There are MANY family-friendly events coming up in Omaha, including these 10+ FREE Events in December!
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Please Note: It is always a good idea to verify before visiting as details may change.
Find these and 100+ Family-Friendly Holiday Events here and Amazing Christmas Lights in Omaha!
Jump Directly to the Specific Week:
December 1-2
Please Note: It is always a good idea to verify before visiting as details may change.
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- FUN at the Omaha Public Libraries (Registration Required for some events)
- Special Events with Fat Brain Toys (168th & Dodge)
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
Gingerbread House Display – Nov. 17 – Dec. 31, 2018 (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Verify before visiting for early closings/closing for Holidays. The center closes at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. The center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt and try to find all of the items!
- 2 Locations: Mormon Trail Center, 3215 State St., Omaha, and Kanesville Tabernacle, 222 E. Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA.
Miracle on Farnam at Midtown Crossing – Nov. 17, 2018 – Jan. 1, 2019, FREE
- Enjoy a wonderful collection of 20 window displays created by local nonprofits, students and individual artists, and vote for your favorite. Download a scavenger hunt.
- Location: Midtown Crossing, 35th & Farnam, Omaha.
Lights of Aksarben – Fridays, Nov. 30 & Dec. 7 & 14, 2018 (6 – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Nov. 30 – Backwoods Art Activity
- Dec. 7 – Cocoa with a Cop
- Dec. 14 – Santa and Mrs. Claus
- Location: Aksarben Village, 67th & Center St, Omaha.
Kids Workshop: Build a Sled with Reindeer at Home Depot – Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
- Hands-on workshop where you and your child can build a model sleigh pulled by a reindeer. Children can decorate it with paint and stickers.
The Giant Snow Globe Event (Hosted by Mutual 1st Federal Credit Union at Westroads Mall) – Dec. 1 – 2 & 8 – 9, 2018 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.), FREE
- There will be alife-sizee snow globe that guests can walk into to take a picture! Mutual 1st will donate $1 to Child Saving Institute for each picture posted to Facebook or Instagram using #GlobeOfGiving!
- Kick-off Event: Join in from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 1st for the kick-off event, complete with special giveaways for the first 300 people and random prize drawings!
- Location: Westroads Mall, next to Flagship Commons.
Santa Sleigh Ride at Hummel Park Nature Center – Dec. 1, 2018 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), FREE (RSVP Required)
- Ride with Santa on a special sleigh around the park. Enjoy hot cocoa, write a letter to Santa, explore the trails and other family fun activities. Please bring a new pair of mittens or a non-perishable food item to donate. Must RSVP online at parks.cityofomaha.org under “Activity Registration” button.
- Location: 3033 Hummel Park Rd., Omaha.
Hot Shops Art Center’s Holiday Open House – Dec. 1, 2018 (Noon – 8 p.m.), Dec. 2, 2018 (Noon – 5 p.m.), FREE
- The event features fun and informative art demonstrations, with residents of the Hot Shops opening their studios to the public. Local acoustic musicians will perform throughout the center.
- Location: Hot Shops Art Center is located at 1301 Nicholas St., just one block north of TD Ameritrade Park’s home plate.
Holiday Events at Omaha Community Centers
- Dec. 1, 2018 (10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.): Santa Visits Saddlebrook Community Center
Carriage Rides at Shadow Lake Towne Center – Saturdays, Dec. 1 & 8, 2018 (Noon – 4 p.m.), FREE
- Come to Shadow Lake Towne Center to enjoy a complimentary carriage ride down Main Street. Weather permitting. Loading will be outside of Carhartt.
Carriage Rides at Village Pointe – Saturdays, Dec. 1, 8, & 15, 2018 (1 – 5 p.m.), FREE
- Holiday shoppers can enjoy complimentary horse and carriage rides throughout the center. Pick up point is in front of the fireplace, in front of Marcus Village Pointe Cinema.
KETV Family Festival – Dec. 2, 2018 (12 – 5 p.m.), FREE
- WEATHER UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, there will be no trolley service between venues and no activities at the YMCA.
