Things to do in Omaha, Nov. 14–23

OMAHA — The final weekend of a holiday market, two youth orchestra concerts, a sports medicine lab at the Kiewit Luminarium, two stage openings and a JCRC community conversation fill the calendar through Monday, Nov. 23.

Last updated 5:20 a.m. CT, Nov. 14.

All times Central.

Worship services and faith events for Nov. 8–14 are in our weekly faith guide.

Saturday, Nov. 14

• Omaha Holiday Boutique (official page), 9 a.m.-7 p.m., CHI Health Center Omaha convention center; also 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15; a holiday gift market with more than 200 vendors, many with Nebraska roots.
• Lucha Libre with Latin Thunder (official page), 10-11 a.m., South Omaha Library, 2808 Q St.; the wrestler shows his moves and takes questions, then kids can decorate a luchador mask; free, all ages, with a parent or caregiver staying; no registration, but groups over 10 should call ahead.
• Inside Sports Medicine: Test, Treat, Recover (official page), 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive; the UNO Sports Medicine and Biomechanics Lab leads hands-on tests of jumping, grip strength, reaction time and balance, plus a live ultrasound look at muscles and tendons; all ages; free with daily admission or membership.
• Spark Studio (official page), 10:30-11:30 a.m., Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St.; a hands-on STEAM program where kids build, design and explore; ages 7-12; free; registration required at (402) 444-6284.
• Art-tastic Saturdays (official page), 11 a.m.-2 p.m., The Joslyn, 2200 Dodge St.; a free, drop-in day of gallery activities for all ages on the theme of gratitude, with an Omaha Public Library storytime at 11 a.m., a feather-making art project with Indigenous artist David Manzanares and public tours; Urban Sketchers Omaha joins as this month's guest group.
• BioDiscovery Lab: Bioluminescence (official page), 11 a.m.-noon, Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive; a hands-on workshop on living things that make their own light, with Metropolitan Community College; free with daily admission or membership; early registration required.
• The Plastics Puzzle (official page), 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive; also 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15; Keep Omaha Beautiful explains what the recycling numbers on plastics mean; free with daily admission or membership.
• Night Sky Adventure with Gifford Farm (official page), sessions at 1, 1:45 and 2:30 p.m., Saddlebrook Branch, 14850 Laurel Ave.; a mobile planetarium show on stars and constellations, plus themed crafts; free, ages 6-12, with a parent or caregiver staying; registration required for a time slot at (402) 444-5780.
• Lucha libre con Latin Thunder (official page), 2-3 p.m., Willa Cather Branch, 1905 S. 44th St.; a bilingual session of the same lucha libre program; free, all ages; online registration encouraged but not required.

Sunday, Nov. 15

• Slow Sundays at The Joslyn: Yoga (official page), 10:15-11:15 a.m., The Joslyn, 2200 Dodge St.; a gentle one-hour indoor yoga class for all ages and experience levels; $10, free for Joslyn members; registration required; bring your own mat.
• Bak to Basics: Chess for All Ages (official page), 1 p.m., Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, 2289 S. 67th St.; also 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22; a tour on how artist Samuel Bak uses chess, then a game; free; limited to 12, RSVP appreciated.
• Watercolor Workshop: Painting Clouds (official page), 1-4 p.m., Staenberg Omaha JCC, 333 S. 132nd St.; watercolor artist Telagio Baptista gives each painter individual guidance; ages 18 and up; $65 for JCC members, $75 for nonmembers; registration required, online or at (402) 334-6426; guests check in at the front desk.
• OAYO Youth Concert Strings and Youth Philharmonic concerts (official page), 2:30 p.m. (Youth Concert Strings) and 5 p.m. (Youth Philharmonic), Strauss Performing Arts Center Concert Hall, 6305 University Dr. N.; choose your own ticket price, $0 and up, with cash, card or check at the door; weekend parking on UNO's Dodge Campus needs no permit.
• UNO Public Planetarium Show: One Sky (official page), 4:30 and 6 p.m., Durham Science Center, Room 135, 6601 University Dr. N.; a fulldome show of short films, each from the perspective of a different culture or Indigenous society, on how people read the sky; $10 online.
• Roller Skating DJ Night (official page), 5-9 p.m., Skate Ribbon, Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront; DJ Animale plays the last roller skating night before the ribbon turns to ice for the season.

