What to do this weekend - June 18, 2026

Thursday, June 18
Film: Esta Isla

+ When: 4:50 pm | 7:15 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 matinee | $12 evening show

More details about the film: "Bebo, a teenager from a coastal Puerto Rican town, lives with his brother in a public housing complex. They fish for a living, but growing desperation drives them to illegal dealings that promise easy money. When a job goes wrong and blood is spilled, Bebo flees with Lola, a wealthy girl seeking to escape her troubled reality. As they navigate the labyrinthine mountains, they encounter remnants of a fading way of life, contrasting with the violence that follows them. As hitmen close in, Bebo must confront his choices and decide if redemption is possible, or if the sea will be their final escape."

Last chance to see this at the Ross!

Thursday, June 18
Film: Tuner

+ When: 5 pm | 7:20 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 matinee | $12 evening show

More details about the film: "In Academy Award-winning director Daniel Roher’s first narrative feature, Leo Woodall stars as a gifted young piano tuner whose heightened sense of hearing draws the attention of criminals, who see his talents as useful for opening safes as well as for tuning Steinways. With his once-promising musical career over, he works across New York with his mentor Harry Horowitz (Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman), encountering a range of characters, including composition student Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), with whom he forges an unexpected connection. Niki’s safecracking work threatens his budding romance with Ruthie and pulls him into increasingly dangerous territory."

More showings through June 25!

Thursday, June 18
Music: Glenn Miller Orchestra

+ When: 7:30 pm
+ Where: Lied Center, 301 N 12th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Tickets start at $33 | $21 for students and 18 and under

More details: "The most popular big band in the world brings back to the stage timeless classics like “Tuxedo Junction,” “Moonlight Serenade” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” Get “In the Mood” for an elegant evening of swing as the 17-piece orchestra dazzles and delights in their return to the Lied Center!"

Thursday, June 18
Music: KZUM’s Stranksy Park Concert Series: Blue House w/ Rent to Own Horns

+ When: 7 to 9 pm
+ Where: Stransky Park (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details: Come out for a groovy blues show!

Thursday, June 18
Music: Municipal Bats (TX) + Mind Mine (TX) + Body Corrosion + Phuzz (18+)

+ When: 8 pm (doors) | 9 pm (show)
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern, 1412 O St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 | $3 minor charge

More details: Houston punk bands Mind Mine and and Municipal Bats are visiting with support from Lincoln locals Phuzz and Body Corrosion.

Thursday, June 18
Music: Yosemite In Black + PowerPlay + Eyes of Salt + Iced Wrist and Cold Glock (all ages!)

+ When: 6 pm (doors) | 7 pm (show)
+ Where: El Proyecto, 2222 Y St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $12 day of show | Buy tickets here

More details: A stacked hardcore show!

Friday, June 19
Art: Juneteenth Reflections: The Power of Identity with Kwame Gyamfi

+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: International Quilt Museum, 1523 N. 33rd St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Seems to be free (at least with the cost of admission?)

More details: "Join the International Quilt Museum for a presentation from educator, coach and author Kwame Gyamfi! Learn about Gyamfi’s education and coaching career, his life experiences, his involvement with the Malone Community Center, and his perspectives on Juneteenth. After the presentation, we will be joined in the galleries by artist Celeste Butler who will talk about her quilt 'Ancestors' that will be on display as part of 'Material Nation: 250 Years of American Quiltmaking.'"

Friday, June 19
Film: The Celluloid Closet (30th anniversary screening)

+ When: 4:55 pm | 7:05 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 matinee | $12 evening show

More details about the film: "The history of LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood is traced from early coded portrayals and damaging stereotypes to more open and nuanced depictions. Narrator Lily Tomlin reflects on cinema’s role in shaping—and distorting—queer visibility. Collecting footage from over 100 movies and interviews with many of the filmmakers and actors who created them (including Tom Hanks, Shirley MacLaine, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Curtis, and Gore Vidal), The Celluloid Closet is a funny and insightful look at a changing century."

More showings through June 25!

Friday, June 19
Film: Oliver West (a local indie production!)

+ When: 7:15 pm (doors) | 8 pm (show)
+ Where: Center for People, 3901 N 27th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $18 | Buy tickets here

More details about the film: A Nebraska made indie movie screening! A feature from Lincoln founded film production company Four Lights Films.

Watch the trailer here.

