Something went wrong on a paleontology dig, and your team has been transported back to the age of the dinosaurs! You’ll need to work together to solve clues and puzzles hidden in the cave and your field gear to activate the portal device and “return home”. Can you escape the prehistoric world or will you be stuck with the dinosaurs forever? Registration is required.

Beat the heat at Heartwood Waterpark, where the amphitheater bowl transforms into a splash-filled playground. Massive water slides, inflatable obstacle courses, and refreshing frozen treats make this a cool escape for kids and adults alike. Bring your swimsuit, gather your friends, and enjoy an afternoon of summer fun followed by food trucks and drinks in the park.

Come and see the newly-minted Crossroads Festival Orchestra finish out the festival with a flair with a program, curated by Kinan Azmeh, that promises to go deep.

Kids and teens who made their Summer Reading Program goals can redeem their Storm Chaser voucher for a free berm seat at an Omaha Storm Chasers game!

Join OPL at different parks and places for storytime, featuring stories, creative movement, music and more. Storytime is geared toward preschoolers, but all ages are welcome.  In August, learn about animals that live on land.

Makerspace Monday: Back to School Swag

Discover the fascinating process of fossilization! Join 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.

Let's make some music! Brains will grow and smiles will shine as kids work together to make some awesome music with Miss Kerry from Kindermusik with Overton Music Studios!

STEM Tuesdays – Join each Tuesday for hands-on STEM activities that inspire creativity, problem-solving, and fun!

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.

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.

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.

Join for the City of Council Bluffs' biggest block party of the year. Visit with first responders and community personnel and see all their rigs. They will have: food, face painting, raffle prizes, bike events, a K9 demonstration, a helicopter landing, and more! It's a great night for the whole family to come hang! Free parking is available in the garage at 4200 River's Edge Parkway. 

Gather in Central Park to celebrate La Vista’s community and its first responders. This safetyfocused event features “touch-a-truck” with first responder vehicles, a greeting from Mayor Kindig, face painters and activities, free treats, plenty of safety information and demonstrations.

Nancy Gillis from Humanities Nebraska will speak on the origins, history and current state of the five tribes of Nebraska: Omaha, Ponca, Pawnee, Santee, and Winnebago. Of Cherokee/Choctaw descent, Ms. Gillis was the Executive Director of the John Neihardt State Historic Site and its Institute for Vision and Learning for 19 years, retiring in 2019.

Omaha Conservatory of Music guests bring the magic of music alive with a musical storytime! The storytime includes a special musical story, songs with movement, and an instrument petting zoo.

Nestled among the trees and trails of Fontenelle Forest, stories take flight! Join OPL at Fontenelle Forest for a special storytime celebrating birds, nature, insects, and more. We’ll explore the wonders of nature through stories, songs, and movement. While this program is geared toward preschoolers, children of all ages are welcome. Admission to Fontenelle Forest is free for those attending storytime.

For centuries, we’ve known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science can provide insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement. Use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. This presentation will be led by a volunteer from the Alzheimer’s Association. This is a free presentation for adults and does not require registration.

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.

Join for an interactive look into the world of wildlife rehabilitation with our friends from Nebraska Wildlife Rehab. Learn what the team at NWR does, what it takes to become a wildlife rehabilitator, and how animals end up needing care in the first place. Explore each step of the rehabilitation journey—from intake and treatment to release back into the wild. This engaging program is perfect for anyone curious about animal care and the important work of helping injured wildlife. This program is for patrons 6+. Registration is required.

Relax indoors and discover the joy of paper crafting! Origami paper and instruction books will be out for you to use today. We can’t wait to see what you fold together! This is a self-directed activity. Parent  participation required for ages 10 and under. All ages are welcome!

Omaha Conservatory of Music guests bring the magic of music alive with a musical storytime! The storytime includes a special musical story, songs with movement, and an instrument petting zoo.

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.

Compete against other teams to complete the same puzzle in the fastest amount of time. All teams will be provided with a puzzle and will have two hours to finish the challenge. The first team to complete the puzzle wins! Space is limited, and registration is required.

Warm nights. Cool grooves. Get ready to wrap yourself in another season of Jazz on the Green at Midtown Crossing presented by Omaha Performing Arts.
Thursdays, July 9 - August 13
Park Opens for Seating at 5PM
Pre-Show Starts at 6:30PM
Music Starts at 7:30PM

You've achieved your summer reading goal! Join for a celebratory pizza party. Enjoy complimentary pizza and drinks while supplies last. We'll also have some nostalgic crafts! This is a free event for adults 19+ only. Registration is required

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.

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.

Together we will create a large scale “painting” with liquid watercolor….run with a paintbrush, flick the color, giggle with wild abandon. Then each person gets their own hunk of the paper for abstract discovery. You might seek out bugs, wings, faces or places? Let your mind wander like a happy child. Meet at the Arrival Plaza next to the Discovery Playground!

Unleash your inner detective and storyteller in this workshop! Writers will learn the key elements of a great mystery, focusing on crafting intriguing characters, planting clever clues, and surprising twists. Whether you're new to writing or already love storytelling, you'll leave with your own short mystery story and the tools to keep the suspense going. This is a free event for adults. Registration is required.

Unearth A Story: Animals from the Past: Journey back in time this summer as we look at how modern-day animal adaptations can help us uncover the truth about our past!

Come shop kid made products!

Join at the library for WhyArts Kids on the Block, an engaging educational puppet program designed for children in grades K–4. Through lively performances and interactive storytelling, this special event introduces children to what it’s like to live with a disability. Each puppet is operated by a puppeteer who shares the same disability, making the overall message authentic and relevant.