Monday, Nov. 16

• Writers Workshop: Memoirs and Our Family History (official page), 5-7 p.m., Saddlebrook Branch, 14850 Laurel Ave.; Lincoln poet and educator Sam Lee reads original memoir writing and leads a discussion on family history and identity; his memoir includes discussion of mental health; free, adults 19 and up; registration required at (402) 444-5780.
• UNO Jazz Ensemble II and III (official page), 7:30 p.m., Strauss Performing Arts Center Concert Hall, 6305 University Dr. N.; two university jazz bands in concert; choose your own ticket price, $0 and up, with cash or checks at the door.

Tuesday, Nov. 17

• Space Race Escape Room (official page), 30-minute rooms at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch, 2100 Reading Plaza, Elkhorn; crews solve puzzles built on the history of the space race; ages 8-12, up to 10 per room; free; registration required at (402) 289-4367.
• UNO Guitar Studio Recital (official page), 7:30 p.m., Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, 6305 University Dr. N.; free.

Wednesday, Nov. 18

• Bilingual Introduction to U.S. Citizenship (official page), 6-7:30 p.m., Downtown Branch, 1401 Jones St., Meeting Room 206; a bilingual overview of eligibility, the naturalization test and the Latino Center of the Midlands' citizenship classes and scholarships, with time for questions.
• Past, Present, Futures writing workshop with Noni Williams (official page), 6:30 p.m., Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, 2289 S. 67th St.; a tour of the exhibition, then a reflection and writing session where participants can share their own work; free; RSVP requested, limited to 25.

Thursday, Nov. 19

• Friends of OPL Book Sale (official page), 10 a.m.-3 p.m., W. Clarke Swanson Branch, 9101 W. Dodge Road, lower level; also 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21; the Friends of Omaha Public Library sell used books and now take credit and debit cards.
• Curiosity Crew: LEGOs (Do Space) (official page), 10-11 a.m., Central Library, 7205 Dodge St.; children ages 2 to 6 and a caregiver build Lego cars; free; full; registration closed.
• Teacher Nights (official page), 4:30-7:30 p.m., The Joslyn, 2200 Dodge St.; PK-12 teachers from Nebraska and western Iowa districts take a gallery session in the Café Society exhibition, then a 90-minute workshop; free; registration required, with online registration closing Nov. 16 or when full; walk-ins as space allows.
• Intro to Cricut (Do Space) (official page), 5:30-7:30 p.m., Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St.; a skills class on using the Cricut machine for a project; free, ages 13 and up; full; registration closed.
• Writes of Passage (official page), 7 p.m., UNO Criss Library, near Starbucks, 6401 University Dr. N.; a monthly spoken-word open mic held every third Thursday.
• JCRC Community Conversation with Dan Feferman (official page), 7-8:30 p.m., Staenberg Omaha JCC, 333 S. 132nd St.; "After the Elections: What's Next for U.S.-Israel Relations and American Jews?"; exact location provided at check-in; registration required; guests check in at the front desk.
• UNOTheatre: She Loves Me (official page), 7:30 p.m., UNO Weber Black Box Theatre, Weber Fine Arts Building, 6505 University Dr. S.; a romantic musical comedy; Nov. 19 is a preview night at $10, with general admission $20 for later shows, also at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20-21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22, then Dec. 3-6; UNO students are admitted free with a MavCARD.
• Silent Night of the Lambs (official page), opens at BLUEBARN Theatre and runs through Dec. 19; Ryan Landry's comedy mixes The Silence of the Lambs with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, directed by Susan Clement; showtimes and tickets on the theater's page.

Friday, Nov. 20

• Stories in Motion: Music and Movement Around the World (official page), 10:30-11:30 a.m., Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St., children's area; Circle Theatre leads toddlers and caregivers through European folk dances, songs and rhythm games built around "The Bremen-Town Musicians"; recommended for ages 3-5, all ages welcome, with a caregiver staying.
• Family Night: Holiday Edition (official page), 5-6:45 p.m., lobby of the Shirley Tyree Theater, The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th St.; families decorate Christmas tree ornaments to take home; free, with all supplies provided.

Saturday, Nov. 21

• Winter Wildlife Survival (official page), 2-3 p.m., Florence Branch, 2920 Bondesson St.; Nebraska Wildlife Rehab shows how the state's native animals get through the cold months; ages 6-12, with a parent or caregiver staying; free; registration required, call (402) 444-5299 or email fb-managers@omahalibrary.org.
• Circle Theater: Hana's Suitcase (official page), 7 p.m., Staenberg Omaha JCC; also 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22; Karen Levine's play, based on a true story, follows a Japanese educator as she uncovers the life of Hana Brady, a Jewish girl who died in the Holocaust; open to all ages; $20, tickets required; guests check in at the front desk.