- Enjoy family activities and experience many of Omaha’s leading downtown attractions for FREE including Omaha Children’s Museum, The Durham Museum, Downtown YMCA, Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, W. Dale Clark Library, and Joslyn Art Museum. A free trolley service will connect the participating venues.
MORE FUN THIS WEEK –
Special events that are not free, but value-priced!
Archery on Fire! at Platte River State Park – Saturday, Dec. 1 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), Event is FREE (Park Permit required)
- Bring the whole family for a fun day of archery! Try out a bow, crossbow, tomahawk throwing and the new pellet gun shooting gallery all for free.
- Visitors will need a daily or annual Nebraska State Park permit.
- Location: Platte River State Park, 14421 346th St., Louisville, NE
Find More: 100+ Holiday Events Guide (Many FREE Events)
December 3-9
Please Note: It is always a good idea to verify before visiting as details may change.
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- FUN at the Omaha Public Libraries (Registration Required for some events)
- Special Events with Fat Brain Toys (168th & Dodge)
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
Gingerbread House Display – Nov. 17 – Dec. 31, 2018 (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Verify before visiting for early closings/closing for Holidays. The center closes at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. The center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt and try to find all of the items!
- 2 Locations: Mormon Trail Center, 3215 State St., Omaha, and Kanesville Tabernacle, 222 E. Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA.
Miracle on Farnam at Midtown Crossing – Nov. 17, 2018 – Jan. 1, 2019, FREE
- Enjoy a wonderful collection of 20 window displays created by local nonprofits, students and individual artists, and vote for your favorite. Download a scavenger hunt.
- Location: Midtown Crossing, 35th & Farnam, Omaha.
Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Shadow Lake Towne Center – Wednesdays, Dec. 5, 2018 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
- Special storytime in Santa’s Workshop.
Storytime with Santa at Village Pointe – Thursdays, Dec. 6, 13, 20, 2018 (10:30 a.m.), FREE
- Santa will read a holiday story to kids on Tuesdays in December at 10:30 a.m. at various Village Pointe stores. Treats and/or giveaways will be provided for children attending.
- Dec. 6, 2018: Premier Bank
- Dec. 13, 2018: Gap
- Dec. 20, 2018: Charming Charlie
Art Aboard! Family Night at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum – Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 (5 – 7 p.m.)
- Create, learn, and play at this month’s family night celebrating all modes of artistic expression.
- Location: 200 Pearl St., Council Bluffs, IA.
Lights of Aksarben – Fridays, Dec. 7 & 14, 2018 (6 – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Dec. 7 – Cocoa with a Cop
- Dec. 14 – Santa and Mrs. Claus
- Location: Aksarben Village, 67th & Center St, Omaha.
The Giant Snow Globe Event (Hosted by Mutual 1st Federal Credit Union at Westroads Mall) – Dec. 1 – 2 & 8 – 9, 2018 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.), FREE
- There will be a life-size snow globe that guests can walk into to take a picture! Mutual 1st will donate $1 to Child Saving Institute for each picture posted to Facebook or Instagram using #GlobeOfGiving!
- Location: Westroads Mall, next to Flagship Commons.
Holiday Events at Omaha Community Centers
- Dec. 4, 2018 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.): Santa Party at A.V. Sorensen Community Center
- Dec. 8, 2018 (2 – 3:30 p.m.): Afternoon with Santa at Florence Community Center.
Santa’s Castle & Reindeer at Bel Air Plaza – Dec. 8 & 15, 2018 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), FREE
- This is a free, family-friendly event featuring live reindeer inside a heated tent. Santa and his elves will be location for photo opportunities.
- Location: Bel Air Plaza Parking Lot, 12100 West Center Road, Omaha.
Carriage Rides at Shadow Lake Towne Center – Saturdays, Dec. 1 & 8, 2018 (Noon – 4 p.m.), FREE
- Come to Shadow Lake Towne Center to enjoy a complimentary carriage ride down Main Street. Weather permitting. Loading will be outside of Carhartt.
