place. More details from their website: "Charlie Peck grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and received his MFA from Purdue University. His poetry has appeared previously in Cincinnati Review, Ninth Letter, Massachusetts Review, and Best New Poets 2019, among others. His first collection, World’s Largest Ball of Paint, is the winner of the 2022 St. Lawrence Book Award from Black Lawrence Press."
Friday, August 1
Film: Folktales
+ When: 5:10 pm, 7:25 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 at 5:10 pm | $12 at 7:25 pm
From the Ross's website: "In Oscar®-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s life-affirming film, teenagers converge at a traditional folk high school in Arctic Norway where they must rely on only themselves, one another, and a loyal pack of sled dogs as they all grow in unexpected directions."
More screenings scheduled through August 7.
Friday, August 1
Film: Mr. Blake at Your Service!
+ When: 5 pm, 7:20 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 at 5 pm | $12 at 7:20 pm
From the Ross's website: "Mr. Andrew Blake (John Malkovich), a recently widowed British businessman, by happenstance takes a job as a butler in a manor house in northern France in a bid to get closer to the memory of his late French wife. His life takes an unexpected turn as he finds himself befriending not only the household staff but the charming lady of the house (Fanny Ardant) as well."
More screenings scheduled through August 7.
Friday, August 1
Music: Estrogen Projection + Uh Oh + Joyrager
+ When: 6:30 pm (doors), 7:30 pm (show)
+ Where: Rococo Theatre (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $21 general admission | $23 day of the show
Links to the bands' music or socials:
+ Estrogen Projection: linktree / insta
+ Uh Oh: bandcamp / insta
+ Joyrager: linktree / insta
Friday, August 1
Music: KZUM Benefit: Jerry Garcia's Birthday with DIRE WOLVES
+ When: 9 pm
+ Where: Zoo Bar (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $13.61 including fees. (Buy tickets here.)
More details from the Zoo Bar's Facebook page: "Come Celebrate Jerry Garcia's Birthday with DIRE WOLVES (Mark Leeker and others from Peach Truck) and help raise money for our community radio station KZUM!"
Friday, August 1
Music: Leafblower + FACE + X-ID
+ When: 7 pm (doors), 8 pm (show)
+ Where: Bourbon Theatre (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $13.86 for GA tickets (including fees)
Omaha and Lincoln bands! Links to their music and socials:
+ Leafblower: linktree / bandcamp / insta
+ FACE: insta
+ X-ID: insta
Friday, August 1
Music: Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival - Lincoln Finale
+ When: 7 to 9 pm
+ Where: Kimball Recital Hall, UNL Glenn Korff School of Music, 1113 R St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free, but registration is required.
More details from the festival's website: "We’ve put together an orchestra with familiar and new faces, local and visiting artists – a true expression of the festival’s ability to connect across geography and culture. Including Omaha Symphony Concertmaster Susanna Perry Gilmore, Russian virtuoso violinist Olga Smola, and Lincoln-native bassist Sam Beck-Johnson just to name a few, it will be a tribute to Nebraska’s own musical environment, its musical institutions and its impact on the wider world."
Saturday, August 2
Saturday, August 2
Crafting: One Book One Lincoln: Story-Inspired Creations from the Top Three Finalists
+ When: 2 to 4 pm
+ Where: Gere Branch Library (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
More details from the library's website: "Join us as we celebrate each of the top three One Book One Lincoln finalists for 2025 by creating a fun craft based on the themes of each title. Customers can learn a little more about each finalist before voting ends on August 31 while making a Hoi An-style Vietnamese lantern, a hurricane in a bottle, and your very own homemade pencil using recycled newspaper."
Saturday, August 2
Market: Historic Haymarket Farmers' Market
+ When: 8 am to noon
+ Where: Haymarket (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free, but there will be plenty of vendors to buy from.
The Lightning Bugs will be performing live.
Saturday, August 2
Music: Blues Project
+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: Zoo Bar (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10
Saturday, August 2
Music: Mold + Ulcer Twins + Taxes + The Trauma Center
+ When: 7 pm
+ Where: The Juice Box (DM them on Instagram for the address)
+ Cost: $10
Links to the bands music and socials:
+ Mold: bandcamp / insta
+ Ulcer Twins: bandcamp / insta
+ Taxes: insta
+ The Trauma Center: bandcamp / insta
Saturday, August 2
Music: P.A.R.F.A.I.T.
+ When: 9 pm
+ Where: Zoo Bar (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10
More details from the Zoo Bar's Facebook page: "From video game music, to Soul, Pop, Old School R&B, Swing, 70's. Music you can dance to!"
Saturday, August 2
Music: Rainbow Kitten Surprise
+ When: 6:30 pm (doors), 7:30 pm (show)
+ Where: Location (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Tickets start at $54.15
Saturday, August 2
Protest: Rage Against the Regime
+ When: 9 to 11 am
+ Where: Nebraska State Capitol (Google Maps)
Part of a national day of action, organized by 50501 Lincoln.