Friday, June 19
Juneteenth: Stand Up!

+ When: 10 pm
+ Where: Das Haus, 1640 O St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details: "Come together with us as we celebrate the day of freedom for African Americans through music, performance, and community. This is more than a show—it’s a moment."

Friday, June 19
Music: Lil ‘Ed and the Blues Imperials

+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $15 | No advance tickets available

More details: Real deal Chicago blues! Playing again on Saturday.

Friday, June 19
Music: Ella Dibbern + Luna River

+ When: 7 to 9 pm
+ Where: Crescent Moon Coffee, 140 N 8th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Seems to be free!

More details: Two local singer-songwriters! Links to their stuff:

+ Ella Dibbern: insta
+ Luna River: bandcamp / insta

Friday, June 19
Music: Pool Culture + John Voyage + Smoke in the Sunlight

+ When: 9 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 | No advance tickets available

More details: The KC-based electronic dreampop band Pool Culture visits Lincoln! With support from singer-songwriter John Voyage and local rockers Smoke in the Sunlight.

Friday, June 19
Music: The Grace Lundy Band + Birthday Girl + Happy John + DJ Rugburn

+ When: 8 pm
+ Where: Bodega's Alley, 1418 O St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: PWYC

More details: Some cool local musicians! Here's some links to their stuff:

+ The Grace Lundy Band: insta / linktree / spotify
+ Birthday Girl: insta
+ Happy John: bandcamp / insta / website

Saturday, June 20
Community: Freedom Summer: Neighborhood outreach with Indivisible & friends

+ When: 10 to 11:15 am
+ Where: Northeast corner of Lincoln. Sign up here to receive exact meeting location
+ Cost: Free!

More details: "In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision to gut what was left of the voting rights act, Representative Justin Jones observed that we need to have another Freedom Summer, in the spirit of civil rights activists who registered voters in their communities during the 1960s. As such, we are distributing voting resources in neighborhoods throughout Lincoln this summer. This does not involve door-knocking. We meet in a different location each week and walk the neighborhood for about an hour. This week we will be in northeast Lincoln."

Saturday, June 20
Film: The Princess Bride

+ When: 11:30 am
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details about the film: Part of the Family Film Fest! Tickets must be picked up at the box office on the day of the show.

Saturday, June 20
Music: Lil ‘Ed and the Blues Imperials

+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $15 | No advance tickets available

More details: Real deal Chicago blues!

Saturday, June 20
Music: Grayson Jenkins + Jack Hotel

+ When: 9 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $12 advance | $15 day of show | Buy tickets here

More details: Grayson Jenkins is a Kentucky-based country songwriter. He's joined by self-described "another goddamn acoustic band" Jack Hotel.

Saturday, June 20
Music: Boy Seeking Band + Mailbox + SyiNide (18+)

+ When: 8 pm (doors) | 9 pm (music)
+ Where: Bodega's Alley, 1418 O St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $5 for 18+ | Free for 21+

More details: Some local rock bands!

+ Boy Seeking Band: insta / performance on youtube
+ Mailbox: insta
+ SyiNide: insta / soundcloud / website

Saturday, June 20
Outdoors: Solstice Garden Party

+ When: 6:30 to 9:30 pm
+ Where: Arapahoe Community Garden, 3305 S 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details: "Come enjoy some yard games, food, and refreshments at the local community garden!"

Sunday, June 21
Bikes: Trek's 50th Anniversary Party at Trek Lincoln

+ When: 11 am
+ Where: Trek Bicycle Lincoln, 3321 Pioneers Blvd. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Seems to be free!

More details: "Founded in 1976 in a red barn in Waterloo, Wisconsin, we are celebrating five decades of cycling history with prizes, cake, snacks, swag, and fun times Sunday 21st. From open to closing time, come in for party!"

Tuesday, June 23
Music: Dinner Time + Infielder + Figuring It Out (all ages!)

+ When: 6 pm (doors) | 7 pm (show)
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern, 1412 O St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 advance | $12 day of show

More details: The Atlanta-based rock n roll band Dinner Time visits Lincoln! With support from locals.

