Academy Award® winner Domee Shi (Pixar short Bao) took her experiences of growing up a Chinese Canadian with immigrant parents and turned it into a fun, stylized film that explores often untouched territory for animated films. With the film, she hoped that “kids who watch it, parents too, feel empowered to take up space, to be big and loud, to let their inner red pandas out and to be proud of all the things that make them different.”

Dragons, heroes, magical worlds, and epic quests! In this interactive workshop, young writers will learn how to create their own fantasy graphic novel story. Participants will invent characters, build imaginative worlds, and write the first page of their own comic adventure. Perfect for kids who love fantasy, storytelling, and comics! This is a free event for children ages 8-12. Registration is required

Customize a ceramic masterpiece through the power of paint! Rosy Clay Co will provide a ceramic planter and all supplies to express yourself with a paintbrush. Once your creation is glazed and fired, you may pick it up from the Rosy Clay Co in downtown Papillion within 10-14 days.

Weird Al brings his legendary full-production multimedia comedy rock show back to the concert stage with the BIGGER & WEIRDER 2026 Tour, playing his iconic hits as well as some never-performed-live-before fan favorites. Al’s long-time band is joined by four additional players to create a super-sized concert experience.

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and join us for 30 minutes of stories, songs, and dancing with ballerinas from American Midwest Ballet! Most appropriate for kids ages 5 years old and younger and an adult companion. In the event of inclement weather this program will be moved to the Library.

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

Calling all dino-designers; get ready for an adventure millions of years in the making! Unleash your inner sculptor and join us to make a clay dinosaur. After your prehistoric pal is built, you can give them a voice by writing a thrilling mini-adventure about their life in the wild! No experience needed—just bring your imagination! All materials are included, while supplies last. This is a free event for children ages 8-12. Registration is required.

Discover the fascinating process of fossilization! Join us to explore the layers that entombed the dinosaurs and construct an edible model of their burial. This is a free event for children. Registration is required.

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

July Theme: Experiments! Get ready to get a little messy! This summer we’re keeping our STEM skills sharp and our hypotheses ready with kid’s experiments. Experiments will use simple household items, may vary depending on age range, and come with all necessary safety equipment. If weather allows, a portion of the program will take place outside.

We all scream from ice cream fun with Miss Susie! She's going to read a few sweet stories. Then - free ice cream cones for everyone! Is there a better way to start a summer's day?

Get ready for a roaring good time! In this hands-on musical experience inspired by Dinosaurumpus!, kids become the musicians as they explore the many ways percussion instruments make sound—shaking, scraping, and striking along with the story. Guided by a staff member from the Omaha Symphony, young participants will stomp, chomp, and make music together while discovering how rhythm brings this dino-filled tale to life.

Enjoy a different activity or craft each week under the big picnic shelter in Peterson Park. Drop in anytime. Recommended for Grades PreK and up. No library card or registration required.

DIY Fireworks in a Bottle at The Learning Express

Join GPL and Whispering Roots to learn knife skills and chop up some tasty salsa. Learn about gardening, and plant some seeds to take home and make salsa from your own garden! Registration required.

Old-fashioned summer fun! The Council Bluffs Fire Department hosts hydrant parties on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. throughout the summer at various locations.

Ages 0-16. In celebration of America's 250th anniversary we are welcoming some iconic critters to the library! Make a bison or eagle stuffy. Register at Front Desk

What is a raptor? Find out in this up close and personal encounter with Fontenelle Forest's educational raptors. *This program includes live animals*

Get your hands messy and your creativity moving! Teens are invited to learn basic clay-working techniques while making simple pieces like pinch pots and other small creations. All supplies are provided, just bring your imagination. This is a free event for teens. Registration is required

The clock strikes five and the savings begin! Every Tuesday evening this summer, enjoy a twilight look at our featured exhibition, Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume, for just $5 after 5PM. Whether it's a family quest or a fairy tale date night, it's a great time to explore the artistry behind some of your favorite Disney characters.

