Mia Jenkins, director of marketing, explains the process of creating a 20-foot poinsettia tree at Lauritzen Gardens for their holiday show, Merry & Bright.
The Holiday Cultural Festival returns to the Durham Museum on Friday after a two-year break because of the pandemic.
More than 30 local cultural organizations will display crafts and traditional dress depicting how different countries celebrate the holiday season. Musicians and dancers will perform throughout the event.
Dancers perform during the Holiday Culture Festival at the Durham Museum.
Food and gifts from around the world will be available for purchase. And Santa will make a special appearance.
Some of the groups at the event include the African Culture Connection, Craoi na Tire Studio of Irish Dance, Flamenco Omaha, the Omaha chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, Scottish Society of Nebraska, the Sons of Norway and more.
More than 30 local cultural organizations will display crafts and traditional dress depicting how different countries celebrate the holiday season during the Holiday Cultural Festival at the Durham Museum.
In addition, a display of Christmas trees from many cultures will be up now through Jan. 8, 2023. Local cultural societies decorate each tree and write an interpretive text explaining the meaning behind the decorations and the unique traditions of each culture.
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The festival is from 4 to 9 p.m. It’s included in regular museum admission: $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for kids age 3 through 12 and free for those age 2 and younger. The museum is on the outskirts of the Old Market at 801 S. 10th St.
‘Christmas With Wesleyan’
Youth choirs will join singers from Nebraska Wesleyan University in “Let Heaven and Nature Sing: Christmas With Wesleyan” this weekend.
The concert will be performed at 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church, 2723 N. 50th St. in Lincoln.
The Lincoln Boys Choir and an ensemble from Waverly High School will join three Wesleyan choirs to create a group of more than 150 singers. A string quartet, oboe, guitar, percussion, piano and organ will accompany the combined group.
An audience sing-along will feature familiar carols such as “Joy to the World” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
Tom Trenney, director of choirs at Wesleyan, promises an evening filled with Christmas magic.
“We believe the music and message we share can bring healing to our souls and hope to our hearts,” he said.
The event is free and open to the public. Donations to a free-will offering will go to Friendship Home, a nonprofit that fights domestic violence.
TADA opens musical
An eclectic and riveting musical by Jason Robert Brown opens Friday at the TADA Theatre in Lincoln.
“Songs for a New World” mixes jazz, pop and gospel music with tight harmonies and daring vocals. The settings vary widely from a Spanish ship sailing for a new land to the ledge of a New York penthouse. The characters are also interesting: a young Bronx man who wants to play pro basketball, a sad Mrs. Claus who isn’t looking forward to Christmas and more.
It’s designed to appeal to both old and new generations.
The cast features Jake Bartlett, Beth King, Maddy Stark and Roderick Cotton. The director is University of Nebraska professor Alisa Belflower.
Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. It runs through Dec. 28, with no show on Dec. 9. Call 402-438-8232 for tickets and more information.
Singer stops at Buck’s
Country musician Jeremy McComb is bringing his “Christmas, Cowboy Style” to a popular Venice, Nebraska, bar.
Traditional western lifestyle and frontier culture inspired the show, which features music by Michael Martin Murphey, Lyle Lovett, Asleep at the Wheel and more. It stops at Buck’s Bar and Grill, 27849 West Center Road, at 9 tonight.
McComb, known for his storytelling, has been in radio and tour-managing and has released five albums. He wrote songs for projects that have sold more than 60 million copies, including the Grammy Award-nominated soundtrack “Blue Collar Comedy Tour — One for the Road.”
He was born in Idaho and is a sixth-generation musician.
Tickets are $20 at the door.
‘Holiday Lites’ at Benson
A series of original one-acts makes up “Holiday Lites,” onstage at the Benson Theatre, 6058 Maple St., on weekends beginning Friday through Dec. 17.
The intermingled and interconnected vignettes feature a variety of stories, such as an encounter with Krampus, dealing with grief at the holidays and a new way of looking at cookies. The tales involve Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter solstice, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve and a few surprises.
They’re written by MS Wulfgar, Moira Mangiameli, Jason Levering and Katt Walsh.
Tickets are available at bensontheatre.org. They’re $35 for general admission and $30 for students, seniors and military personnel. Masks are required at performances.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of November 2022
Claude Smith looks at photos from the 1960s hanging in the business, now back at its original 1963 location.