+ Dinner Time: bandcamp / insta / website (they have an amazing web 1.0 site!)
+ Infielder: insta / spotify
+ Figuring It Out: insta / youtube

Tuesday, June 23
Music: Jazz in June: Josh Hoyer's Colossal 4

+ When: 5 pm (food festival) | 7 pm (music)
+ Where: Sheldon Sculpture Garden (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free! | VIP tickets also available

More details: "Get ready for an evening of gritty, high-octane soul and blues that’s equal parts Memphis, Motown, and modern fire. Fresh off a win at the International Blues Challenge, the Colossal 4’s sound is raw, authentic, and impossible to resist. Led by Josh Hoyer, the award-winning four-piece band includes Myles Jasnowski (guitar), Mike Keeling (bass) and Mike Rhian (drums). Inspired by the sounds of Stax, Motown, Muscle Shoals, New Orleans and San Francisco, the band continuously crosses musical boundaries both in style and era."

Tuesday, June 23
Music: Jazz after Jazz

+ When: 9 to 11 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: No cover!

More details: "The Jazzocracy and DJ Relic combined forces and trade off throughout the night to bring you Jazz after Jazz!"

Wednesday, June 24
Crafting: Craft Social with Community Critters

+ When: 5:30 pm
+ Where: Reactor, 2124 Y St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details: "Come as you are. Come for community, come for crafting, come to share a skill! There is a closer [locked] door so if there are accessibility needs, message us and we can assist!"

Wednesday, June 24
Film: The Aviation Cocktail

+ When: 7:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details about the film: "In the late 1950s, a hostage situation in rural Nebraska results in the tragic death of a young girl. While transporting the injured killer back to town, local sheriff Henry Fisher (Beau Kiger), his brother Jack (Michael Haskins) and sometimes friend Bob Halloran (Brandon Eaton) decide to indulge in vigilante justice, killing the murderer before he can be brought to trial. Although it seems like an easy decision at the time, it will come to haunt the three men and maybe even destroy them."

Part of the Made in Nebraska 2026 summer series!

Wednesday, June 24
Music: Lincoln Community Foundation Garden Performance Series presents he Tidball and Barger Band

+ When: noon to 1 pm
+ Where: Lincoln Community Foundation Garden, 1421 N St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details: "The Tidball and Barger Band, (Tim Tidball, Randy Barger, Terry Keefe and Jim Pipher), when asked the difficult question: "What kind of music do you guys play?" says: "Americana Plus." They like to stretch the boundaries. At a T&B show you're likely to hear a Johnny Cash tune followed by Prince. Or, a Tom Petty tune followed by Hank Williams, The Beatles, Bill Monroe, The Everly Brothers or The Kinks. You get the idea. Whatever they play is played with tight musicianship and soaring, beautifully blended vocal harmonies. Fun, great tunes played by fun, great guys!"

Friday, June 26
Film: My Father's Shadow

+ When: Showtimes TBD
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 matinee | $12 evening show

More details about the film: "The UK’s Best International Feature Film entry to the 98th Academy Awards and recipient of the Caméra d’Or Special Mention at Cannes, Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow is a poetic, tender portrait of father–son bonds set amidst the political turbulence of 1993 Lagos."

More showings through July 9!

Friday, June 26
Film: Yes

+ When: Showtimes TBD
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 matinee | $12 evening show

More details about the film: "One of international cinema’s most fearless and provocative filmmakers, Nadav Lapid has long been an outspoken critic of his birth country’s government policies, channeling a lifetime of fury and frustration into vital films like Synonyms and Ahed’s Knee that brim with righteous anger, spite, and shame. In Yes, Lapid once again takes vigorous critical aim at the Israeli government with a new approach: submission. "

More showings through July 9!

Friday, June 26
Music: The Hangin' Cowboys

+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details: A night of country/rock inspired music!

Friday, June 26
Music: Lucas Minor Band

+ When: 9 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details: A songwriter and musician blending Americana, country, and southern rock.

Saturday, June 27
Film: Queen of Katwe

+ When: 11:30 am
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details about the film: Part of the Family Film Fest! Tickets must be picked up at the box office on the day of the show.

Saturday, June 27
Music: 2Timer + Within Wilds + Vultures (all ages!)

+ When: 6 pm (doors) | 6:30 pm (show)
+ Where: Duffy's Tavern, 1412 O St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $5 | $3 minor charge

More details: "New Lincoln band 2Timer hits the Duffy's stage for the first time! They've got some groove and some funk to 'em, and a whole bunch of soul. They're joined by instrumental rockers Within Wilds, plus 'gothic prairie rock' project Vultures!"

