Fall Archives

24th Annual Moonshell Storytelling Festival at Mahoney State Park

September 3, 2025

Join for the 24th annual Moonshell Storytelling Festival at beautiful E.T. Mahoney State Park, hosted by Nebraska StoryArts!

Story and music sets will take place all day and evening at the Pavilion in the Activity Center. Attendance is free with park admission and all ages are welcome, but ages 12 and up are recommended for the final performance, “Ghosting”.

Featured Storytellers:
Kim Weitkamp, Jeff Doyle, Carolina Quiroga, and Darrin Crow

Performance times:
10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

Story Swap – 4:30 p.m.

Interested in performing your own story on stage? Want to hear some great local talent? Join us at the Story Swap hosted by our friends at OOPS!

Friday Movie Night at the Orchard: Beetlejuice (1988)

September 3, 2025

We’ve put together a fall lineup filled with family favorites, nostalgic classics and plenty of Halloween fun. Save these dates and start planning your cozy movie nights under the stars!

September 18 — The Wild Robot

September 25 — The Goonies

October 2 — Hocus Pocus

October 9 — Scooby-Doo (2002 Spooky Island)

October 16 — Ghostbusters (1984)

October 23 — Beetlejuice (1988)

October 30 — The Nightmare Before Christmas

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some orchard food and drinks, and settle in for a fun Friday night! We’ll share start times and individual movie details as each date gets closer.

Friday Movie Night at the Orchard: Ghostbusters (1984)

September 3, 2025

We’ve put together a fall lineup filled with family favorites, nostalgic classics and plenty of Halloween fun. Save these dates and start planning your cozy movie nights under the stars!

September 18 — The Wild Robot

September 25 — The Goonies

October 2 — Hocus Pocus

October 9 — Scooby-Doo (2002 Spooky Island)

October 16 — Ghostbusters (1984)

October 23 — Beetlejuice (1988)

October 30 — The Nightmare Before Christmas

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some orchard food and drinks, and settle in for a fun Friday night! We’ll share start times and individual movie details as each date gets closer.

Friday Movie Night at the Orchard: Nightmare Before Christmas

September 3, 2025

We’ve put together a fall lineup filled with family favorites, nostalgic classics and plenty of Halloween fun. Save these dates and start planning your cozy movie nights under the stars!

September 18 — The Wild Robot

September 25 — The Goonies

October 2 — Hocus Pocus

October 9 — Scooby-Doo (2002 Spooky Island)

October 16 — Ghostbusters (1984)

October 23 — Beetlejuice (1988)

October 30 — The Nightmare Before Christmas

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some orchard food and drinks, and settle in for a fun Friday night! We’ll share start times and individual movie details as each date gets closer.

Friday Movie Night at the Orchard: The Goonies

September 3, 2025

We’ve put together a fall lineup filled with family favorites, nostalgic classics and plenty of Halloween fun. Save these dates and start planning your cozy movie nights under the stars!

September 18 — The Wild Robot

September 25 — The Goonies

October 2 — Hocus Pocus

October 9 — Scooby-Doo (2002 Spooky Island)

October 16 — Ghostbusters (1984)

October 23 — Beetlejuice (1988)

October 30 — The Nightmare Before Christmas

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some orchard food and drinks, and settle in for a fun Friday night! We’ll share start times and individual movie details as each date gets closer.

Friday Movie Night at the Orchard: Hocus Pocus

September 3, 2025

We’ve put together a fall lineup filled with family favorites, nostalgic classics and plenty of Halloween fun. Save these dates and start planning your cozy movie nights under the stars!

September 18 — The Wild Robot

September 25 — The Goonies

October 2 — Hocus Pocus

October 9 — Scooby-Doo (2002 Spooky Island)

October 16 — Ghostbusters (1984)

October 23 — Beetlejuice (1988)

October 30 — The Nightmare Before Christmas

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some orchard food and drinks, and settle in for a fun Friday night! We’ll share start times and individual movie details as each date gets closer.

Friday Movie Night at the Orchard: The Wild Robot

September 3, 2025

FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES ARE COMING BACK TO THE ORCHARD!

We’ve put together a fall lineup filled with family favorites, nostalgic classics and plenty of Halloween fun. Save these dates and start planning your cozy movie nights under the stars!

September 18 — The Wild Robot

September 25 — The Goonies

October 2 — Hocus Pocus

October 9 — Scooby-Doo (2002 Spooky Island)

October 16 — Ghostbusters (1984)

October 23 — Beetlejuice (1988)

October 30 — The Nightmare Before Christmas

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, grab some orchard food and drinks, and settle in for a fun Friday night! We’ll share start times and individual movie details as each date gets closer.

Friday Movie Night at the Orchard: Napolean Dynamite

September 3, 2025

About the Event

Friday Movie Night at the Orchard!

Settle in for a magical evening under the stars as we bring the big screen to the orchard!

Movies will begin at dusk, creating the perfect backdrop for a cozy night with friends and family.

What to Bring:

A chair, blanket, or even a pillow to get extra comfy

Your favorite people to share the night with!

Fields of Flight

September 3, 2025

🎈 Fields of Flight – Hot Air Balloon Night at the Orchard 🎈

✨ Saturday, September 12 – 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 RAVEN
~7:40 PM – Balloon Glow at Dusk (weather permitting)

FAQ – All You Need to Know

🚗 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! 🎈❤️

Pumpkin Prowl at Midtown Crossing

September 3, 2025

Grab your pumpkin-lovin’ pals for a special one-day-only pumpkin-themed tour of midtown. From the classics to the unexpected, your tastebuds will thank you for taking them along on this pay-as-you-go tasting tour for all things pumpkin.

Visit as many stops as you’d like, in any order, and vote for your favorite establishment of the day. Full food and drink menus will also be available to complement the pumpkin favorites. The best part? All of the stops are within walking distance of each other!