Christmas at Union Station, free family festival and 25+ other fun things to do this holiday weekend
Looking for something fun to do in the Omaha area this weekend? Check out these family-friendly suggestions, which take place Nov. 28 through Dec. 1.
Visit omaha.com/calendar to see more local events or to submit your own.
Light the tree at the Durham Museum
Come to the Durham Museum on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. for its annual tree lighting ceremony. The lighting will happen at approximately 7 p.m. There will be entertainment (including a visit from Santa Claus), cookie decorating, holiday crafts, live music and more. The fun is included in the price of admission. The Durham Museum is located at 801 St. 10th St. More.
Meet Santa at the Omaha Children’s Museum
Santa will arrive at the Omaha Children’s Museum Friday at 10 a.m. Get there early to see cast members of “Elf: The Musical” perform outside. Santa will arrive in a classic Ford Mustang. After he arrives, guests can meet him and the Snow Queen during performances of “Santa’s Magic,” which will be held at multiple times daily through Dec. 23. The performance and grand arrival are free, but admission into the museum is the regular price. More.
Check out a family festival
Come enjoy family activities Sunday at several downtown attractions, including the Omaha Children’s Museum, the Durham Museum, the Downtown YMCA, Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, the W. Dale Clark Library and the Joslyn Art Museum. Each location will have fun family-friendly activities. A free trolley service will connect the participating venues. The event will go from noon to 5 p.m. View the schedule here.
Enjoy some holiday magic
The Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Holiday Magic event Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m. at Independence Square, 77th and Main Streets. The event will include lots of family-friendly holiday activities, including crafts, face painting, a juggler, balloon twisting, Santa Claus, a special lighting ceremony, caroling, cookies, hot chocolate, carriage rides and a chili feed. More.
See 'Elf: The Musical'
Come to The Rose Theater Friday through Sunday to see “Elf: The Musical,” which runs every weekend through Dec. 22. The all-ages show is back by popular demand with Dan Chevalier reprising his role as Buddy the Elf. Showtimes are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $15 for members and $22 for non-members. More.
See a tree festival
Come to the Tangier Shrine Center, 2823 S. 84th St., Friday and Saturday to view more than 50 Christmas trees. Those who attend can be entered to win one of the trees — and all the gifts associated with it — on display. The event will also include homemade food from the Snowflake Café. Santa will make special appearances. Tickets are $2 per person ages 13 and older. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. More.
Celebrate Christmas at the orchard
Come celebrate Christmas at Ditmars Orchard on Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. Ditmars is lighting the front of the orchard with a drive-by and walk-through display of lights. The orchard is at 19475 225th St. in Council Bluffs. More.
Attend holiday lighting celebration at Village Pointe
Village Pointe Shopping Center, 17305 Davenport St., will host its annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. The event kicks off with The Peppermint Elves Family Holiday Concert at the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Amphitheater. Free hot cider and cookies will be available in the center court near the concert area. The Santa Parade will take place at 7 p.m. Santa will arrive by carriage and led by the Arlington High School marching band, along with favorite storybook and holiday characters. Free carriage rides will be offered immediately after the lighting ceremony until 10 p.m. Santa will be inside the Marcus Village Pointe Cinema lobby after the lighting event. More.
Light the tree in Aksarben Village
Aksarben Village, near 67th and Center Streets, will host its holiday event Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will include the tree-lighting ceremony, a heated tent, free horse and carriage rides, live music, face painting and free food and drink. There will also be appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus. The event will also take place Dec. 6, 13 and 20. More.
Get your picture taken with the Snow Queen and Nordic Princess
Come to Aksarben Cinema, 2110 S. 67th St., Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. to get a picture taken with the Snow Queen and Nordic Princess! They will be posing for pictures on the cinema's red carpet. A movie ticket is not required to take photos. More.
Check out a craft fair — and see Santa Claus
On Saturday, come to Gretna Middle School, 11705 S. 216th St., for a craft fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include food trucks from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a special visit from Santa Claus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be inflatables and bounce houses, face painting, a silent auction and a split-the-pot raffle. Cost is $2 per person. Funds raised will benefit The Dragon's Closet, which provides personal hygiene items, shoes and gently used clothing to those in need. More.
Spend a Victorian Christmas in Plattsmouth
Plattsmouth, Nebraska, will host a Victorian Christmas on Main from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. There will be Christmas cheer, Victorian dress, Christmas shopping, a trolley and tree lighting. More.
Build a stocking ornament
On Saturday, kids are welcome to build a stocking ornament for free at one of several Home Depot stores from 9 a.m. to noon. Once the project is complete, kids can paint their project to personalize it. All kids get to keep their project and will receive a free certificate of achievement, a workshop apron and a commemorative pin, while supplies last. The workshop is for kids ages 5 to 12. More.
