Enjoy many family-friendly events coming up in the Omaha area, including these 10+ FREE Events in September!
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Please Note: It is always a good idea to verify before visiting as details may change.
Jump Directly to the Specific Week:
- September 1 – 3
- September 4 – 9
- September 10 – 16
- September 17 – 23
- September 24 – 30
- More FUN this September (Special events that are not free, but value-priced!)
September 1 – 3
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
- See more September Fun below (not free, but value-priced)!
FREE Kids Workshops at Home Depot – Sept. 1 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.), FREE
- Build a Field Goal Game. Workshops designed for children ages 5-12.
>> See more Labor Day Weekend Fun here!
SeptemberFest Labor Day Parade – Sept. 3 (10 a.m.), FREE
- Watch flag carrying honor guards, marching bands, labor unions, businesses, floats, animals, horses, clowns and roaming artists in Downtown Omaha.
- Location: The SeptemberFest parade starts at 16th and Cass Streets, travels south on 16th Street to Capitol Avenue, continues east on Capitol to 10th Street and concludes by proceeding north on 10th Street to Mike Fahey street.
Omahawks Labor Day Air Show – Sept. 3 (11:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.), FREE
- Enjoy watching radio-controlled planes & their operators show off their skills benefiting Make-A-Wish.
- Location: Hawk Field located at Standing Bear Lake Park right around 138th and Fort Street.
September 4 – 9
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
- See more September Fun below (not free, but value-priced)!
Family Night at the Union Pacific Museum – Sept. 7 (5 – 7 p.m.), FREE
- This month’s theme is Fiesta! Create, learn, and play!
- Location: Union Pacific Museum, 200 Pearl St., Council Bluffs, IA.
World O! Water – Sept. 8 (Noon – 4 p.m.), FREE
- Canoe rides, rock wall climbing, live music, face painting, nature hikes, live animals. In addition, there will be arts and crafts, educational materials and discussions regarding water conservation, quality and recreation. Lunch will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.
- Location: Papio-Missouri NRD / Chalco Hills, 8901 S. 154th St., Omaha.
2018 Heron Haven Wetland Festival – Sept. 8 (1 – 5 p.m.), FREE
- See live exotic animals, hawks and owls. Walk among butterflies, get your face painted, break open geodes, see water creatures, go on a scavenger hunt for birds’ nests and animal tracks, learn about honey bees, and more. Free admission and refreshments.
- Location: Heron Haven, 11809 Old Maple Rd., Omaha, NE 68164
Flix at the Chef – Sept. 8 (7:30 – 10 p.m. Movie starts at dusk), FREE
- Watch the movie Wonder, beginning at dusk. Free popcorn is provided. Food, drinks, and ice cream can be purchased at Dairy Chef.
- Location: Behind Dairy Chef, 3223 N. 204th St., Elkhorn, NE
A Tribute to Independence – Sept. 9 (2 – 10 p.m.), FREE
- Celebrate our freedom with live music and fun.
- Location: Stinson Park at Aksarben Village, 2232 S. 64th St., Omaha, NE
September 10 – 16
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
- Taco Dragon Visits the Omaha Public Libraries
- See more September Fun below (not free, but value-priced)!
Fall Fun Festival & Storytime at La Vista Library – Sept. 10 (6 – 6:45 p.m.), FREE
- Families are invited to the library for an evening fall story and fall inspired crafts, games, and more! Treats will be provided.
- Location: La Vista Library, 9110 Giles Rd., La Vista, NE
Tots on the Towne at Shadow Lake Towne Center – Sept. 13 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.), FREE
- This month features Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Recovery Program. See amazing birds and learn all about them.
- Location: Carhartt in Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7775 Olson Dr., Papillion, NE
Chalk Art Festival at Midtown Crossing – Sept. 15 & 16, 2018 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.), FREE
- The Chalk Art Festival is a weekend-long live art celebration. Local/regional artists and professional madonnaris will transform patches of Midtown Crossing pavement into pastel chalk masterpieces.
- Location: Midtown Crossing at Turner Park, 3110 Farnam St, Omaha.
Super Bee Orchards 6th Annual Apple Fest – Sept. 15 (1 – 5:30 p.m.), FREE Admission
- Alpacas of the Heartland LLC, Princesses and characters, Nikki’s Dance Studio, bounce house, apple games, and u-pick apples (pay for what you pick by weight). Caramel apples, hot dogs, water, and Gatorade will be available for purchase in the store.
- Location: Super Bee Orchard, 4571 US Highway 75, Fort Calhoun, NE.
Annual Intertribal Powwow – Sept. 15 (1 – 7 p.m.), FREE
- The Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow honors the traditional dance, music, artistry, oral history and foods of various tribes across Nebraska and the surrounding region.
- Location: Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus, 5300 N. 30th St.
A Salute to the USS Omaha Concert – Sept. 16 (Park opens at 5 p.m. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by Fireworks finale)
- The community is invited to enjoy a rousing, free concert and the largest fireworks display ever staged in Turner Park – celebrating the Navy’s newest combat ship, the USS Omaha.
- Location: Midtown Crossing, 31st Avenue & Farnam St.
September 17 – 23
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
- Taco Dragon Visits the Omaha Public Libraries
- See more September Fun below (not free, but value-priced)!
