Omaha Area Community Celebrations and Festivals. Celebrate with many surrounding communities and enjoy fun activities. Many of the events are free – and definitely fun!
Even though the celebrations will look a little different this year, organizers have been busy planning a variety of fun activities!
**Please Note: It is always a good idea to verify event information as they are subject to change.
Jump directly to Outside Omaha Metro to plan a road trip around a festival
2025 Festivals, Community Celebrations and Parades
Events
Fish Fest at The C!
Bring the whole family out to Lake Cunningham for a day filled with fishing, food, animals, and outdoor fun! FREE Fishing: Kids (19 & under) can receive a FREE Zebco fishing pole and tackle kit (available to the first 300 participants), cast a line, and fish their heart out! NEW THIS YEAR – Live Trout Pond Experience: An interactive trout pond where kids can build fishing skills and experience the thrill of catching a trout in a safe, hands-on environment. FREE Lunch, FREE Snow Cones, FREE Petting Zoo.
Elkhorn Days 2026
Enjoy a wide variety of activities over this 4-day festival, including the area’s largest parade, lots of live music, vendor booths, kids and family activities, Corn Hole, beer garden, fireworks, car show, and so much more! Fireworks Friday May 29th. Parade Saturday May 30th 10:30-Noon
29th Annual Taste of Omaha
The 2026 “TASTE OF OMAHA ” will again showcase outstanding Restaurants with exciting live entertainment daily. This year the Annual Event will have entertainment for everyone’s taste on stages throughout the Festival. All stage shows during the 3-day extravaganza are free to attend. Top National Entertainers combined with the best popular area bands and musicians will again be continuously performing throughout the Festival.
Strawberry Festival at Nelson Produce Farm
Celebrate the start of summer at the annual Strawberry Festival! This berry-filled event is packed with fun activities for all ages—and of course, everything strawberries.
Summerfest at River’s Edge
Featuring an epic drone show, live music, interactive activities, and fun for all ages. Rain date on Saturday, June 6, so the fun doesn’t stop! With thousands of attendees, community partners, and plenty of entertainment, Summerfest is a can’t-miss event to kick off summer in Council Bluffs
Omaha Potter Faire 2026
Join for a family-friendly weekend of magic June 6-7, 2026, at the Bellevue Berry Farm! What can you expect? -Butterbeer! -Vendors offering wands, stuffed owls, and so much more! -Delicious food served by the Bellevue Berry Farm -Costumed characters roaming the Faire and teaching classes, courtesy of the Great Hall Players -Children’s activities including licensed Harry Potter coloring pages, giant bubbles, board games, and more
Ditmars Strawberry Festival
Join for our 3rd annual Strawberry Festival and come celebrate all things STRAWBERRY!!! 🍓🍓🍓 🎵Live music all weekend!🎵
Papillion Days 2026
Papillion Days is a time-honored tradition that takes place over Father’s Day weekend in June each year. Dating back to 1947, Papillion Days is the pinnacle summer celebration in town.
Parade, Fireworks Show, Carnival & Market and more.
Kinderfest 2026
This annual event begins with a 5k road race starting in the City Park at 8 am, register in advance to receive a t-shirt or on race day starting at 7 am. The Kinderfest parade down Main Street begins at 11 am. Following the parade, the city park overflows with good old-fashioned fun! A petting zoo and blowups will await the kids. Game booths of all kinds will offer prizes: ring toss, duck races, basketball, cornhole, paddle wheel and more. Where Everyone is a Winner! Lots of food choices including: pulled pork, brisket, brats, burgers, walking tacos and home-made pie!
Freedom Fest at Nelson Produce Farm
Freedom Night is a full evening of family fun, festive games, and hands-on farm experiences. The night ends with a spectacular fireworks show presented by Bellino Fireworks.
Homegrown Festival at Nelson Produce Farm
Sunshine, sweet corn, and flavorful melons—it doesn’t get more summer than this. Join for their Homegrown Festival, a celebration of the crops we grow right here on our farm: sweet corn, watermelon, and cantaloupe. This summer favorite brings together fresh flavors, hands-on farm fun, and all the traditions you know and love.
Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival 2026
Balloons launch Friday and Saturday Evening 7 PM. Gates open at 5:00 pm to give spectators an early glimpse at the hot air balloons as pilots assemble them for their flights.
Dundee Day 2026
Parade Time TBD
Dundee Day began in the 1950’s as a sidewalk sale and became an official day of events in 1992. Over the years, the event has included a ‘prettiest baby’ contest, appearances by local artists such as cartoonist Jeffrey Koterba, and the celebrated relocation of the Dundee Dell from Dodge Street to Underwood Avenue. Today, presented by Dundee Bank and Dundee Pediatrics, this family-friendly street festival celebrates and highlights the Dundee neighborhood with a parade, 5k run, art and craft vendors, book sale, pancake breakfast, food trucks, live music, live art drawing, and beer garden.
La Festa Italiana 2026
Celebrate one of the Omaha area’s most beloved festivals this Labor Day weekend. Take home authentic Italian food, wine, beer, from the American Italian Heritage Society home, Il Palazzo on 132nd and Fort Streets. Kids 14 and Under Free with an Adult
Outside Omaha Metro
July 26th – Kites and Castles at Lake MacConaughy 2025 – Ogallala, NE
July 30th – Aug 3rd – Dodge County Fair 2025 – Scribner, NE
Aug 7-17th – Iowa State Fair – Des Moines, IA
Aug 14-17th – 10th Anniversary Old West Balloon Fest – Mitchell, NE
Aug 15-17th – Kool-Aid Days: 2025 Grape Escape – Hastings, NE
Aug 22-Sept 1st – NE State Fair – Grand Island, NE
Sept 19th & 20th – Tri-City BBQ Fest – Denison, IA
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Past Events
July 27-28th – Benson Days
- Saturday – Pancake Feed, Parade
- Sunday – Benson Bike Ride, Yoga in the Park, Kickball Tournament
- More Activities & Full Schedule are TBD
July 23-28th – West Pottawattamie County Fair
- Location: Westfair Fairgrounds and Amphitheater – 22984 US-6, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Outside Omaha Metro
Aug 8-11th – Columbus Days, 50th Anniversary – Columbus, NE
Sept 20-22nd – Pufferbilly Days – Boone, IA