Give your favorite stories some sparkle! In this creative program use colorful gems and rhinestones to decorate dazzling book covers. Add a little shimmer and personality to your books while exploring your artistic side. Feel free to bring your own book or use one of ours! All supplies are provided, just bring your imagination! This is a free event for Teens 13+. Registration is encouraged.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of live music, local talent, and community celebration at RiverFront First Fridays' Battle of the Bands! Experience the energy as talented bands compete for top honors while filling downtown Omaha with incredible music and excitement. Enjoy delicious food from local food trucks, unique local vendors, family-friendly activities, and the beautiful atmosphere of The RiverFront. Whether you're cheering on your favorite band, discovering new artists, or simply looking for a fun summer evening with friends and family, this is an event you won't want to miss. RiverFront First Fridays is a collaboration with Downtown Omaha Inc. and The RiverFront. Admission is free—come celebrate Omaha's vibrant music scene where our community comes together to Live. Local. Together!

Soccer Shots is bringing the fun to The RiverFront with a free, 30 minute soccer experience for children ages 2 to 5. Kids will run, play, and explore through exciting games while building confidence and learning basic soccer skills in a fun, positive, and energetic environment. 

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.

Grab a pair of headphones and dance under the stars—and the sculptures. KANEKO is bringing something a little different to The RiverFront Sculpture Park at Gene Leahy Mall: a Silent Disco, led by Degy Entertainment. As the sun sets over the mall, tune in to curated hits and move through the sculpture garden at your own pace. Expect throwback party anthems from the 90s to the aughts, as well as the best of today’s top 40. One part dance party, one part outdoor art walk, all part summer in downtown Omaha. Sign up now to reserve your headphones—space is limited.

Registration for the 2026 Youth Fishing Derby closes on August 6, or when full.  Ages 7-9 starts at 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.  Ages 10-12 starts at 10:45 a.m. - 12:00p.m.  Ages 13-15 starts at 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m

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.

Open Omaha is a free, community-wide open house featuring dozens of local businesses, historic landmarks, sacred sites, creative spaces, and other hidden gems. Open Omaha features 50 venues this year, highlighting the fascinating spaces and places across our city.

Swing on by to meet a couple of heroic arachnids! Spider Boy and Spider Girl will be here to take pics and answer questions about life as a superhero. Plus, kids will get to try out the new Zipstring Aracna! It's going to be a blast!

Calling all gamers! Have a blast learning how to code while building robotic games to test your code. You will learn about sequencing commands, value and sensor inputs, and loops. This month you will create a robo kangaroo.. Registration is required

Ever wanted to create your own eco-friendly paper, plastic, or even animal-free leather? Now you can! In this immersive workshop, you’ll collaborate with living microbes—the same tiny organisms that make kombucha—to grow your own unique biomaterial at home. With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll discover how yeast and bacteria work together to form sustainable materials that you can transform into creative, one-of-a-kind projects. Join us and explore the future of biofabrication—where science meets creativity!

Dungeons & Dragons Miniature Painting. Ages 10+

You've achieved your summer reading goal! Join for a celebratory pizza party. Enjoy complimentary pizza and drinks while supplies last. We'll also have some nostalgic crafts! This is a free event for adults 19+ only. Registration is required

Soak up the sun and watch your young entrepreneur shine! Kids Markets is bringing the fun to Valley Days, where kids run their own booths, sell what they create, and enjoy a steady flow of shoppers ready to support them. It’s the perfect mix of summer fun and hands-on learning. Sign your kids up today!

Beat the heat at Heartwood Waterpark, a splash-filled playground. Massive water slides, inflatable obstacle courses, and refreshing frozen treats make this a cool escape for kids and adults alike. Bring your swimsuit, gather your friends, and enjoy an afternoon of summer fun followed by food trucks and drinks in the park.

Headlining the 2026 Maha Festival is UK indie rock breakout Wet Leg joined by Omaha’s own Bright Eyes, Grammy-winning rapper Killer Mike, and rising alternative standout Blondshell. Indie-folk favorites Whitney round out the bill alongside Omaha-based David Nance & Mowed Sound and emerging local artist Carver Jones.

Join OPL for a Mario Kart World tournament. They will be playing the game on the Nintendo Switch 2. This is a free program for ages 13-18. Registration is required

A bicycle race of a specified number of laps on a closed course over public roads closed to normal traffic. Free for Spectators. Family Activities: Obstacle Course, Skills Zone, Bike Fitting, Strider Zone, Playground, UNO Kinesiology

This one’s for the hippies! 🌼 …Step into a laid-back summer evening full of color, creativity, and good vibes at the Hippie Dayz Night Market! This groovy outdoor market is bringing together over 20 local makers offering a vibrant mix of handmade goods, unique finds, and creative flair. Along with a delicious food truck line up, cash bar, beer garden, henna, hair tinsel, permanent jewelry, live music and much more!

Grab your friends, bring the family, and come enjoy a fun-filled evening for the whole family. Pack your chairs, blankets, and coolers and settle in for a great night of music. Come hungry, come ready to dance, and most importantly — come have fun at Stinson Park!

Get ready for the ultimate party experience with Shadow Lake's 2nd annual Back to School Foam Party! 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Regular Foam Party. 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Glow-in-the-Dark Foam Party. Event will be held in the middle of the mall. Wear your old tennis shoes and bring a towel! FREE Event.

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!

Come enjoy a summer movie under the stars at Flix at the Chef—free outdoor movie nights that Relevant puts on for our city behind Dairy Chef in Elkhorn. Bring your blankets, chairs, family and friends and enjoy the movie “Minions: Rise of Gru” on Saturday, on Aug 8. Food, drinks, and ice cream will be for sale at Dairy Chef as well. All movies begin at dusk.