Kite Festival, Free Comic Book Day, Living History at Fort Atkinson (with Park Permit), Free Admission to Lauritzen Gardens, Spring into Summer, Superhero Sunday, and so much more!
Enjoy many family-friendly events coming up in Omaha, including these 10+ FREE Events in May!
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Please Note: Most events at the State Parks and Recreation Areas require a Park Permit ($6/daily, $31/annual). It is always a good idea to verify before visiting as details may change.
Jump Directly to the Specific Week:
May 1 – 6
Ongoing Activities:
- FREE Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
- Spring Family Fun Guide
- Enter to WIN 2 Passes to Go Ape Treetop Adventure!
FUN at the Omaha Public Libraries (Registration Required for some events):
- Children’s Day/Día de los Niños Celebration Storytime – Wednesday, May 2 (10:30 – 11:15 a.m.), Willa Cather Branch
- Children’s Day/Día de los Niños Celebration Storytime – Saturday, May 5 (10:00 – 10:30 a.m.), Benson Branch
- Star Wars Family Storytime – Saturday, May 5 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.), A.V. Sorensen Branch
- Star Wars Movie Time & Lightsaber Making – Saturday, May 5 (1:00 – 2:30 p.m.), A.V. Sorensen Branch
Troops and Trains: Family Night at the Union Pacific Museum – Friday, May 4 (5 – 7 p.m.)
- Celebrate our Military and the rich history of the military and the railroad. Tour the new summer exhibit, “Wheels of War,” at the Museum. Experience a color guard demonstration at 5:30 p.m. by Bellevue West ROTC. Story time, flag folding, model trains and more at this event appreciating those who serve our country. This event is free and open to the public.
- Location: Union Pacific Museum, 200 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Kids Workshops at Home Depot: Saturday, May 5 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.); Registration encouraged.
- Kids can build and paint a window birdhouse, while supplies last.
Free Comic Book Day – Saturday, May 5
- Enjoy fun events and free comics at the annual Free Comic Book Day. Enter your zip code for participating locations near you.
Cinco de Mayo Parade [24th Street (D to L)] – Saturday, May 5, 2018 (10 a.m.)
- Features floats, marching bands, and other entertainers along historic 24th St. Rain or shine.
Living History at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park – May 5 – 6 (10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.), FREE with Park Permit $6/daily, $31/annual)
- Experience Living History at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park with interactive activities.
- Location: 201 S. 7th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE
Bike Rack’s Bike Fest – Sunday, May 6 (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
- Bike rodeo, bike safety check, free bike helmets to kids who participate (must be present to be fitted and get a helmet, while supplies last), and more.
La Vista’s One Sky, One World Kite Festival – Sunday, May 6 (12 – 4 p.m.), FREE
- Bring your own kite, and kids can bring a bag for the candy drop.
- La Vista Soccer Complex, just South of 66th & Harrison Streets, La Vista, NE 68128.
- Please Note: These events are dependent on the weather and schedules can change.
May 7 – 13
Ongoing and Special Activities:
- Mother’s Day Fun and Freebies + Enter to WIN Scooters Gift Basket!
- Community Celebrations – Florence Days and Celebrate CB this weekend
- FREE Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
- Spring Family Fun Guide
- Enter to WIN 2 Passes to Go Ape Treetop Adventure!
Teacher Appreciation Week Deals
- Thank you teachers! Enjoy specials at Chipotle, Raising Cane’s, and more!
Regency Court’s Kids Funfare – Thursday, May 10 (10 a.m.)
- Cartoonist Tom Kerr will create an illustration with the story your kids will tell.
Tots on the Towne: Grossology at Shadow Lake Towne Center – Thursday, May 10 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
- Discover some of anatomy’s most interesting facts during Grossology, presented by Omaha Children’s Museum!
- Location: JCPenney at Shadow Lake Towne Center, 72nd & Highway 370, Papillion, NE
FREE Admission to Lauritzen Gardens: National Public Gardens Day – Friday, May 11 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
- Visitors to Lauritzen Gardens on this day will enjoy free admission and an opportunity to learn about the various offerings the garden provides throughout the year.
- ENTER TO WIN 4 Single-Day Passes to Lauritzen Gardens on our Facebook Page – 2 Winners!
Spring Into Summer – Friday, May 11 (5 – 8 p.m.)
- Spring into Summer with Omaha Parks and Rec with bounce houses, rock wall, interactive booths, golf, DJ, fishing, face painting, tennis, soccer, smores, dancing, food trucks and much more!
- Location: Benson Park, 7002 Military Ave., Omaha
FUN at the Omaha Public Libraries (Registration Required for some events):
- Books to Art – Saturday, May 12 (2:00 – 3:00 p.m.), South Omaha Library
Mystery Cache at Hitchcock Nature Center – Saturday, May 12, Registration Required by 5/9, FREE with Park Permit $3/daily)
- Register your team of up to 8 for this fun, all ages event. Learn how to use a GPS unit and then hit the trails on to seek out caches and solve puzzles. Family teams will be assigned staggered start times between 9:00 & 11:30 a.m. All ages are welcome to participate and there will be various levels of difficulty to choose from but all levels will require hiking on uneven terrain. Strollers are not recommended for use during this event due to terrain.
- Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, May 9th as space is limited. To register your team please email Rene Stroud, Naturalist at rene.stroud@pottcounty-ia.gov. Please call 712-545-3283 for more information. Weather Permitting.
- Location: Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA.
Family Education Program at Heron Haven – Saturday, May 12 (10 – 11:30 a.m.)
- Make and take a bird feeder, enjoy a Migration Madness bird game, dissect an owl pellet and other activities. Free bird guide magazines and other goodies from Nebraska Game and Parks.
- Location: 11809 Old Maple Rd. Omaha.
Family Golf Days – Saturday, May 12 (12 – 3 p.m.)
- Bring the whole family for a day of golf and fun. FREE golf, hot dogs, chips and pop. Kids can play in the bounce houses or take their best shots at the famous “Golfzilla”.
- May 12th 12-3 pm at Westwood Golf Course
- May 19th 12-3 pm at Steve Hogan Golf Course
- May 20th 12-3 pm at Warren Swigart Golf Course
May 14 – 20
Ongoing Activities:
- FREE Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
- Spring Family Fun Guide
- Enter to WIN 2 Passes to Go Ape Treetop Adventure!
City of Omaha Resource Fair – Tuesday, May 15 (5 – 7 p.m.)
- Interactive displays hosted by Omaha Parks, Recreation, and Public Property, and Omaha Public Library.
- Location: Elmwood Park, 808 S. 60th St., Omaha.
Hands-on-Habitat at Fontenelle Forest – Friday, May 18 (9:30 – 11 a.m.), [FREE with Registration]
- Fun educational, hands-on classes for pre-school age children and parents. FREE 3x a year. A ticket to enter Hands-on-Habitat is required for all individuals, no matter age (this includes parents, children, and infants). Hosted by ParentSavvy and Fontenelle Forest.
- Registration opens the 1st of the month. Please note that space is limited and sessions do fill quickly! Register here!
FREE Fishing and Park Entry Day – Saturday, May 19
- Come to one of the state parks, state recreation areas, or state historical parks for Free Park Day!
Celebrate CB Parade – May 19, 2018 (10:30 a.m.)
- The route begins and ends in Downtown Council Bluffs, and is centered around the historical and beautiful Bayliss Park area. After the parade, activities abound in the park including music, kids activities and carnival rides (extra charge for some activities and carnival rides).
Family Golf Days – May 19 & 20 (12 – 3 p.m.)
- Bring the whole family for a day of golf and fun. FREE golf, hot dogs, chips and pop. Kids can play in the bounce houses or take their best shots at the famous “Golfzilla”.
- May 12th 12-3 pm at Westwood Golf Course
- May 19th 12-3 pm at Steve Hogan Golf Course
- May 20th 12-3 pm at Warren Swigart Golf Course
Superhero Sunday at Werner Park – Sunday, May 20, 2018 (12 – 4 p.m.)
- CHI Health is saluting everyday Superhero families with an afternoon of free festivities.
- Location: Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion.
May 21 – 31
Ongoing Activities:
- 10 Things to Do over Memorial Day Weekend in Omaha
- FREE Summer Fun Guide
- FREE Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
FUN at the Omaha Public Libraries (Registration Required for some events):
- Full STEAM Ahead (ages 8-12) – Tuesday, May 22 (4:30 – 5:30 p.m.), Benson Branch
- Summer Reading Kick-off Parties
- Friday, May 25 (10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.), W. Dale Clark (Main) Library
- Saturday, May 26 (1:00 – 3:00 p.m.) – All other branches
- Oreo Taste Test Challenge for Teens – Thursday, May 31 (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.), A.V. Sorensen Branch
- Kids Escape Room Lock-In – Thursday, May 31 (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.), Charles B. Washington Branch, REGISTER
Salute To Summer Festival in La Vista – May 24 – 27, 2018 (Many FREE events!)
- Parade, Hot Wheels races, community cookout, fireworks, free concert, family pool party, and more.
Take Aim at Summer at Platte River State Park – Friday, May 25 (4 – 8 p.m.), FREE with Park Permit $6/daily, $31/annual)
- Fun evening at the range with archery and more.
- Location: Platte River State Park, 14421 346th St., Louisville, NE
Loessfest in Council Bluffs at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park – May 25 – 28, 2018
- Water Feature Grand Opening, Movie Night, Fireworks, Disney Night with Choo Choo Soul, and more.
10 Things to Do over Memorial Day Weekend in Omaha
- Enjoy many family-friendly events this Memorial Day Weekend 2018 in Omaha!
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