2008 Events

2008 Past and Current Events in Historic Florence:

January 2008
- None
February 2008
- Friday, Feb. 8th – Saturday, 9th, 2008 (Friday-Saturday):
  - Florentine Players Meatball Series,
    "A Night at the Improv"
    Written by: Shannelle Kowal and JD Stroebel
    Directed by: Derek Kowal
    Ticket Prices: $15.
    For Reservations Call: 402-502-2444.
    Dinner: 6:30 P.M. - Show: 6:30 P.M.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
    Dinner is: Italian Dressing on a Salad, Spaghetti with Meatsauce & Sour Cream Mint Chocolate Cake for Dessert (Meatless Spaghetti available on Friday for you Lenten observers).
    May the Luck of the Irish be with You!
- Sunday, Feb. 24th – Monday, 25th, 2008:
  - Florentine Players audition for May Melodrama,
    Time: 7:00 P.M.
    Information: 402-880-9402
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
March 2008
- Saturday, Mar. 8th, 2008:
  - Boy Scout Railroad Fest.
    Earn your Boy Scout Railroad Merit Badge in one day.
    Sponsored by Kiwanis of Florence First two hours are at the Florence Depot, 9126 North 30th Street (()).
    At 2 P.M. the event moves to the Mormon Trail Center 3215 State Street, ()
    From: 12 P.M. to 4 P.M.
- Saturday, Mar. 15th – Sunday, 16th, 2008:
  - Florentine Players March Madness,
    "Bordello of the Damned’" - ~ A murder mystery whose suspects include a “madam”, her “ladies of the night”, the stagecoach driver, former River Dance addict, a host of Irish characters…and YOU! ~
    As always we encourage people to come dressed as your favorite “Irish Personality”
    Directed by: Carol Hodges
    Ticket Prices: $15 with meal, $10 show without meal;
    Dinner is catered by the Florentine Players
    Homemade Soup Dinner
    May the Luck of the Irish be with You!
    Doors open at 6:00 P.M.
    Dinner begins at 6:30 P.M.
    Show begins at 7:00 P.M.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
    Information 402-502-2444
- Sunday, Mar. 16th, 2008 (Palm Sunday):
  - St. Philip Neri Church Annual Roast Beef Dinner
  - Location: St Philip Neri Blessed Sacrament Parish at 8200 N 30th St (In Omaha's Historic Florence Area)
  - Event Start Time: 11 A.M. CDT
  - Event End Time: 6 P.M. CDT
  - Event Cost: Adult $7.50; Kids (6-12) $4.00; Under 5 Free
  - Contact Phone: Rim Kiuntke / 402-571-8600
    Invites you to their Annual Roast Beef Dinner on Palm Sunday, April 1st from 11:30 - 6 P.M., downstairs in the Parish Center.
    Featuring tender sliced roast beef with all the fixings, and delicious homemade salads & desserts. Takeouts available too!
    Elevator also available for handicap access.
    Located at St Philip Neri Blessed Sacrament Parish, 8200 N 30th St (())
April 2008
- None
May 2008
- Saturday, May 3rd, 2008:
  - The Fabulous ROGUES,
    "TWIST - LIMBO - HULA HOOP CONTESTS"
    Ticket Prices: Couples: $5, Individuals: $3.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
    Brought to you by the Florence Historical Foundation
    Information: 402-453-4280
- Thursday, May 1st – Saturday, 31st, 2008:
  - Florence Mill's ArtLoft:,
    Time: 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Tuesday-Sunday.
    Located at Florence Mill, 9102 North 30th Street (())
    Open 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 only.
    Reception for the Artist, Saturday, May 17th, 2008, 2008 from 1:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
    Information: 402-551-1233
- Friday, May 9th – Saturday, 10th, 2008 (and 16-18 (Friday-Sunday)):
  - Florentine Players Melodrama,
    "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone’" or "Florence, It's Raining Men’"
    Written by: Shannelle Kowal and JD Stroebel
    Directed by: Derek Kowal
    Ticket Prices: $10, Seniors & Groups of 8 or more: $8, available by mail, or in person after April 18th at Florence (Hy-Vee) Drug Town Pharmacy (()).
    Curtain at 7:30 P.M. Fri-Sat & 2:00 P.M. Sunday Matinee
    Doors open 1 hour before curtain.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
    Information: 402-880-9402
    Auditions for this show: Sunday, Feb. 17th – Monday, 18th, 2008 - 7:00 P.M.
- Saturday, May 10th – Sunday, 11th, 2008 Second weekend of May, 2008:
  - Florence Days - Details
    - Music in the park - Shadow Ridge (at 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.) (Mormon Park). (())
    - Vintage Car Show following the parade at Florence Home, 7915 N. 30th Street (()).
    - Open house, free blood pressure check, free computer sessions, and a bake sale from 9 A.M. to Noon, at the Florence Home, 7915 N. 30th Street (()).
  - Saturday, May 10th, 2008 10th, 2008 (Saturday):
    - Florence Days Parade, 1-3 P.M. from Miller Park to McKinley Street.
      - There are several new entries in this very special year's parade. See Details | See pictures from the 2007 parade.
- Saturday, May 17th, 2008:
  - Florence Mill Open House & sneak preview of Summer Art Show
    9102 North 30th Street (()).
June 2008
- Monday, Jun. 23rd, 2008:
  - North Omaha Commercial Club Annual Picnic. (See details)
    Location: at North Omaha Airport (North 72nd and Highway 36) (()).
    Time: 5:30 P.M.
July 2008
- Friday, Jul. 18th, 2008:
  - Florentine Players - 2008 July "Florence Follies" Show. - Salute to Reality TV
    Florenteenies will be involved in this show too.
    Information: 402-880-9402
    Time: Doors open at 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. CDT
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
August 2008
- Friday, Aug. 1st – Sunday, 31st, 2008 & Monday, Sep. 1st – Tuesday, 30th, 2008:
  - Sariah Ha, 2008 Recipient of the Connor Meigs Award *
  - On display through October 5, 2008 at the Florence Mill ArtLoft is "Configurations": Paintings by Sariah Ha, from Diamond Bar California. Sariah is a recent graduate of California State University at Fullerton. This is her first solo exhibit. She was selected from a pool of national applications as the 2008 recipient of the Connor Meigs Award, given in memory of my late son. The opening reception for the artist was Sunday, August 3. Sariah's work is figurative and loosely drawn in the tradition of Egon Schiele, but with an Asian flair.
  - Details (1 page)
  - August 3 Opening Reception, 1:30-4:30 P.M.
- Friday, Aug. 22nd – Saturday, 23rd, 2008:
  - Florentine Players - 2008 August Murder Mystery. "Murder at the Prom"
    Oriental Buffet for the meal
    Guests are encouraged to dress for the Prom!
    Catering by: No Frills - 30th and Weber
    Ticket Prices: $15 (Reservations required).
    Preview night on Thursday, August 11th. Show is only $10.
    Information: Call Our own “Karaoke Queen” Janet Wood at 402-502-2444
    Time: Doors open at 6:00 P.M.; show starts at 6:30 P.M.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
September 2008
- Sunday, Sep. 7th, 2008:
  - Antiques Auction to benefit Florence Futures.
    Information: A fundraiser to implement the Historic Florence masterplan. Doug & Connie Rose are the committee in charge of the auction/fundraiser. Folks can bring their antiques* to the old Hy-Vee Drug Town at 30th & State starting at 8 A.M.. The auction starts at 1 P.M.
    