Saturday, June 27
Sports: No Coast Roller Derby

+ When: 4 pm (doors) | 5 pm (match)
+ Where: Ice Box, 1880 Transformation Dr. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10 GA

More details: "All home games for the 2026 season will be doubleheaders. More information about opponents, start times, and event details will be released in the coming weeks!"

Saturday, June 27
Zoo: Brews at the Zoo (featuring AM/FM)

+ When: 6 to 11 pm
+ Where: Lincoln Children's Zoo, 1222 S 27th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $39 | Buy tickets here

More details: "This is more than just a 21+ adult night out, it’s a chance to experience the Zoo like never before:⁠ Feed the giraffes, explore the Zoo after hours, and meet animals up close!⁠ Back by popular demand, AM/FM will fill the night with great 80s music!Enjoy a wide selection of local craft beer and cider.⁠"

Tuesday, June 30
Music: Jazz in June: The Downtown Collective

+ When: 5 pm (food festival) | 7 pm (music)
+ Where: Sheldon Sculpture Garden (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free! | VIP tickets also available

More details: "Celebrate the timeless genius of Stevie Wonder in this electrifying tribute from The Downtown Collective featuring a live 12-piece band! Fresh off their 2025 debut at the House of Blues Las Vegas, they are one of the Midwest’s premier entertainment groups performing for special events across the country with top musicians and infectious energy. Featuring both note-for-note renditions and their own creative new spins on hits like “Superstition,” “Sir Duke,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” and “I Wish,” this concert brings Stevie’s music to life as the finale for Jazz in June’s 35th Anniversary Season."

Wednesday, July 1
Film: Nebraska

+ When: 7:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details about the film: "Cantankerous old buzzard Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) can barely walk down the street of his home in Billings, Mont., without stopping for a drink. So when Woody receives a sweepstakes notice in the mail and insists on making a 750-mile trip to Lincoln, Neb., to collect his prize, it falls to baffled son David (Will Forte) to accompany him. During a stop in their Nebraska hometown, word gets out about Woody’s fortune, first making him a hero, then later, the target of predatory people."

Part of the Made in Nebraska 2026 summer series!

Sunday, July 5
Film: Nashville

+ When: 1:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details about the film: "This cornerstone of 1970s American moviemaking from Robert Altman is a panoramic view of the country’s political and cultural landscapes, set in the nation’s music capital. Nashville weaves the stories of twenty-four characters—from country star to wannabe to reporter to waitress—into a cinematic tapestry that is equal parts comedy, tragedy, and musical. Many members of the astonishing cast wrote their own songs and performed them live on location, which lends another layer to the film’s quirky authenticity. Altman’s ability to get to the heart of American life via its eccentric byways was never put to better use than in this grand, rollicking triumph, which barrels forward to an unforgettable conclusion."

Tuesday, July 7
Film: Pan's Labyrinth

+ When: 7:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details about the film: "An Academy Award–winning dark fable set five years after the end of the Spanish Civil War, Pan’s Labyrinth encapsulates the rich visual style and genre-defying craft of Guillermo del Toro."

A one-night only screening!

Wednesday, July 8
Film: The Omaha Speaking

+ When: 7:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details about the film: "Only a handful of Native American fluent speakers remain of the Omaha Tribe. Fluent speaking elders reflect on growing up speaking their native language and the importance of preservation. Hopefulness is expressed by a dedicated group of educators attempts to keep their language alive."

Part of the Made in Nebraska 2026 summer series!

Thursday, July 9
Film: The Doom Generation

+ When: 7:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details about the film: "Gregg Araki takes a road trip to hell in this wild, meth- and fast-food-fueled joyride through the margins of a menacing American wasteland. When they inadvertently link up with a dangerously alluring drifter (Johnathon Schaech), a chilled-out Cali bro (James Duval) and his spiky, foulmouthed girlfriend (Rose McGowan) find themselves on an increasingly violent, kinky, and darkly comic journey in which erotic tensions rise along with the body count. Working with a significant budget for the first time, Araki employs boldly stylized lighting and art direction to create a heightened sense of unreality in a shocking, shoegaze-soundtracked chronicle of young lives careening toward oblivion." (Criterion)

Friday, July 10
Music: Zoo Fest - Day 1

+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $35 each day | $60 weekend pass | Buy tickets here

More details: Celebrating 53 years of The Zoo Bar with an outdoor music festival at the corner of 14th and P Street! Continues on Saturday.

