There are many free (or almost free) fun family activities coming up both locally and nationally to enjoy! It is always a good idea to verify with the business before visiting. See these and other family friendly events in Omaha Attractions (many recently added!) and in the Event Calendar!
Local
- 9am-5pm. Don’t miss a TREEmendous Arbor Day Celebration – a fun weekend dedicated to trees. Enjoy tree tours and tree-themed educational activities. The first 100 households each day will receive a FREE tree seedling. Admission and activities are FREE.
- The annual Arbor Day Celebration begins on the last Friday in April and features children’s educational activities, a parade, craft show, free trees, a 5 & 10 K run/walk, plant sale, all-you-can-eat chili cook-off, commemorative tree plantings, special award ceremonies, and tours of Arbor Lodge, the home of J. Sterling Morton.
- Local food from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota farmers held on Saturdays, 8 am to 1 pm, Rain or Shine.
Going Green with the Omaha Public Library – 4/28-4/29
- Celebrate Spring with Eco-Friendly Events, April 14-April 29, 2012, at various Omaha Public Libraries. Click on link for event descriptions, dates, and times (Click on ‘Green’ under Upcoming Events in center of website or view the calendar in top right corner.)
Free General Admission to the Joslyn Art Museum – Saturdays, 10am-noon
- Enjoy FREE general admission, Saturdays, 10 am–noon. Additional charge for some special exhibitions. Joslyn Art Museum’s Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden is open year-round from 7 am to 11 pm each day, and admission is free.
- April 28th – Bracelets – Egypt Style! Saturday Surprise Kids’ Program at Joslyn Art Museum – Through partnerships with local artists and area organizations or special programming for children and families, there is always something new to explore here at the Museum! Join us every other Saturday from 10 am–noon for a self-guided art project at Joslyn!
- 10-3pm at the Upper Level & North East Parking Lot of Westroads Shopping Center. Free, interactive, educational, and family friendly event which will offer safety tips and lessons on a variety of topics. The event will also offer free child ID kits, free bike helmets (ages 5-12 accompanied by an adult), minor bicycle repair, free t-shirts for kids to design, a Drug Administration Enforcement prescription drug take-back station (bring in your unused or unneeded medications), face painting, clowns, balloons, and many more hands-on activities. We went to this event last year and my kids loved it!
- 11am-2:30pm, UNO Caniglia Field. Join us for tons of family fun activities: Bounce Houses, Zumba, Relay Races, Obstacle Courses, and more! The first 200 kids receive a free bike helmet provided by the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and the first 600 kids receive a free YMCA drawstring bag full of goodies! Event will be held rain or shine.
- 11am-1pm at Saddlebrook Library. Join us for a fun-filled and eco-friendly spa day! We’ll make green body scrubs and dream pillows, learn about massage and enjoy a light lunch. This program is limited to 12 daughters (ages 9 and up) and their mothers. As of this posting, there were only a few spots left. Click on the link above to register.
Family Skate at Motto McLean Ice Arena – 4/28
- Saturday, April 28th, 12-2pm. Family Skate at Motto McLean Ice Arena (inside Hitchcock Park- 45th x Q). Only $10 for a family of four, and $3 for each additional person. This includes admission, skate rentals, popcorn, and drink.
- 1-3pm at First Church of the Nazarene, 26th and Avenue A, Council Bluffs, IA. To mark April as Child Abuse Awareness Month, the Shaken Baby Task Force and Prevent Child Abuse Pottawattamie County will hold its Fifth Annual Health and Safety Fun Fair. Free activities available for children of all ages and open to the public include: Face painting, Fire trucks, Smoke House, Car seat checks, Cooking with Elaine, Healthy Snacks for Kids, Vision and dental screening, Blood pressure checks, Family gardening ideas, 4-H farm animals, Arts and crafts, Health and wellness tips, and Games and prizes.