    People selling items will receive 80% of the sale price. Florence Futures will receive 20%, so that amount is a write-off donation to the nonprofit. The auctioneer, Larry, is donating his services and Dennis Bogard is donating use of his building for this event.
    
    *(furniture, linens, ceramics, dishes, dolls, cars...cars have to be 30 years old, everything else 50 years old to qualify as antique).
    Time: 9-5 P.M.
    Located at Drug Town: 8401 N 30th (30th & State Street) (())
- Saturday, Sep. 27th, 2008:
  - Florentine Players "Taste of Florence" and Garage Sale.
    Accepting donations after July 1
    Information: 402-880-9402
    Time: 9-5 P.M.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
October 2008
- Sunday, Oct. 5th – Saturday, 25th, 2008:
  - Florenteenies - 2008 October Show.
    Information: 402-880-9402
    Time: Doors open at 2:00 P.M.; show starts at 3:00 P.M.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
- Friday, Oct. 17th – Saturday, 18th, 2008:
  - Florentine Players - 2008 October Murder Mystery (Florence Boulevard).
    Dress for the occasion! (Hint: The Audience is part of the melodrama).
    Ticket Prices: $15 (Reservations required).
    Information: 402-501-2444
    Time: Doors open at 6:00 P.M.; show starts at 6:30 P.M.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
    The Florentine Players present “Florence Boulevard”, an original murder mystery by Heidi Lowe. Aging, tyrannical diva Norma Despot is making a comeback after a long absence from the stage - and is blackmailing her cast and crew in the process. Suddenly, someone dies - it's murder! Who could have done it? Could it be the aging diva who knows everyone's secrets; her ex-husband/lawyer; her second husband (a mystery playwright); her loyal, downtrodden assistant; the very, very bad opera singer; the flamboyant director; the trashy party-girl actress; or the Hollywood glamour boy?
November 2008
- Saturday, Nov. 22nd, 2008:
  - The Fabulous ROGUES,
    "RAFFLES: 50/50 & HUSKER TICKETS"
    "CASH BAR including JELL-O SHOTS"
    Ticket Prices: Couples: $5, Individuals: $3.
    Located at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
    Brought to you by the Florence Historical Foundation
    Information: 402-453-4280
    Details (1 page)
December 2008 • Back
- Monday, Dec. 1st – Wednesday, 24th, 2008:
  - Mormon Trail Center Gingerbread House Display
    3215 State Street, ()
    Open 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. 402-453-9372.
    Gingerbread House Display is open to the public. See Mormon Trail Center page for more details.
- Sunday, Dec. 7th, 2008:
  - Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Florence
    Location: Mormon Park, 30th and State Street (())
    - Lighting takes place on Sunday at 5:30 P.M.
    - Coffee and Cocoa will be served.
    - No reservation is required.
    - The Bank of Florence will have open hours from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. CST
      - Come get your picture taken with Santa. Then join us over at the park.
- Saturday, Dec. 20th, 2008:
  - Caroling Party (Details)
    Starts at Florence City Hall, 2864 State Street ()
    From 5:30 P.M. to 11 P.M. 402-880-9402.
    Bring drink, appetizer, and soup to share.
    We visit shut-ins to sing. See Details for full itinerary

Others

We rest and prepare for another year from January to early May, although there will be Florentine Players performances starting in January or February, and the Douglas County Historical Society has some events near Florence that are listed as well. Check our Events page for details and final dates as we learn about them.