Sunday, Nov. 22

• LEGO Skyscraper Challenge (official page), workshop sessions 11 a.m.-noon and 1-2 p.m., Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive; Metropolitan Community College shows how engineers design the world's tallest buildings, then guests try to build the tallest Lego tower they can; all ages; free with daily admission or membership; space is limited, with first-come tickets at the front desk.
• I Am a Man: Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice (official page), 2-3 p.m., Central Library, 7205 Dodge St., Community Room C; author Joseph Starita discusses his book on the Ponca chief's walk home to bury his son; free, ages 19 and up; full; registration closed.

Monday, Nov. 23

• Creepy Carrots Escape Room (official page), rooms at 2-2:30 and 3-3:30 p.m., Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St.; kids solve puzzles from Aaron Reynolds' picture book to rescue Jasper Rabbit; ages 6-10, with a parent or caregiver staying; free; registration required at (402) 444-6284.

Ongoing exhibits and activities

• A Way Back Home (official page), on stage through Nov. 21, Shirley Tyree Theater, The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th St.; Jerry Colbert's holiday show of storytelling and family memories set to holiday classics and contemporary music, directed by Denise Chapman; the Nov. 20 performance begins at 7 p.m.; tickets on the Union's page.
• The History of the Buffalo Soldiers (official page), (exhibition) through Jan. 2, 2027, Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th St.; the story of the Army's all-Black regiments formed after the Civil War; museum hours 1-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
• Tuskegee Airmen & Those Who Served (official page), (exhibition) through Jan. 1, 2027, Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th St.; an exhibit on Tuskegee Airmen who called Nebraska home and on African Americans who served in the military; museum hours 1-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
• Day of the Dead / Día de Muertos (official page), (exhibition) through Nov. 21, El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St.; ofrendas honoring loved ones; guided tours with advance reservation.
• Native American Heritage Month Story Walk (official page), through Nov. 30, Arches Playground, Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront; a story walk on the history and contributions of Indigenous people, open 5 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

Have an event, a local photo or a neighbor we should know about? Email editor@omahacommons.com.

Source: CHI Health Center Omaha: Omaha Holiday Boutique; Omaha Public Library: Lucha Libre with Latin Thunder, South Omaha; Kiewit Luminarium: Inside Sports Medicine; Omaha Public Library: Spark Studio; The Joslyn: Art-tastic Saturdays; Kiewit Luminarium: BioDiscovery Lab; Kiewit Luminarium: The Plastics Puzzle, Nov. 14; Kiewit Luminarium: The Plastics Puzzle, Nov. 15; Omaha Public Library: Night Sky Adventure; Omaha Public Library: Lucha libre con Latin Thunder, Willa Cather; The Joslyn: Slow Sundays at The Joslyn: Yoga; UNO Events: Past, Present, Futures programming; Jewish Federation of Omaha: Watercolor Workshop: Painting Clouds; UNO Events: OAYO Youth Concert Strings Concert; UNO Events: OAYO Youth Philharmonic Concert; UNO Events: One Sky; The RiverFront: Roller Skating DJ Night; Omaha Public Library: Writers Workshop: Memoirs and Our Family History; UNO Events: UNO Jazz Ensemble II and III; Omaha Public Library: Space Race Escape Room; UNO Events: UNO Guitar Studio Recital; Omaha Public Library: Bilingual Introduction to U.S. Citizenship; Omaha Public Library: Friends of OPL Book Sale; Omaha Public Library: Curiosity Crew, Nov. 19; The Joslyn: Teacher Nights; Omaha Public Library: Intro to Cricut; UNO Events: Writes of Passage; Jewish Federation of Omaha: JCRC Community Conversation with Dan Feferman; UNO Events: UNOTheatre presents She Loves Me; BLUEBARN Theatre: Plays and events; Omaha Public Library: Stories in Motion; The Union for Contemporary Art: Family Night: Holiday Edition; Omaha Public Library: Winter Wildlife Survival, Florence; Jewish Federation of Omaha: Circle Theater presents Hana's Suitcase; Kiewit Luminarium: LEGO Skyscraper Challenge; Omaha Public Library: I Am a Man: Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice; Omaha Public Library: Creepy Carrots Escape Room; The Union for Contemporary Art: A Way Back Home; Great Plains Black History Museum; El Museo Latino: Day of the Dead; The RiverFront: Native American Heritage Month Story Walk.

Reported from each event's official page and the Omaha Public Library's event listings, opened Nov. 14 at 5:20 a.m. CT, and checked against the record by our copy desk before publishing.