Go on a carriage ride
On Saturday, come to Rockbrook Village to meet Santa, his reindeer and the Grinch from 1 to 4 p.m. There will also be free carriage rides, cookies and hot cocoa during the event. Holiday pop-up shops will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More.
Visit a winter wonderland
Check out a winter wonderland in downtown Papillion from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday. The event will include a variety of activities, such as carriage rides, bonfires, visits with Santa, popcorn, hot chocolate, photos with live reindeer and more.
Take part in a Turkey Trot run/walk
YMCA will host a free Turkey Trot run/walk on Thursday at 9 a.m. with music, hot chocolate and fun. Participants who dress like a turkey will have a chance to win prizes. People can also bring canned food items for the Micah House. The event starts at the Stir Concert Cove parking lot. More.
Go bowling
Bored? Go bowling with the entire family. Local bowling centers include West Lanes, Maplewood Lanes, Mockingbird Lanes and Western Bowl in Omaha; Papio Bowl in Papillion; The Mark in Elkhorn; and Scorz Sports Center in Ralston.
Visit Omaha's parks
Omaha is home to more than 200 parks, and many include playgrounds, trails and other attractions. Check out a list of popular parks here, and explore a new park with your kids.Â
Visit a museum
Omaha has a lot of family-friendly museums, including the Omaha Children's Museum, the Durham Museum, the Joslyn Art Museum, El Museo Latino, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, the Great Plains Black History Museum and the General Crook House Museum. There's also the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska. You can also cross over the river and check out the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs.
Visit an indoor play area
The Omaha metro area has several indoor play areas for families to enjoy. They include Pump It Up, Backyard Playworld and BounceU in Omaha, and Jumpin Jax in Papillion. Oak View Mall and Westroads Mall also have fun indoor play areas. Check out Approach Climbing Gym at 4923 S. 72nd St. It offers day passes, instructional classes, youth programs and more. Several local gymnastic places also have open gym time, including Metro Stars Gymnastics, Premier Gymnastics, Airborne Academy, Go! Kids Gym and Kid's Body Shop. Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, 28500 W. Park Highway in Ashland, Nebraska, features an on-site indoor activity center.Â
Go roller skating
Take an afternoon to go roller skating with your kids. You can laugh at each other while you fall down again and again. Check out Skate City, 1220 S. Fort Crook Road in Bellevue.
Check out Do Space
Do Space, Omaha's community tech space, is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Plus it's free. Check out five things to do at Do Space here.
Attend a storytime
Many organizations host weekday and weekend storytimes. Santa will read a story at several locations this weekend. He’ll be at Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7775 Olson Drive in Papillion on Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. More. He’ll also be at GapKids in Village Pointe Shopping Center, 17202 Davenport St., Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. More. Other storytimes include Barnes and Noble (Oak View and Crossroads), Pottery Barn Kids, Leader Reader at the Omaha Children's Museum, the Omaha Public Library branches, the Gretna Public Library, the Bellevue Public Library, the La Vista Public Library, the Sump Memorial Library in Papillion, the Baright Public Library in Ralston and the Plattsmouth Public Library.
Visit the animals at the Nebraska Humane Society
Are your kids animal lovers? If so, there are several ways they can help the animals at the Nebraska Humane Society, including reading to them during adoption hours. Check out more fun ways here.
Get free passes to Fontenelle Forest
The Omaha, Bellevue and Council Bluffs Public Libraries are currently offering free day passes to Fontenelle Forest. Each pass admits two adults and children from their household. More information can be found at each library.
Visit a local community center
Community centers offer something for every member of your family — from infants to senior citizens. For a full list of community centers, click here.
Do some crafts
Several area organizations host craft time for children every weekend. Kids can create a free craft Saturday at Lakeshore Learning Store from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Finally, kids 3 and older can make a craft Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon with the Michaels Kids Club. Sign up online or drop in. The cost ranges from $2 to $5 per project, supplies included.
Go ice skating
The Ralston Arena offers public ice skating for $5, with free ice skate rental. The Motto McLean Ice Arena inside Hitchcock Park near 45th and Q Streets offers Family Skate time Sunday from 4 to 6:15 p.m.
Go on a unique field trip with the family
Check out this list of 25 educational places to visit. Not only will your kids have a blast, they'll learning something along the way.
Do something you've never done before
Check out 40 off-the-beaten-path things to do in Omaha if you're looking for something new to keep you busy this weekend.
Think you've seen Nebraska?
We put together a list of must-see spots across the state. How many of these destinations can you cross off your Cornhusker bucket list?
Ashlee Coffey
Ashlee Coffey is the editor of momaha.com. She is married with two sons — Sam and Elliott. Follow her on Twitter @AshleeCoffeyOWH. Phone: 402-444-1075.
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