Are you ready for Hairball?

After more than two decades delivering “their signature, electrifying homage to the biggest names in 80s arena rock,” Hairball is set to bring its Silver Anniversary Tour to the Heartland Events Center stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.

Fans will be “blown away by their flawless recreations” of Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, and more, complete with larger-than-life pyrotechnics, lights and pure rock energy.

For a quarter of a century, Hairball has been more than just a concert — it’s an immersive Rock & Roll spectacle that captures the spirit of an era. Get ready for a night that will hit you like a freight train and leave you wanting more.

Tickets start at $30 (plus fees) and are available at the HEC box office or ticketmaster.com

The City of Grand Island Parks and Recreation Department will host a special showing of “Little Giants” on Friday, Sept. 12, as part of its annual Movies in the Park series.

The movie will be shown in the open field west of Kids Kingdom at Stolley Park, with showings beginning at dusk (this week that’s around 7:45 p.m.),

Also on the schedule are “A Minecraft Movie,” 7:30 p.m. (approximately), Sept. 19; and “The Goonies,” 7:15 p.m. Sept. 26.

Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or lawn chairs, bug spray, snacks, drinks and warm clothing for cooler evenings.

For more information, contact Recreation Superintendent Jeremy Bachmann at [email protected] or 308-385-5444, ext. 1298.

Voice for Companion Animals will host a “tail” gate block party fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at 524 S. Webb Road.

The event will feature food trucks, a silent auction, booths, raffles and giveaways — all while 107.7 The Island broadcasts live from the event!

VCA’s neighbors — Grand Island Veterinary Hospital, Hollie Klimek Photography, and Must Love Grooming — will be joining in the festivities for a “paw-some” time.

For more information, email [email protected]

HENDERSON — Mennonite Heritage Park will host its annual Heritage Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept.13.

Take a step back in time and enjoy a variety of ethnic foods, demonstrations and activities for all ages. Horse-drawn wagon rides will also be offered.

Interactive experiences include old-fashioned activities like laundry day, corn shelling, hands-on rope making, and butter making are Other handwork demonstrations include quilting, crocheting, embroidery, quilling, glass etching, and rug weaving.

Special guests include Deb Franz, who will play music from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the church; and Professor Larry Roberts who will conduct country school from 9 to 10 a.m. All children are invited to pop into the schoolhouse at 9 a.m. to participate in the lessons.

Roberts will offer hands-on glass etching in the agriculture building.

Heritage Day events are all free and the entire park is open for viewing.

Golf carts will be available for those needing help getting around the Heritage Park. The park is located 1.5 miles south of the Henderson I-80 Exit#342 on Spur 93A.

For more information, contact Suzanne Suzanne Ratzlaff at 402-723-4252.

MARQUETTE — Prairie Plains Resource Institute will host a sunset hike Thursday, Sept. 18, at Gjerloff Prairie west of Marquette.

The hike along the Platte River will include prairie bluffs “vibrant September colors on the prairie and late season wildflowers blooming. Observe migrating insects and other wildlife and take in the sunset overlooking the river.”

Those attending should meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 2206 N. M Road. There is no admission charge. For more information check online at www.prairieplains.org/preserves/gjerloff-prairie.html

HASTINGS — The Lark, home of the Listening Room, will host two performances this month.

First up is singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson on Friday, Sept. 12.

Hutchinson “crafts upbeat, genre-blending pop songs with soulful grooves and clever lyricism. Influenced by artists like Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Ben Folds, Hutchinson’s energetic performances and sharp storytelling celebrate life’s highs, lows, and everything in between.”

Next up is Caleb Hawley on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Hawley is a “genre-blending powerhouse known for his soulful vocals, funky rhythms, and sharp, witty songwriting. With a sound that fuses retro soul, R&B, and pop, his music brings infectious energy and heartfelt stories to every stage he steps on.”

Both performances start at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for students with ID (plus fees) and are available online at www.thelarkdowntown.com/

The Lark is located at 809 W. Second St. in downtown Hastings. For more information, call 402-469-5446, email [email protected] or check the website noted above.

WOOD RIVER — Omaha Street Percussion kicks off the new Celebrate Wood River season at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, in the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater, 13800 W. Wood River Road.

Omaha Street Percussion infuses drums and dance together to create an “upbeat show that is guaranteed to get you clapping your hands and shaking your hips.” Household items like pots, pans, buckets and trash cans are used as instruments to help create an “energizing and exhilarating experience that will be sure to get you up on your feet.” Audience interaction and participation is a major part of the OSP performance experience.

Celebrate Performing Arts Series programs are free to the public due to the support of the Donna Lee Moyer Performing Arts Gift, Wood River Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment and Humanities Nebraska. Freewill donations are always welcome to continue this series.

For more information, contact Vince Boudreau at 308-583-2961, or go to www.woodriverne.com/town/celebrate-wood-river and download the 2025-2026 brochure.

KEARNEY — Dustin M. Hoffman writes short stories about blue-collar Midwesterners painting, plumbing or playing Monopoly in heaven.

A third of our lives happens at work, so he writes about those experiences and what they mean.

The fiction author will share his stories at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at Calvin T. Ryan Library on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. Part of the Reynolds Visiting Writers Series hosted by the UNK Department of English, the event is free and open to the public. It also includes a book signing and Q&A.

Before earning his master’s degree in fiction from Bowling Green State University and doctorate in creative writing from Western Michigan University, Hoffman spent 10 years painting houses in Michigan. Now, he directs the graduate English program and teaches creative writing and literature at Winthrop University in South Carolina.

His first story collection, “One-Hundred-Knuckled Fist,” won the 2015 Prairie Schooner Book Prize and was named a Michigan Notable Book. He is also the author of the collections “No Good for Digging,” “Secrets of the Wild” and “Such a Good Man.”

MINDEN — “The Women of Rock” will open the Minden Opera House’s 2025-26 season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.

The show is a tribute to some of the most well-known and influential female rock artists of the 1970s and ‘80s such as Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Janis Joplin, Blondie and Heart. Backed by some of Kansas City’s best musicians, they have opened for national acts like Grand Funk, Blue Oyster Cult, 38 Special, The Little River Band, The Guess Who, Electric Light Orchestra, and others.

This premier tribute performs all the hits, including “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” “Barracuda,” “I Love Rock and Roll” and more, with extreme attention to detail so you’ll hear the songs you remember – exactly as they were recorded. Travel back in time to some of the greatest years of rock and roll with the Women of Rock! Tickets are $35.

For more information, contact the Minden Opera House, 322 E. Fifth St., at 308-832-0588 or check online at mindenoperahouse.com

“Sketch” is showing this weekend at the Grand Theatre, 316 W. Third St. Showtimes are at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

When a young girl’s sketchbook falls into a strange pond, her drawings come to life — chaotic, real and on the loose. As the town descends into chaos, her family must reunite and stop the monsters they never meant to unleash.

This film is rated PG for scary action, some violence, thematic elements, language and rude humor. Running time is just a bit more than 90 minutes.

Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children and seniors. For more information call 308-381-2667 or visit grandmovietheatre.com.