BFF Omaha’s Petfest, Saturday, August 14: 
Head to Petshop Gallery this weekend to support Omaha arts at Benson First Friday’s annual music festival fundraiser, Petfest. This year sports an incredible lineup of drag performances curated by Queer Nite, live painting by Ryan Kinsch, a late night DJ battle between DJ Crabrangucci and DJ Kobrakyle, and performances from a long list of local Omaha favorites. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 day of show, available here.

Arts Block Party, Saturday, August 14: 
It’s one last “hurrah” before school starts up again, and Omaha Conservatory of Music and Omaha Academy of Ballet want to help you go out with a bang. 2021’s Arts Block Party is a free, family-friendly, back-to-school celebration full of arts classes, games, building tours, and performances. Join other Omaha arts lovers at the Omaha Conservatory Campus (72nd and Cass) and enjoy all these free offerings, as well as delicious local food and raffle prizes. Full schedule and map available here.

Melissa Etheridge at Holland Center Outdoors, Saturday, August 14: 
Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her self-titled debut album. Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, she has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. Get your tickets for her show at the Holland Center Outdoors series to enjoy her classics such as “Ain’t It Heavy” and “No Souveniers” here.

Art Deco in Three Films, Sundays in August: 
This season’s exhibit at Joslyn Art Museum celebrates the Art Deco Era, with its visual aesthetic full of bold lines, shapely curves, and stark color contrasts. When translated to cinema, those components could take audiences to new, lavish worlds, worlds that Joslyn and Film Streams are celebrating with this three-film series. Sundays in August, classic Deco-Era films such as Grand Hotel (August 15), Flying Down to Rio (August 22), and The Wizard of Oz(August 29) will be screened at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey Street. The films will begin at 1 p.m. every August Sunday afternoon. More information available here.

OEAA Nominations Open Now through August 31, 2021: 
Public nominations for the 2022 OEAAs are now open! Head to their voting page to nominate your favorite artistic works, performances, and more from 2021. The OEAAwards is a local nonprofit dedicated to celebrating visual artists, musicians, and stage performers actively working in the Greater Omaha Metro. The deadline for public nominations is Aug. 31 for the 16th Annual Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards. Vote now to recognize important artistic works produced and performed in the past year (since Sept. 1, 2020). Voting can be completed here.