Hands-on-Habitat at Fontenelle Forest – Sept. 21 (9:30 – 11 a.m.), Free with Registration
- Fun educational, hands-on classes for pre-school age children and parents brought to you by ParentSavvy and Fontenelle Forest.
- Free 3x a year. Registration opens the 1st of the month. Please note that space is limited and sessions do fill quickly! Register here!
Centris Movie Night & Carnival at Werner Park – Sept. 21 (6 – 10 p.m.), FREE
- A carnival will be held at 6 p.m. prior to the showing of “Back to the Future” at 7:30 p.m. Bring blankets and come on the field at Werner Park to watch this classic movie. Concession stands will be open. The annual movie night is in support of Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. Help support the hospital and the amazing, life-saving work they do for children in our community. Donations will be accepted at the gate.
- While the event is free, guests are encouraged to RSVP here.
- Location: Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion, NE.
Free Admission to Select Museums with Museum Day Ticket – Sept. 22, 2018
- Participating museums include The Durham Museum, Morrill Hall in Lincoln, and many more!
- 1) Select the Museum you want to visit. 2) Sign up for your Museum Day Ticket for 9/22/18!
(Note: One ticket per email address, each ticket admits 2 people to selected museum.)
Gretna Public Library’s Truck Petting Zoo – Sept. 22 (1:30 – 2:30 p.m.), FREE
- Explore trucks and vehicles of all kinds and chat who those who drive them.
- Location: Gretna Elementary (east parking lot), 801 South St.
September 24 – 30
FREE Ongoing Activities:
- Nebraska Passport Program
- Members of Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue Public Libraries can check out passes to Fontenelle Forest
- See more September Fun below (not free, but value-priced)!
Day in the Park at La Vista Library – Sept. 25, 2018 (10 a.m.)
- Dress warm for stories, bubbles and playtime in the park!
- Location: Southwind Park, 8120 S. 92nd Ave., La Vista, NE
FREE Dance Clinic with Creighton Dance Team + FITGirl, Inc – Sept. 29, 2018 (9 – 11 a.m.)
- Ages 8-11 years! Join the Creighton Dance Team on September 29th for a FREE dance clinic at the FITGIrl, Inc Empowerment Center. All participants will have the opportunity to perform at the Dad/Daughter Dodgeball Tourney on Oct 14th with the Jays.
- Please register your daughter here so they are prepared with enough snacks and goodies.
- Location: FITGIRL Inc., 15505 Ruggles Street, Suite 108, Omaha.
National Alpaca Farm Day Open House – Sept. 29 – 30 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.), FREE
- Roam the pastures with 35 alpacas. Feed an alpaca (food is provided). See the baby crias. Browse the wide variety of alpaca products for sale.
- Location: 7016 County Road 39, Fort Calhoun, NE
More Fun this September
Living History Weekend at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park – Sept. 1 – 2 (10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.), FREE with Park Permit
- Experience where volunteers portray life at an 1820’s military fort. A Park Entry Permit is required. An admission fee of $2 per adult & $1 for children is required for the Visitor Center.
- Location: Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, 201 S. 7th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE.
Fields of Flight Hot Air Balloon Festival at Ditmars Orchard – Sept. 7 – 9, Parking: $10 per car
- Watch Hot Air Balloons participate in competition flights and evening glows, in the beautiful surroundings of Ditmar’s Orchard. Admission is $10/car. All proceeds will go to American Cancer Society/Relay for Life.
- PLEASE NOTE: Weather Permitting Balloons will fly- they will not know until about an HOUR before Launch time. Balloons will only fly if conditions are favorable.
- This is a popular event. Carpooling is encouraged as well as plan to arrive early.
- Location: Ditmars Orchard, 19475 225th St., Council Bluffs, IA
Monarch Tagging at Hitchcock Nature Center (Pre-Registration Required) – Sept. 15 (9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., or 11:30 a.m.), Free Will Donation + Park Permit/Entry Pass
- Each family will receive an information packet with your own set of tags & attend a short training program before hitting the trails in search of monarch butterflies to tag.
- All attendees will need a valid annual park permit or will need to purchase a $2 per vehicle daily entrance pass for entrance to the park.
- Location: Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA
Gifford Farm Fall Festival – Sept. 15 – 16 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), $5 per person ages 2+
- Hayrides, animal visits, scavenger hunt, pony rides, old-time vendors, raffles, and more.
- Location: 700 Camp Gifford Rd., Bellevue, NE
Movie Night at Camp Fontenelle – Sept. 21 (7:55 p.m.) & Sept. 28 (7:40 p.m.), Free Will Donation
- Bring the family for an outdoor movie experience! Feel free to arrive early and cook your supper over one of the 5 fire rings before the movie starts. Keep the fire going and make s’mores during the movie!
- Location: 9677 County Road 3, Fontanelle, NE
50th Annual AppleJack Festival in Nebraska City – Sept. 21 – 23
- Celebrate the kick-off of the apple harvest with cider donuts, candy apples, caramel apples, apple fritters, apple salad, and pretty much anything you can imagine made from apples. Featuring more than 6 craft fairs, a parade, a classic car show, live music, and a 3-day carnival!
- Location: Various locations in Nebraska City
Find more Fall Fun:
