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Give Back, Thursday, Oct. 29 to Thursday, Nov. 5:
Bellevue University and Wounded Warrior Project are co-sponsoring a backpack drive for homeless veterans staying at the Siena Francis House. They’ll provide the backpacks if you help fill them at this Backpack Drive for Homeless Veterans. Drop your donations off at Bellevue University Military Veteran Services Center. They are looking for a number of items, listed below. See all the dates here.
- Hand sanitizer (8 oz. or less)
- Masks
- Blankets
- Baby wipes
- Hand and body lotion
- Hand and feet warmers
- Men and women's deodorant
- Lip balm
- Winter hats and gloves
- Women's bars of soap
- Individually packaged snacks such as cheese and cracker packs, candy, and small bags of chips
- Monetary and gift card donations also accepted
A Treat at The Mart, Thursday, Oct. 29 to Saturday, Oct. 31:
Looking for some Halloween tricks and treats? The Mart has you covered with Halloweekend at Nebraska Furniture Mart. Trick-or-treating starts on Thursday, with a special free drive-in showing of Minions happening on Friday in the parking lot. Saturday’s highlight is the Fall Vendor Festival, where you can shop an assortment of unique and local goods. Find all the details on the event here, and see NFM’s full calendar here.
All events will have COVID-19 safety precautions in place including, but not limited to, masks being required, social distancing protocols, limited touchpoints, hand sanitizer stations, and hand-washing stations throughout the event areas.
Culture and More at Culxr House, Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31:
The people of Culxr House have been busy. This Friday they are throwing a Haunted Culxr House Creative Jamboree. This masked-up party will have a haunted house, food, karaoke, and of course, art, in the form of their Spooky Art Contest. Learn more about Friday’s event here. On Saturday, they will be giving back to the community with the help of Dundee’s Scout Dry Goods & Trade and Fresh Start Laundromat when they host Omaha’s first Street Store popup. Street Store is a venture that began in Cape Town, South Africa, whose mission is to provide free clothing to those experiencing homelessness or clothing insecurity. Looking ahead, if you need a ride to the polls on Tuesday, sign up for a free ride from volunteers through Culxr House here. To view upcoming events, click here.
Treats at Bones, Saturday, Oct. 31:
There’s some uncertainty surrounding Halloween traditions this year, but one way to ensure a good time is by attending Trick or Treating at Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch. With the event taking place from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., there is plenty of time to attend and to stay safe by practicing social distancing. This is the end of their season, and a final haunted corn maze will take place from dusk to 10 p.m. It’s supposed to be a sunny day, so get out while you can. Find out more here.
A Day of Remembrance, Sunday, Nov. 1:
In Omaha, 2020 Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will be celebrated with ofrendas (traditional memorial displays) in two downtown Lincoln locations, the Nebraska History Museum and Bennett Martin Public Library. This virtual event includes storytelling, mariachi music from Mariachi Zapata (read more about them here), traditional Mexican dance from Grupo Folklórico Sangre Azteca dancers, and more. This family-oriented event starts at 1 p.m. and is free for everyone. It will include welcome remarks and an explanation of the meaning of Dia de los Muertos. Please RSVP here.
Event times and details may change. Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.
