The weekend is almost here, and there are many free (or almost free) fun family activities both locally and nationally to enjoy! Be sure to visit the Event Calendar (or the calendar list view on the right of this page) for more information on ALL of the free activities coming up! It is always a good idea to verify with the business before visiting.
Don’t miss:
- Free Summer Activities in Omaha
- Free Family Activities in Omaha
- More Free Upcoming Events in Omaha and Nationwide
- 10 Free Activities to Beat the Heat
Highlights of Upcoming Local Events
The Rainbow at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
- Current drought conditions throughout the Midwest have been called the worst in a generation. Due to The Rainbow’s dependence on rainwater, planned twice daily rainbow events have been scaled back. The next rainbow events are scheduled for 7:30 pm on Thursday, July 26, Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28. Check here for updated schedule.
- July 12th – August 16th. Thursdays, Venue opens at 5 PM, Concert starts at 7 pm.
- The Omaha Downtown Improvement District Association (DID) will offer FREE activities and mini events all summer at the Gene Leahy Mall! Activities will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Mondays-Thursdays during the months of May, June, August and September at 14th & Farnam Streets.
- Mondays – Family Fun
- Tuesdays & Thursdays – Boot Camp Exercise Classes
- Wednesdays – Arts & Culture
- Enjoy a free movie under the stars at the beautiful Sumtur Amphitheater. Starlight Movie Series features entertainment for the whole family. Gates open at 7:30 with cartoons starting as soon as the sun sets. The feature movie starts at twilight.
- FREE event – Friday, July 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm. Come join the Library and the Community Center with this fun event of live music with The String Beans and making s’mores!
- Celebrating 125th anniversary with concert, fireworks, pancake breakfast, parade, and street festival.
- Celebrate the Omaha Public Library’s Summer Reading Program with a Finale Parties.
4th Annual Beach Party Courtesy of Fat Brain Toys – 7/27
- Join us for our 4th Annual Free Beach Party from 5-7pm. 18 tons of beach sand will be in front of Fat Brain Toys at Village Pointe South. We will have plenty of sand carving tools on hand and sand molds. Build sand castles and have wonderful water fun. Free snow cones. Courtesy of Fat Brain Toys.
Farmer Appreciation Day at Village Pointe Farmers Market – 7/28
- Honor our local farmers with a celebration of their hard work and dedication. Come visit this Saturday, July 28th, from 8am-1pm, and say “thanks” to those who bring us food and join in free festivities for the whole family.
Free Family Fishing – 7/28
- GO FISHING OMAHA provides free family fishing and fun! Be sure to pack plenty of water, sun screen, and lunch. Poles, worms, and other equipment provided!
- July 28 – Walnut Grove 9-12pm
- loom’s annual multicultural festival is free fun for all ages. The spontaneous multicultural festival atmosphere features music and dance, body painting, live art, yoga, dance performances and a variety of other artful expressions. Food may be purchased outside at Joslyn’s grill until 8 pm; Cash bar available ’til 10:30 p.m. Bringing food is allowed, but please, no outside alcohol. Rain Date: Sunday, July 29th.
Playing With Fire Omaha -7/28
- Free Live Music on July 28th, at Lewis and Clark Landing. Gates open at 4pm.
Midtown Crossing Monday Night at the Movies – 7/30
- Weekly inspirational sports-themed movies will be shown in Turner Park. The movies are free and open to the public and sponsored by Marcus Midtown Cinema. Grab your blanket, enjoy some popcorn, sit back and relax as we laugh, cry and become inspired all summer long! Movie starts at dark.
- July 30, 2012 – Remember the Titans (Disney)
- La Vista Central Park will be the place to escape from the summer heat, next Tuesday, July 31, beginning at 3 pm. Children are invited to bring their friends to this free event, where squirt guns, water balloons and other water toys are encouraged. Also, enjoy a popsicle and dry off while playing at the park. You bring the squirt gun and we’ll provide the water! Central Park is located on Edgewood Boulevard, a half mile north of Giles Road. This free event, part of La Vista’s Summer Escapes series, does not require registration.
- Member Appreciation Days are fun-filled ways for Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo to say thank you for the support throughout the year. Events include Feeding and Enrichment, Discounts on Food and Gift Shops, Entertainment and Events, and Behind the Scenes! Event activities are free to Omaha’s Zoo members or with regular paid Zoo admission. (We went last week, and the Behind the Scenes tours are fantastic!)
- FREE, Fun Events All Summer Long! Bring your family and enjoy Summer Nights on Wednesday evenings at the Kroc Center, 6:30-8pm. Meet new people and have fun with your children while enjoying a new free activity each week. Kroc Center members and non-members are all invited to join the fun!
- 8/1 Forts and Bubbles
- 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. August 1st will feature Science in Action: Weather.
- The Omaha Police Department will host the 60th Annual Kindergarten Traffic Training at Westroads Mall 8/1-8/3, 10am – 3pm, at the Upper Level near the Children’s Play Area. The training is provided at no cost to participants. All parents having children entering elementary school for the first time are urged to participate, and each child that completes Kindergarten Traffic Training will receive a FREE admission pass to Rave Cinemas – Westroads 14 + D-Box!
- 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.
- Learn what makes sharks so cool at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo in celebration of Shark Week on 8/4 and 8/5 from 9am-3pm. There will be special Keeper Question and Answer sessions, a shark feeding at 1:30 p.m. (Saturday only) and educational activities. Event activities are free to Omaha’s Zoo members or with regular paid Zoo admission.
- Coming to Oak View Mall, Saturday, August 4th ~ Back-to-School Kids Fest. A free 3-hour family event for families with children 2-12 years old, with a back-to-school theme. Includes music, dancing, crafts, games, face painting and prizes. August 4th, 1-4 pm, Lower Level Younkers Court.
- Bring your kids and golf for free! There will also be free hot dogs, chips, pop, bounce house, and climbing wall.
- 8/4 – Warren Swigart Golf Course, 3-5pm
- Spend your afternoon from 1-4pm hopping from station to station – gathering facts and making art along the way – during this free, fun day inspired by trains and travel. Be sure to visit the exhibitions inspiring the day: The Great West Illustrated and Contested Terrain. Enjoy art-making, music, and more during an afternoon of free admission at the Museum!
Highlights of Upcoming National Events
- Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from now through July 28th. Each day, they will be focusing on a different country and doing a special craft. Most of the projects are free, except for a few that require a purchase. Each program is from 1-4pm, or while supplies last, and is geared for ages 3 and up. It is always a good idea to verify with your favorite location before visiting.
- Lowe’s offers free Build and Grow clinics every other Saturday at 10am and Sunday at 2pm. Bring the kids to any Lowe’s store to build fun projects. This is recommended for children in grades 1st-5th. Registration opens a few weeks before each clinic’s date.
- Kung Fu Panda Stacking Friends – 7/28, 10:00am
- Kung Fu Panda Stacking Friends – 7/29, 2:00pm
- 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.
- 8/4 – Build a Cork Bulletin Board
- Free event at 3pm! Let us inspire you with fun, easy, and healthy lunch ideas for your kids! Join us at our store for expert tips, recipes, and games that will make mealtime less hectic and a lot more fun.