Nebraska’s Logan Smothers starts warmups before taking on Michigan on Saturday.
Nebraska fan Cory Steuben wears a bag on his head in the fourth quarter as his team loses to Michigan 34-3 on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog watches as Michigan’s Cornelius Johnson can’t pull in this first-half passo n Saturday.
Michigan’s Mason Graham hits Nebraska quarterback Logan Smothers as he throws a pass in the second quarter on Saturday.
The University of Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band performs outside of Memorial Stadium before Nebraska’s game against Minnesota in Lincoln on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Blaise Keita celebrates a basket during their game against UNO at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Thursday.
Nebraska’s C.J. Wilcher (left) battles UNO’s Frankie Fidler for a loose ball during their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Thursday.
Staff members place poinsettias in a custom-made iron tree frame for the Merry & Bright show at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha on Wednesday.
Bailley Liddick places poinsettias in a custom-made iron tree frame for the Merry & Bright show at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha on Wednesday.
Supporters cheer as Tony Vargas walks onstage to speak during an election party at Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown in Omaha on Tuesday.
Ann Tretter (from left), Susan Wagoner, and Martha Lemar react as election results come in during the Tony Vargas election party at Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown in Omaha on Tuesday.
Democratic congressional candidate Tony Vargas speaks to supporters during his election party at Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown in Omaha on Tuesday.
Democratic congressional candidate Tony Vargas hugs his mother, Lidia Vargas, near 24th & L St. in Omaha on election night.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE02) and Angie Bacon, his wife, are congratulated by supporters during an election night results party in Omaha on Tuesday.
Nebraska’s players celebrate a 3-pointer during their game against UNO at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Monday.
Nebraska’s Allison Weidner (left) and Trinity Brady (right) steal the ball from UNO’s Kennedi Grant during their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Monday.
Nebraska’s Allison Weidner (left) steals the ball from UNO’s Polina Nikulochkina during their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Monday.
Nebraska’s Isabelle Bourne high-fives fans as she walks out of the tunnel before their game against UNO at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Monday.
Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski huddles with her teammates before their game against UNO at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Monday.
UNO’s Katie Keitges (left) and Akili Felici (right) battle Nebraska’s Annika Stewart for a loose ball during their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Monday.
Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome breaks up a pass to Minnesota’s Michael Brown-Stephens during their game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Ty Robinson celebrates after he sacked Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan during their game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Logan Smothers (center) is sacked by Minnesota’s Thomas Rush (left) and Kyler Baugh during their game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Chubba Purdy (6) runs with the ball during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.
UNO’s Jonny Tychonick tries to shoot the puck past North Dakota goalie Drew DeRidder in the second period on Friday.
UNO goalie Jake Kucharski watches the puck float by as he falls on his back in the first period against North Dakota on Friday.
Creighton’s Kendra Wait (right) tries to tip the ball past Providence’s Emma Nelson during their match at Sokol Arena in Omaha on Friday.
Norfolk Catholic’s Allison Brungardt (8) serves the ball in the Norfolk Catholic vs. Nebraska Christian Class D1 quarterfinals of the NSAA state volleyball tournament in Lincoln on Thursday. Norfolk Catholic won in three sets.
John Sherman Jr. talks with Kaiden Davidson after coming up short on a trick at a new skate park in Walthill on the Omaha Nation reservation during a grand opening celebration.
John Sherman Jr. flies through the air while performing a trick at a new skate park in Walthill on the Omaha Nation reservation during a grand opening celebration.
Kaiden Davidson holds his board at a new skate park in Walthill on the Omaha Nation reservation during a grand opening celebration.
A womans walks by the police tape after Omaha police shot a man near Minne Lusa Boulevard during their annual “Halloween on the Boolevard” event on Monday.
A family walks by the police tape after Omaha police shot a man near Minne Lusa Boulevard during their annual “Halloween on the Boolevard” event on Monday.
A team from the Midwest Archaeological Center uses ground penetrating radar and other equipment to determine if human remains are buried where detection dogs previously signaled the site of a potential burial ground for children who died while at the Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Photographed near the site of the school, bordering the Loup River Power Canal in Genoa, Neb., on Thursday.
Dennis Pate poses for a portrait at the zoo’s sea lion exhibit. Pate oversaw an ambitious 10-year plan that involved the creation of multiple new exhibits, including Owen Sea Lion Shores.
elizabeth.freeman@owh.com, 402-444-1267