Omaha Summer Arts Festival

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The Omaha Summer Arts Festival is a free annual arts festival held in the heart of downtown Omaha. Various parts of Farnam Street, from about 10th to 15th Streets, are closed daily to accommodate the festival, which sits south of the Gene Leahy Mall and one block north of the Old Market district.

The festival is held each year in late June, gathering over 100 artists from across the country. If you’re in Omaha then, we command you to go! And here’s why:

1. Great Art at reasonable prices, and the chance to speak with the artists (take that Picasso!). From $5 to $500, there’s art for every budget.
2. The chance to get a little clay on your nose. Demonstrations in lamp-working, glass-beading, paper-making, and yes, clay-throwing, are provided each year. They even have demonstrations in non-hyphenated art, like painting and pottery. Amazing!
3. A whole bunch of music you haven’t heard before. Each year, artists from the world of blues, jazz, Latin, folk, acoustic, and more tear up the stage. Seriously, they get some great bands, and like we said: you haven’t heard them (all) before, or your money back!
4. Beer and wine. Oh, and food, too. Everything from funnel cake to grilled shrimp. It’s not free, but it’s tasty for vegetarians and carnivores alike. And you can buy beer. And wine.
5. Stuff for kids. Before you start drinking beer and wine, bring the kids to the Children’s Fair and Young Artists Exhibition. Hands-on, permanently staining activities for children three to 10, plus surprisingly good art from pip-squeaks and full-squeaks, aged grades 6 to 12. Scholarships are on the line, people!