Carriage Rides at Village Pointe – Saturdays, Dec. 1, 8, & 15, 2018 (1 – 5 p.m.), FREE
- Holiday shoppers can enjoy complimentary horse and carriage rides throughout the center. Pick up point is in front of the fireplace, in front of Marcus Village Pointe Cinema.
Character Meet-and-Greets at Regency
- Dec. 8, 2018 (3 – 4 p.m.): Frozen Characters Meet-and-Greet
MORE FUN THIS WEEK –
Special events that are not free, but value-priced!
Classic Christmas at Mahoney State Park – Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 (1:30 – 4:30 p.m.), Event is FREE (Park Permit required)
- Christmas celebration featuring pictures with Santa, sugar cookie decorating, crafts, greeting cards for veterans and free hayrack rides through the park.
- Visitors will need a daily or annual Nebraska State Park permit.
- Location: Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, 28500 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE
Find More: 100+ Holiday Events Guide (Many FREE Events)
December 10-16
Please Note: It is always a good idea to verify before visiting as details may change.
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- FUN at the Omaha Public Libraries (Registration Required for some events)
- Special Events with Fat Brain Toys (168th & Dodge)
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
Gingerbread House Display – Nov. 17 – Dec. 31, 2018 (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Verify before visiting for early closings/closing for Holidays. The center closes at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. The center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt and try to find all of the items!
- 2 Locations: Mormon Trail Center, 3215 State St., Omaha, and Kanesville Tabernacle, 222 E. Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA.
Miracle on Farnam at Midtown Crossing – Nov. 17, 2018 – Jan. 1, 2019, FREE
- Enjoy a wonderful collection of 20 window displays created by local nonprofits, students and individual artists, and vote for your favorite. Download a scavenger hunt.
- Location: Midtown Crossing, 35th & Farnam, Omaha.
Holiday Events at Omaha Community Centers
- Dec. 12, 2018 (11 a.m.): Santa Visits Montclair
Santa Party at Council Bluffs Public Library – Dec. 12, 2018 (10:30 – 11 a.m.), FREE
- Kids ages 5 and younger are invited for cookie decorating and a Santa sing-a-long, followed by a visit with the jolly old guy himself!
- Location: Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave., Council Bluffs, IA
Storytime with Santa at Village Pointe – Thursdays, Dec. 13, 20, 2018 (10:30 a.m.), FREE
- Santa will read a holiday story to kids on Tuesdays in December at 10:30 a.m. at various Village Pointe stores. Treats and/or giveaways will be provided for children attending.
- Dec. 13, 2018: Gap
- Dec. 20, 2018: Charming Charlie
Mrs. Claus Storytime at Regency– Dec. 6, 13, and 20 (10 a.m.), FREE
- Mrs. Claus Storytime will take place at 10 a.m. on Dec. 6th, 13th and 20th across from Ann Taylor. Enjoy Christmas stories, watch the snowfall in center court and take a picture with Mrs. Claus.
- Location: Regency, 120 Regency Pkwy., Omaha.
Tots on the Towne at Shadow Lake Towne Center – Dec. 13, 2018 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.), FREE
- Christmas Movie and Holiday Fun: Tots will love seeing Santa’s Workshop before he makes his big debut to Shadow Lake Towne Center.
- Location: Located next door to Dream Dress Express at Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7775 Olson Drive, Papillion, NE.
Lights of Aksarben – Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 (6 – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Dec. 14 – Santa and Mrs. Claus
- Location: Aksarben Village, 67th & Center St, Omaha.
Tech The Halls Open House – December 15 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.), FREE, Register
- Join the AIM Brain Exchange and Mutual of Omaha for a Winter-themed STEM open house. Bring your family down for a day of winter memories. Activities include: Make an LED holiday card, Program DASH the Robot to have a snowball fight, Program a winter scene using processing.JS.
- Location: AIM Brain Exchange, 1902 Howard Street, Omaha, NE
Santa’s Castle & Reindeer at Bel Air Plaza – Dec. 8 & 15, 2018 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), FREE
- This is a free, family-friendly event featuring live reindeer inside a heated tent. Santa and his elves will be location for photo opportunities.