- The first 1,000 teachers to register will receive a special “swag bag”, Godfather’s pizza, drink and raffle tickets to win a variety of great prizes at the event. Radio hosts will emcee the event, along with live music from local favorites. There will also be fun activities for the kids including face painting and bounce houses.
- 1-4pm at the Sarpy County Historical Museum, 2402 Clay St., Bellevue. Bring the whole family for a May Day Celebration. Make a May Day Basket and other fun activities. Meet the Maypole Queen, Kimberly Daniels, the 2012 Mrs. Nebraska. Free admission all day and open to the public.
Mud Pies at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center
- Children ages 5 and younger with accompanying adult can explore nature activities through interactive stations. A different natural science topic is introduced each week. $2 member/$3 non-member. It is held every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the school year from 9:30 – 11:30 am.
- Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Omaha! Activities include a banquet, concerts, carnival, parade, 5K run/walk, mariachi Mass, car show, health fair and fiesta.
- The Omaha Children’s Museum and Westroads Mall invite you to play. learn. together. at the Westroads Mall Kid’s Club, held on the first Wednesday of every month from 10:30am – 11:30am on the Upper Level near the Children’s Play Area. May 2nd will feature Science in Action: Rocks Rock.
- Held the first Friday of each month, 6-9pm, First Friday is a free event celebrating local creativity in Omaha’s most historic neighborhood. They are also offering free parking and free rides on Ollie the Trolley, 6-9pm. Nebraska at the Market, 1215 Leavenworth, is generously offering their 60 parking spaces for free. Park there and start your walking tour or hop aboard the trolley to circulate the neighborhood.
- 8am-12:30pm. Approximately 110 vendors each Saturday sell fresh, locally grown produce, baked goods and flowers. “Buy local and eat fresh.”
- During the open house, artist studios will be open for visitors, and they will have organized art displays, live music, and gallery shows. The amazing demonstrations will also include bronze pouring, clay work and raku firings, iron forging, and glass blowing. Please donate a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank when you visit the Hot Shops Art Center Open House. Collection boxes will be available near the front entrance.
- Bring a canned/non-perishable food item to Werner Park and receive one free McDonald’s Berm ticket. 1 per canned non-perishable item. Fans are encouraged to bring more. Food will be donated.
- 9am-1pm. Each Sunday, local growers sell fresh, locally grown produce, baked goods and flowers. “Buy local and eat fresh.”
- Professional kite flyers for National Kite Month at the LaVista Sports Complex, 7346 S. 66th Street, LaVista, NE . The free event runs from 12 noon – 5:00 pm.
- 12-2 at the Hy-Vee, 180th and Pacific, Omaha, NE. ACRODUNK, semi-finalists on America’s Got Talent, will be performing at your Pacific Street Hy-Vee today. Bring the family and some lawn chairs and come enjoy some awesome entertainment. There will also be a big BBQ smoking event going on all day for you to check out! ACRODUNK Meet & Greet 12:00 noon. ACRODUNK Performance 1:00 p.m. – East Loading Dock Area.
National Events
- 10-11am. Lowe’s offers free Build and Grow clinics every other Saturday at 10am. Bring the kids to any Lowe’s store to build fun projects. This is recommended for children in grades 1st-5th. Check availability and register soon, as these tend to fill up fast! The next event is May 12th – picture frame planter.
Free Entrance into National Parks – 4/21-4/29
- Free Entrance into National Parks April 21st – 29th.
- Enjoy preschool storytime every Tuesday and Thursday at Barnes and Noble stores nationwide. Times and dates may vary. Please verify with your local store before visiting. In Omaha, Storytime is at 11am at the Oakview store.
- Storytimes are held every Tuesday from 11-11:30am. Time and Date may vary by store. Please call your local store to confirm.
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – 5/5
- Home Depot offers FREE kid’s workshops on the first Saturday of each month, from 9am-12pm. They are designed for children ages 5-12. Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety. All participants will receive a Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement.
CC image courtesy of Stephen Heron