Your local resource for family-friendly activities and events in Omaha.
Fall vibes are here! Join us for our Apple Pie Sensory Bin + Storytime 
All ages welcome $5 per participant Supplies are first come, first served
White
and AWESOME!!
Celebrate Labor Day with us with a DIY Patriotic Sensory Playdoh Jar event!! 
Dig into the star spangled textures, and let your freedom sing as you explore the different textiles we add! $5 per participant, all ages welcome!! First come, first serve while supplies last! A “Good old fashioned day at the farm”. Guests will be able to visit the animals, take a hayride through the forest, explore the Outdoor Nature Classroom, enjoy music, games, animal presentations, food, farmers market vendors and more!
Celebrate the fall season with guided nature hikes, fall crafts, s’mores, Scavenger Hunt, archery, refreshments, outdoor games, cornhole, gaga and more!
Since 1988, visitors have traveled the Lincoln Highway National Byway (IA Hwy 30) and the Loess Hills Scenic Byway to Woodbine the Last Saturday in September for the Woodbine Applefest!
Woodbine Applefest is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of community spirit and small-town charm. With as many as 18,000 visitors coming from near and far, Applefest brings people together to enjoy classic cars, handmade crafts, antiques, delicious food, and fun activities for all ages. Whether you’re here for the car show, the kids’ activities, or just to take in the vibrant atmosphere, you’ll find something to love at Applefest. Come experience the tradition that’s been going strong for over 35 years!
All Day
Pancake Feed begins at 7 am (School commons area)
Most vendors and activities open at 8 am
Big Tent Lunch and Beer Garden from 11 am to 11 pm
Music under the Big Tent from 4 to 11 pm
Nebraska City’s AppleJack Festival is ripening into two full weekends of crisp fall fun — and you’re invited to take a big juicy bite out of the celebration! Named one of America’s Best Fall Harvest Festivals by USA Today and a Top Fall Destination by HGTV, this iconic event draws up to 80,000 apple-lovers to our historic town — and for good reason.
This year, we’re stretching the festivities across two themed weekends starting Friday, September 19, and going until the last apple is crunched.
🍏 Weekend One: Traditional AppleJack: Get your classic fix of parades, apple pies, carnival rides, adrenaline-pumping bull riding, and all the nostalgic vibes.
🍎 Weekend Two: All About Apples: It’s apple-palooza! Cider slushies, sip-and-stroll hard cider experience, caramel-covered everything, orchard tours, and more apple-y goodness than you thought possible. And why not throw in a little professional wrestling to spice things up?!
Need more reasons to make a weekend of it? Our charming museums, boutique shopping, cozy lodging, and delicious eats will keep you entertained from morning cider to evening bonfire.
Mark your calendars, grab your flannel, and let the apple adventures begin!
Join for this Amazing Sight as Hot Air Balloons take to the sky at the scenic Apple Orchard in Council Bluffs- Will have Live Bands!
🎈 Fields of Flight – Hot Air Balloon Night at the Orchard 🎈
✨ Friday, September 5 – Council Bluffs’ scenic Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard
Get ready for a truly unforgettable evening as colorful hot air balloons rise over the apple orchard and light up the night sky! 🌅
🍎 With live music, delicious food, and breathtaking views, this is one night you won’t want to miss.
🎶 Event Highlights:
6:00 PM – Balloon Flight (weather permitting)
5:30–9:30 PM – Live Music by VERTIGO
~7:40 PM – Balloon Glow at Dusk (weather permitting)
🚗 Parking & Tickets:
$40 per car – Admission included (only ONE ticket needed per vehicle!)
Prepaid parking tickets available online only – limited quantity!
No walk-ins – carpooling encouraged.
Free shuttle/tram service from parking areas.
Non-refundable – this is a benefit for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
💳 Payments:
Orchard accepts Visa/MasterCard for purchases over $5.
No ATM on site – cash is fastest! (Some vendors may only take cash.)
🎈 Balloon Rides:
Spectator event only – no private or tethered rides.
🌤 Weather:
Balloon flights are weather dependent – pilots decide about 1 hour before launch.
✨ What’s a Balloon Glow?
At dusk, pilots fire up their propane burners to light the balloons while they remain on the ground – it’s magical and camera-worthy! 📸
🍔 Food & Drinks:
No outside food, drinks, or coolers.
Orchard Café favorites + food vendors (yes, apple cider doughnuts!)
Beer, wine, hard cider, pop, water, and apple cider available.
🐾 Pets:
As much as we love them, pets must stay home.
🚻 Restrooms:
Porta potties available (indoor restrooms closed).
🪑 What to Bring:
Chairs, blankets, bug spray – be comfy and prepared!
🍎 Orchard Activities:
U-Pick closes at 3:00 PM to allow tractors for shuttle service.
Apples available for purchase in the store.
Playground open for kids during the event.
Mark your calendars, grab your friends, and come enjoy an evening of music, food, and hot air balloon magic – all for a great cause! 🎈❤️
Soak up the sunshine & explore 18 acres of blooming beauty at our Nebraska Sunflower Fest! With over 450,000 vibrant sunflowers, it’s the perfect place to stroll, snap dreamy photos, & enjoy the beauty of nature!
September 6 @ 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
World O! Water Festival
Chalco Hills Recreation Area 8901 S. 154th St, Omaha, NE 68138
World O! Water is a FREE, family festival on Saturday September 6th from 12-4pm at Chalco Hills. The educational event helps all ages learn about water conservation and the important role water plays in our lives. Join in the fun for hands-on science and water activities, games, crafts, and wildlife demonstrations! There will also be face painting, and a free hot dog lunch while supplies last. World O! Water is great for families, youth groups, and scout troops. Find event details at WorldOWater.org.
Smile Fest 2025, Share My Smile’s biggest COMMUNITY event of the year! With over 20 vendors, face painting, bounce houses, and more, Smile Fest creates a fun day for families and the community to connect and create lasting memories. Smile Fest supports our mission by bringing families together in a joyful space that encourages genuine smiles, strong bonds, and lasting support for children in foster care.
All proceeds from Smile Fest 2025 support Share My Smile whose mission is to provide family strengthening events and care programs for foster families to encourage true, honest, and happy smiles in children. Since 2010, Share My Smile has been a lifeline for over 500 foster and adoptive children and families across Iowa and Nebraska. We work closely with community partners to nurture and support these families. Although we receive no government funding, the generosity of donors, sponsors, and fundraisers fuels our mission to bring hope and joy—ensuring every child feels loved and valued.
Family Fun in Omaha is your local resource for family-friendly activities and events in Omaha and beyond! We are a local family of 5 that loves finding new adventures and wants to help you enjoy all that Omaha and the surrounding area has to offer. We recommend starting here. Thank you for visiting!