- Location: Bel Air Plaza Parking Lot, 12100 W. Center Rd., Omaha, NE.
Carriage Rides at Village Pointe – Saturdays, Dec. 1, 8, & 15, 2018 (1 – 5 p.m.), FREE
- Holiday shoppers can enjoy complimentary horse and carriage rides throughout the center. Pick up point is in front of the fireplace, in front of Marcus Village Pointe Cinema.
Roundball Reindeer Shootout at LaVista Community Center – Dec. 15, 2018 (1 – 4 p.m. See link for schedule), FREE
- Free throw contest for children and their parent/guardian to compete together as a team.
Character Meet-and-Greets at Regency
- Dec. 15, 2018 (3 – 4 p.m.): Rudolph, Frosty and Elf Meet-and-Greet
Find More: 100+ Holiday Events Guide (Many FREE Events)
December 17-23
Please Note: It is always a good idea to verify before visiting as details may change.
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- FUN at the Omaha Public Libraries (Registration Required for some events)
- Special Events with Fat Brain Toys (168th & Dodge)
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
Gingerbread House Display – Nov. 17 – Dec. 31, 2018 (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Verify before visiting for early closings/closing for Holidays. The center closes at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. The center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt and try to find all of the items!
- 2 Locations: Mormon Trail Center, 3215 State St., Omaha, and Kanesville Tabernacle, 222 E. Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA.
Miracle on Farnam at Midtown Crossing – Nov. 17, 2018 – Jan. 1, 2019, FREE
- Enjoy a wonderful collection of 20 window displays created by local nonprofits, students and individual artists, and vote for your favorite. Download a scavenger hunt.
- Location: Midtown Crossing, 35th & Farnam, Omaha.
Storytime with Santa at Village Pointe – Thursdays, Dec. 20, 2018 (10:30 a.m.), FREE
- Santa will read a holiday story to kids on Tuesdays in December at 10:30 a.m. at various Village Pointe stores. Treats and/or giveaways will be provided for children attending.
- Dec. 20, 2018: Charming Charlie
Multicultural Holiday Craft & Game Night at La Vista Library – Dec. 20, 2018 (6 – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa through crafts and games.
Character Meet-and-Greets at Regency
- Dec. 22, 2018 (3 – 4 p.m.): Beauty and the Beast Meet-and-Greet
Find More: 100+ Holiday Events Guide (Many FREE Events)
December 24-31
Please Note: It is always a good idea to verify before visiting as details may change.
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- FUN at the Omaha Public Libraries (Registration Required for some events)
- Special Events with Fat Brain Toys (168th & Dodge)
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
10+ FREE Things to Do Over Winter Break
- Have a fun-filled Winter Break in Omaha with these 10+ Free or inexpensive activities!
Gingerbread House Display – Nov. 17 – Dec. 31, 2018 (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Verify before visiting for early closings/closing for Holidays. The center closes at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. The center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt and try to find all of the items!
- 2 Locations: Mormon Trail Center, 3215 State St., Omaha, and Kanesville Tabernacle, 222 E. Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA.
Miracle on Farnam at Midtown Crossing – Nov. 17, 2018 – Jan. 1, 2019, FREE
- Enjoy a wonderful collection of 20 window displays created by local nonprofits, students and individual artists, and vote for your favorite. Download a scavenger hunt.
- Location: Midtown Crossing, 35th & Farnam, Omaha.
Winter Break Fun Days at Omaha Public Library – Dec. 27 – 28, 2018
Join the fun at Omaha Public Libraries. Some events may require registration.
- Dec. 27, 2018 (2 – 3 p.m.): Winter Break Fun Day: Dr. Oxygen Science Show at Milton R. Abrahams Branch Library
- Dec. 28, 2018 (2 – 3 p.m.): Winter Break Fun Day: Cookies & Books at Milton R. Abrahams Branch Library
Find Family-Friendly New Year’s Events, many that are FREE!
Find these and 100+ Family-Friendly Holiday Events here and Amazing Christmas Lights in Omaha!