Saturday, August 2
Yard Sale: Fundraiser to benefit the READ Network
+ When: 8 am to 2 pm
+ Where: 10th St. and Washington (Google Maps)
More details from the READ Network's instagram: "We're holding a yard sale as part of our fundraising drive! Come buy our junk! Help us purchase much needed equipment and meet our ongoing expenses. Item donations welcome. DM to coordinate."
The fundraiser continues on Sunday.
Sunday, August 3
Sunday, August 3
Fair: Hispanic Festival
+ When: noon to 10 pm
+ Where: Sandhills Global Event Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $15 per car
Part of the Lancaster County Super Fair, ongoing through August 9.
Sunday, August 3
Market: Sunday Farmers' Market at College View
+ When: 10 am to 2 pm
+ Where: 4801 Prescott Ave. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free, but it's a farmer's market, so be prepared to spend money.
Sunday, August 3
Yard Sale: Fundraiser to benefit the READ Network
+ When: 8 am to 2 pm
+ Where: 10th St. and Washington (Google Maps)
More details from the READ Network's instagram: "We're holding a yard sale as part of our fundraising drive! Come buy our junk! Help us purchase much needed equipment and meet our ongoing expenses. Item donations welcome. DM to coordinate."
Things to do next week:
Monday, August 4
Protest: No more bombs! No more genocide!
+ When: 5:30 pm
+ Where: General Dynamics, 1350 W Highland Blvd (Google Maps)
More details from the READ Network's instagram: "Weapons made right here in our community by General Dynamics are being used to starve and kill countless innocent people. Show up. Act up. Fight back!"
Monday, August 4
Public Meeting: Lincoln City Council
+ When: 3 to 5 pm
+ Where: Council Chambers in the County/City Building, 555 S. 10th Street (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. The agenda has not yet been posted.
Monday, August 4
Community Training: Narcan training
+ When: 2 to 4 pm
+ Where: The Foundry Community (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free! Register here.
Organized by Stop Overdose Nebraska and Marvilee.
More details from the event Facebook page: "Join us for a FREE community training on how to use NARCAN (Naloxone), a life-saving tool in the fight against opioid overdoses."
Wednesday, August 6
Public Meeting: Planning Commission
+ When: 1 to 4:30 pm
+ Where: Council Chambers in the County/City Building, 555 S. 10th Street (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. The agenda has not yet been posted.
Friday, August 8
Film: White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
+ When: 7 to 10 pm
+ Where: Black Cat House (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
A 2007 documentary directed by Steven Okazaki, featuring interviews with survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Saturday, August 9
Market: Parking Lot Party - Open Harvest turns 50!
+ When: 10 am to 4 pm
+ Where: Open Harvest Co-op Grocery (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Help celebrate the Co-op's 50th birthday!
Saturday, August 9
Zines! Salt Creek Zine Fest
+ When: noon to 4 pm
+ Where: F Street Community Center (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
From the organizers: "Zine fests are an opportunity for lovers of indie art to buy and trade zines, a flexible and limitless medium of art that's low-cost and encourages breaking boundaries. It's also an opportunity for artists who make zines to share their work, meet other artists, and build a local community."
Sunday, August 10
Music: An Acoustic Night feat. John Gold, Rich Confer, Haily Taylor and more
+ When: 8 pm (doors), 9 pm (show)
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $7 | $10 for minors
Things to do next month and later this year:
Tuesday, August 12
Public Meeting: Board of Health
+ When: 4 to 5 pm
+ Where: Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, 3131 O Street (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. The agenda has not yet been posted online.
Tuesday, August 12
Public Meeting: Lincoln Board of Education
+ When: 6 pm
+ Where: Steve Joel District Leadership Center, 5905 O St. (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. The agenda has not yet been posted online.
Thursday, August 14
Public Meeting: Historic Preservation Commission
+ When: 2 to 4:30 pm
+ Where: County/City Building, 555 S 10th St. (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. The agenda has not yet been posted online.
Friday, August 15
Books: Silent Book Club
+ When: 7:30 to 11 pm
+ Where: Branched Oak Observatory (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
Bring a book of your choice and read quietly. Optional discussion and tour of the observatory later in the evening. Find more details on the event page!
Wednesday, August 20
Public Meeting: Citizen Police Advisory Board
+ When: 4 to 5 pm
+ Where: City/County Building, Conference Room 303, 555 S 10th St (Google Maps)
This meeting is open to the public. You can find the agenda here.
Friday, August 22
Books: The Nebraska Heritage Book Club
+ When: noon to 1 pm
+ Where: Bennett Martin Public Library, 4th floor conference room (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!
The book for August is The Long March Home by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee.
Tuesday, September 9
Music: Mugshot + Iced Wrist + Your Own Knife
+ When: 6 pm (doors), 7 pm (show)
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 advance tickets, $12 day of the show
Links to the bands' music and socials:
+ Mugshot: linktree / insta / merch
+ Iced Wrist: bandcamp / linktree / insta
+ Your Own Knife: bandcamp / linktree / insta