Learn the fundamental techniques of safely canning and preserving food in this introductory workshop! Discover how to extend the life of your garden bounty or farmers market haul through basic methods. Whether you're a beginner or looking for a refresher on best practices, you'll gain the confidence to safely preserve your favorite flavors at home. This is a free event for adults 19+. Registration is required

We might need a bigger boat…or at least a bigger bingo card! Bring your friends or family to celebrate Shark Week with bingo. No prior knowledge of sharks is required to enjoy the game. This is a free event for adults and children ages 5 and older. Registration is required.

Teen Retreats at Bennington Library every Tuesday for grades 6-12

Grab a blanket or stuffed animal for a cozy family movie night at the library! This month we'll be watching: The Lorax. Popcorn and a craft will be provided!

Animal ambassadors will join us for an exciting, interactive, educational program all about animals. In the event of inclement weather this program will be moved to the Library.

Come see us during this special storytime where we will be joined by members of the U.S. Army. They will be here to read a story and answer questions.

Dinosaur Egg Hunt at the Bennington Library

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

July Theme: Experiments! Get ready to get a little messy! This summer we’re keeping our STEM skills sharp and our hypotheses ready with kid’s experiments. Experiments will use simple household items, may vary depending on age range, and come with all necessary safety equipment. If weather allows, a portion of the program will take place outside.

A new chapter in outdoor entertainment is about to begin as Lauritzen Gardens unveils its new Oasis and Amphitheater—an open-air venue designed to blend music, nature, and community into one unforgettable experience. Set against a backdrop of vibrant gardens, winding paths, and seasonal blooms, the amphitheater offers a natural setting that elevates live performances beyond the traditional concert environment. Guests won’t just attend a show—they’ll be immersed in it, surrounded by the sights and scents of carefully curated landscapes that change with the seasons.

Discover the incredible world of bats in this engaging presentation for adults led by Nebraska Wildlife Rehab! Learn the basics of bat biology, explore common myths and misconceptions, and uncover the many surprising ways bats help and support human communities. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or already a bat enthusiast, this program will leave you with a new appreciation for these fascinating nighttime creatures. This is a free event for adults 19+.

Join OPL for a special program featuring the book Harry and Hot Lava by Chris Robertson! At the conclusion of the story, children will jump and hop their way through an obstacle course using various surfaces. Go as fast as you can, but don’t fall in because…the Floor is Lava! This is a free event for children 4+.

July Theme: Experiments! Get ready to get a little messy! This summer we’re keeping our STEM skills sharp and our hypotheses ready with kid’s experiments. Experiments will use simple household items, may vary depending on age range, and come with all necessary safety equipment. If weather allows, a portion of the program will take place outside.

Come play yard games, color with chalk, and have fun outside. Papillion Police will be joining us as they are able. In case of bad weather, we will be in the Youth Area with limited games.

Old-fashioned summer fun! The Council Bluffs Fire Department hosts hydrant parties on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. throughout the summer at various locations.

Free Movies at the Bennington Library

Every Thursday join in the Curiosity Lab, as we explore science with hands-on activities and experiments. *Participants should be prepared to get messy*

Challenge your creative boundaries in this Art Workshop for teens! Instructor Shawnequa Linder will introduce surrealism and encourage teens to use their imaginations to go beyond reality in order to create a collage. Come tell a story through collaging techniques and let your creativity flourish! All materials will be provided. This is a free event for teens, ages 13-19. Registration is required.

We might need a bigger boat…or at least a bigger bingo card! Bring your friends or family to celebrate Shark Week with bingo. No prior knowledge of sharks is required to enjoy the game. This is a free event for adults and children ages 5 and older. Registration is required.

Concerts begin at 7:00PM and are free and open to all ages. Community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, enjoy downtown Council Bluffs, and experience a wide variety of live music performances in the heart of the city.

Stay Wild after hours. On select Thursday nights this summer, guests ages 21+ can explore the Zoo in a new way, bringing guests closer to animals, nature, and each other, at a slower pace.

Stay Wild after hours. On select Thursday nights this summer, guests ages 21+ can explore the Zoo in a new way, bringing guests closer to animals, nature, and each other, at a slower pace.

