The debut of First Fridays at The RiverFront in Omaha was canceled Friday afternoon after about an hour of activities at Gene Leahy Mall.
Erick Landa and Hannah Lamprecht break down a tent at Gene Leahy Mall in Omaha on Friday, July 3, 2026.
Downtown Omaha Inc., in partnership with The RiverFront, was set to host the first of four First Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Gene Leahy Mall pavilion, but officials called off the event after heavy rain and lightning moved through the area around 4:30 p.m.
The day was set to feature music by saxophonist Chad Stoner as well as performances from the Pear Tree dancers and the Raices de México dancers.
Other festivities planned included face painting by Ima Clown and interactive family activities including cornhole, Giant Jenga, Spikeball and an art walk.
Before the first First Friday was canceled, many families and groups had already gathered in the park. Omaha Mayor John Ewing, who was set to speak, waited nearby as event coordinators decided to call the event off.
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People run across Gene Leahy Mall as rain falls in Omaha on Friday, July 3, 2026.
Bailey Wilson, with the Nebraska Humane Society, attended before storms hit. She said that she was happy to take part in the community celebration — while it lasted — and handle outreach for the Humane Society.
“It's super exciting,” Wilson said. "We love getting involved with the community any chance that we get."
Three more First Fridays are planned this year. The next event will be on Aug. 7 with the others on Sept. 4 and Oct. 2.
The RiverFront also announced earlier Friday that its evening Community Concert featuring Legends of Country with the Omaha Symphony in the park would be postponed to Sunday.
The concert will start at 8:30 p.m. and will have vocals from "The X Factor" finalist Rachel Potter and "The Voice" finalist Patrick Thomas as they pay tribute to the greatest names in country music including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers and Faith Hill.
Background vocals will include Jamie Luedtke, Lauren Morrissey and Brayden Worden.
Rachel Ruiz walks across Gene Leahy Mall as rain falls in Omaha on Friday, July 3, 2026.
Interested listeners can start setting up at 3 p.m. Sunday. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and folding chairs to secure their spots on the lawn.
The fifth annual Independence Day Celebration at The RiverFront is still set for Saturday and will feature music by the Omaha Symphony and a fireworks show.
The symphony will perform at 8:30 p.m. at the Gene Leahy Mall pavilion with a lineup of patriotic tunes such as "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful" as well music by John Williams and Broadway favorites.
The fireworks show synchronized with the symphony's music will be broadcast live on KETV for the first time. The broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. with a special showcase of America 250 commemorations across Nebraska and the country followed by live coverage of the concert and the fireworks show.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2026
Creighton women’s basketball coach Jim Flanery plays freeze tag with Jensen Lindgren Annual Creighton Abilities Basketball Camp at Creighton University in Omaha, on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Grayson Dix, left, and Creighton physical therapy student Weston Hirschi work on a dribbling drill at the Annual Creighton Abilities Basketball Camp at Creighton University in Omaha, on Friday, June 5, 2026.
“The Kiss” by Sophie Ryder is seen in the newly opened Polina Gardens located at 727 S 13th St. in Omaha, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Creighton physical therapy student Nick Friedman and Aiden Keckeisen are greeted with cheers as they arrive at the Annual Creighton Abilities Basketball Camp at Creighton University in Omaha, on Friday, June 5, 2026.
The Polina Gardens located at 727 S 13th St. in Omaha, opened to the public on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Karol Ulmer, right, talks to her grandnephew, Luke Arp, 4, at Polina Gardens located at 727 S 13th St. in Omaha, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Don Janousek, right poses for a picture with his grandson, Ethan Janousek and his Afghan hound, Arctic Storm, at Janousek Florists 4901 Charles St.. in Omaha, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Workers pour concrete on the Farnam Street bridge deck over highway 75 in Omaha, on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Ted Harris rigs his pole while fishing in Benson Park in Omaha on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Hunter Welchert, 7, points towards the next fishing spot as his uncle, Joshua, rigs his pole in Benson Park in Omaha, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
From left, family members Miguel Martinez, Kye Martinez, 3, and Chebna Altimeau spend time at the Cascade Fountain at Gene Leahy Mall Omaha on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
A cyclist bikes from the Field Club Trail to the South Omaha trail near the silos near 35th and Vinton Streets in Omaha, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
North Carolina's Carter French (18) watches Oklahoma celebrate after winning game three of the College World Series championship series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Monday, June 22, 2026.
A woman is overcome with emotion as Omaha police are on the scene of a shooting that left a man and woman dead in a suspected murder-suicide near 82nd Avenue and Bondesson Street in Omaha, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Omaha police officers install a car seat into a cruiser for a one-year-old who was on the scene of a shooting that left a man and woman dead in a suspected murder-suicide near 82nd Avenue and Bondesson Street in Omaha, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Oklahoma's Xander Mercurius (23) pitches against Georgia during the fourth inning in game eight of the Men’s College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Monday, June 15, 2026.
West Virginia's Paul Schoenfeld (6) dives for a ball hit by Troy's Sean Darnell (37) during the third inning in game one of the Men’s College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Friday, June 12, 2026.
Flattened corn can be seen in a field after storms left damage in Cass County, Nebraska north of Union, on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
A train is blocked by a fallen tree on tracks north of Adams Street, just west of Highway 75 after storms left damage in Cass County, Nebraska north of Union, on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