+ 5 pm - The Bel Airs
+ 7 pm - The Iguanas
+ 9 pm - Vanessa Collier
+ 11 pm - The Midland Band

Saturday, July 11
Music: Zoo Fest - Day 2

+ When: 5 pm
+ Where: The Zoo Bar, 136 N 14th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $35 each day | $60 weekend pass | Buy tickets here

More details: Celebrating 53 years of The Zoo Bar with an outdoor music festival at the corner of 14th and P Street! Continues on Saturday.

+ 1 pm - Cheap Death-A Blue Raven Student Project
+ 3 pm - Church of Blues
+ 5 pm - Texas Guitar Summit feat. Anson Funderburgh, Mike Morgan, and Shawn Pittman
+ 7 pm - The Mezcal Bros. feat. Dave Gonzalez
+ 9 pm - Sugaray Rayford
+ 11 pm - Groove Lagoon

Tuesday, July 14
History: History Unveiled: Rainbow Cattle Co.

+ When: 6 to 7 pm
+ Where: Nebraska History Museum, 131 Centennial Mall North (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details: "Nicholas Villanueva, Jr. joins us at the Nebraska History Museum on Monday, July 14th, at 6 pm to discuss his award-winning book Rainbow Cattle Co: Liberation, Inclusion, and the History of Gay Rodeo (University of Nebraska Press, 2024), which uncovers an important and overlooked chapter of LGBTQ history: the world of gay rodeo.

From the mid-1970s onward, LGBTQ rodeo athletes carved out a space where they could compete openly, challenge heteronormative ideas about sport and identity, and build community across the rural American West. What began as a safe space for athletes evolved into a powerful philanthropic force, one that was pivotal in the fight against AIDS."

Wednesday, July 15
Film: Remember the Drumstick

+ When: 7:30 pm
+ Where: Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N 13th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: $10

More details about the film: "Tim Lohmeier, by accident, created something in Nebraska in the 1980s – The Drumstick. A chicken restaurant by day and the hottest rock club in Nebraska by night. He booked some of the best music of the times BEFORE the rest of the world knew they were the best. Groups like Joan Jett, Luther Allison, Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, Dwight Yoakam, X, Marty Stuart, Jason and the Scorchers. The Drumstick also gave local great plains musicians with original music a place to perform. Fab local acts like Charlie Burton and Rock Therapy, Boys with Toys, Model Citizens. The list goes on and on. Oh, and don’t forget the fried chicken and Texas toast. The building that housed the business was torn down in 1987 to make room for a fast food restaurant. Tim died in 1998. Very little remains of the club with the exception of a few photos, home videos and a lot of memories. Memories that are preserved in this documentary as part of the 1980s proud music history."

Part of the Made in Nebraska 2026 summer series!

Saturday, July 18
Art: America 250 Community Celebration

+ When: 10 am to 2 pm
+ Where: International Quilt Museum, 1523 N. 33rd St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details: "Join Nebraska Public Media and the International Quilt Museum for a free, family-friendly open house celebrating the stories that connect us. This special event marks the culmination of a year-long America 250 initiative across Nebraska bringing communities together through events inspired by the docuseries 'The American Revolution.' Now, we gather to reflect, connect and celebrate the many voices and perspectives that shape our shared story."

An open house with crafting activities and access to the galleries!

Saturday, July 18
Party: North 27th Block Party - Buy Local, Live Local Showcase

+ When: 5 to 8 pm
+ Where: 505 N 27th St. (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details: "Join your neighbors from Hartley, Clinton, and Malone/Hawley for the ultimate summer celebration right along the North 27th Street corridor!"

There will be free food, music, giveaways, and family-friendly activities!

Tuesday, July 21
History: Lunchbox Lecture: After the Children’s Blizzard – The Life and Legacy of Minnie Mae Freeman

+ When: noon to 1 pm
+ Where: Nebraska History Museum, 131 Centennial Mall North (Google Maps)
+ Cost: Free!

More details: "While Minnie Freeman is known for her heroism in saving her school pupils during the Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888, her other contributions to Nebraska have been largely forgotten. On July 21, from noon to 1pm, at the Nebraska History Museum, Amber Kirkendall from the Homestead National Historic Park in Beatrice will discuss Freeman’s life and work to promote civic values after the famous Blizzard, including Freeman’s work with the Daughters of the American Revolution and designing the Nebraska state seal."