Come enjoy dusk at the Forest as we learn about fireflies, including the ones in your own backyard! As night settles over the forest, we'll discuss firefly life cycles, how they communicate, adaptations, and much more! Join us for an evening strolling the boardwalk, learning about nature's very own fireworks. Please bring a flashlight or headlamp, or borrow one of ours on a first-come, first-served basis. Hiking to view fireflies will be easy-to-moderate on the boardwalk and surrounding trails.

Each week, Quasar pairs up a local business with a local charitable cause, to present a “Classic” retro title for a “Free-to-the-Public ” event to raise awareness and support. This is a great way for your organization to educate and interact with an eager audience. Solicitation of free-will donations or mission-specific item donations can be part of pre-event, advertising co-op.

Celebrate America's 250th Birthday by painting fireworks!

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

Keep cool all summer long with hydrant parties! Splash away when the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department comes to your neighborhood to unleash the fun at 3 different locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Please bring your own towel

Join for another night of live music at the Texas Roadhouse Amphitheater! Bring a blanket or a chair and enjoy a relaxed summer evening outdoors.

Summer Concerts with NWS Swingtones.

On Friday, July 3, 2026, The Jimmy Weber Band brings an exciting night of live country music to SumTur. Known for a high-energy stage presence and crowd-friendly country sound, Jimmy Weber will help kick off the holiday weekend with a concert perfect for music lovers, friends, families, and anyone looking for a great summer night out.

Join for The RiverFront Community Concert Featuring the Omaha Symphony with Legends of Country at the Performance Pavilion in Gene Leahy Mall. Blankets and folding chairs are welcomed to be placed at 3:00 pm and the concert will start at 8:30 pm.

Free In-Store Kids Workshops. Join at 9 a.m. the First Saturday of Every Month. While Supplies Last.

Academy Award® winner Domee Shi (Pixar short Bao) took her experiences of growing up a Chinese Canadian with immigrant parents and turned it into a fun, stylized film that explores often untouched territory for animated films. With the film, she hoped that “kids who watch it, parents too, feel empowered to take up space, to be big and loud, to let their inner red pandas out and to be proud of all the things that make them different.”

Saturday mornings belong to the kids. Heartwood Kids Club is a free weekly program filled with hands-on fun designed especially for children ages 4–8. Activities can include crafts, demonstrations, creative projects or interactive experiences each week brings a new surprise. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, so the whole family can enjoy a playful start to the weekend together. Happening every Saturday morning June 13th through September.

The Kids Markets is a nationwide movement that gives kids the platform to launch their own mini businesses. From slime to soaps, lemonade to lawn services—kids sell what they create, while learning real-life business and social skills.

This free, family-friendly celebration features live music, food vendors, kids' activities, foam party, bounce houses, rock climbing, putt putt golf, carnival games, glass blowing, and more as part of our community's America 250 celebration.

Celebrate the 4th of July at the pool! Admission to all City of Omaha outdoor pools will only be $1 on the 4th of July. All pools will close at 5:00pm. (Hanscom will close at normal time, 3pm).

Celebrate the 250th Independence Day at Heartwood Beach Club, our biggest summer bash. The park transforms into a beach-themed playground featuring giant sand sculptures, sand sculpting lessons, giant water slides in the Amphitheater, games and festive food. Make your mark on our community mural and enjoy a rocking concert at sunset before settling in for one of the best spots to watch nearby fireworks. Bring your friends, wear your red, white and blue, and celebrate summer in true Heartwood style.

Bring the whole crew—family, friends, and neighbors—and settle in for a cozy night of laughter, fresh air, and community fun. Firepits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. FREE to the public!

All are welcome to The RiverFront 5th Annual Fourth of July Celebration featuring the Omaha Symphony! This fun, festive and family-friendly evening in downtown Omaha returns to the Gene Leahy Mall. This concert will feature the Omaha Symphony, along with other performers to be announced. The evening will culminate with The RiverFront's spectacular fireworks presentation synchronized with live music. Come early to secure your spot on the lawn beginning at 3 PM.