The Holidays bring out a sense of peace, joy, and excitement as we create and share wonderful memories with our family and friends. Enjoy many Free Events this season in Omaha and Nationwide. As always, it is a good idea to verify with your favorite location before visiting.
Find Free Events This Weekend Here, plus all of these events and more in the Event Calendar!
♦-Designates National Event.
Free Holiday Events in Omaha
Amazing Christmas Light Displays in the Omaha Area
One of our favorite Holiday traditions is driving around looking at Christmas lights. Some displays are truly impressive, choreographed to music and mesmerizing to watch.
♦Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop – 11/10-12/24
Free photo with Santa, free crafts, free games and activities.
Miracle on Farnam – 11/15-1/1, 8am-1am
All along Farnam Street, Fourteen of Omaha’s creative non-profits will showcase their artistry and imagination by transforming ordinary window space into holiday miracles. Enjoy special events including Zoo Day (November 18), Cookie Decorating (December 1), Opera Omaha Caroling (December 20), Holiday Movies for $5, plus more! Read about our wonderful visit to Miracle on Farnam here!
Mangelsen’s Holiday Open House – 11/17, 11am-3pm
Enjoy demonstrations, Free Make-N-Takes, and visit with Santa with free professional photos 11am-1pm.
Santa’s Arrival at Oak View Mall – 11/17, 10am
Santa Claus will arrive at Oak View Mall on an Omaha Fire Department Fire Truck! Join Santa in a Parade through the Mall, starting at the lower level main entrance, ending with cookies and milk and Santa reading “The Night Before Christmas”.
♦Michaels Store Events – 11/17-11/18
- Passport to Imagination Yarn Event with Purchase of Frame (November 17, 1-3pm)
- Thanksgiving Free Event (November 18, 1-3pm)
♦Lowe’s Free Build and Grow Clinics – 11/17-12/8, 10am
Recommended for children in grades 1st-5th. Registration opens a few weeks before each clinic’s date.
- North’s Sleigh (November 17)
- Sandman’s Plane (December 1)
- Gingerbread House (December 8)
Gingerbread House Display at the Mormon Trail Center – 11/17-12/29
The display, located at 3215 State Street, is open to the public November 17th-December 29th. The center is open daily 9am-9pm, and will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and will be closed on Christmas day.
Christmas Around the World – 11/17-12/31, 9am-9pm
A multitude of Gingerbread houses will be on display at the Kanesville Tabernacle, 222 East Broadway, in Council Bluffs, November 17th through December 31st. Gingerbread Concert Series: 11/17, 12/15 and 12/22 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Mulhall’s – 11/17-12/16
- Visit Live Reindeer (November 17 – December 16) – Look for lots of fun reindeer-themed activities throughout the store for kids.
- Family Days (Saturday, November 24 – Sunday, November 25, 12-3 pm) – Enjoy cookies and cocoa, take your photo with Santa, visit two of his reindeer, and participate in children’s activities.
- Santa Visits Mulhall’s (Saturday, December 1 – Sunday, December 2, 12-2pm)
Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival at Shadow Lake Towne Center – 11/21, 6-9pm
Concert, parade, Santa’s arrival, tree lighting, fireworks, photos with characters, and complimentary carriage rides with Santa. Fun for the whole family!
Holiday Lights Festival – 11/22-1/6
Celebrate the spirit of the holidays with a full season of festive, family-friendly activities, plus enjoy more than 40 blocks of beautiful lights in Downtown Omaha.
- Shine the Light on Hunger invites visitors to donate non-perishable food and household items at the ice skating rink and other locations throughout the festival.
- CenturyLink Thanksgiving Lighting Ceremony (Thursday, November 22, 6-7 pm)
- Making Spirits Bright Holiday Concert (Thursday, November 22, 7 pm)
- Pacific Life Sounds of the Season (Saturdays, November 24 – December 29, 7-8 pm)
- Wells Fargo Family Festival – (Sunday, December 2, 12-5pm)
- ConAgra Foods Ice Skating Rink (Friday, December 14 through Sunday, January 6, 2013) – $5 admission includes skate rental and benefits Food Bank for the Heartland.
- New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular (Monday, December 31, 7 pm)
Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Village Pointe – 11/23, 6-9pm
Concert, complimentary hot cider and cookies, parade, Santa’s arrival, tree lighting, fireworks, visits with Santa, and complimentary carriage rides. Fun for the whole family!
Winter Wonderland at Sump Memorial Library, Papillion – 11/24, 5-8pm
Come to the Winter Wonderland on Saturday, November 24th from 5-8pm. Enjoy stories with Mrs. Claus and Jingles the Elf at 5:30pm and 6:30pm. Decorate a Holiday Bag!
Winter Wonderland in Dowtown Papillion – 11/24, 5-9pm
Bring the family and enjoy a variety of free activities: carriage rides, bonfire, Santa, popcorn, hot chocolate, photos with live reindeer and so much more!
LaVista Holiday Events – 11/25-12/20
- Letters to Santa
- Santa’s Sleigh Ride (Sunday, November 25)
- Tree Lighting Celebration (Monday, November 26)
- Santa’s Calling
- Preschool Playtime and Holiday Cookie Decorating (December 13)
- Holiday Movie Night (Thursday, December 20)
Story Time with Santa & Friends at Village Pointe – Thursdays: 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20 – 10:30-11:30am
Santa will read a holiday story to kids on Thursdays from 10:30am-11:30am at various Village Pointe stores. Treats and/or giveaways for children attending. (No charge to guests.)
- Thursday, November 29 – Janie and Jack
- Thursday, December 6 – GapKids
- Thursday, December 13 – Premier Bank
- Thursday, December 20 – DSW
Omaha Public Library Holiday Events – 12/1-12/29
Many special Holiday Events will be held at Omaha Public Libraries. For more information and to register for certain events, visit the Omaha Public Library website, click on Events & Programs, then Calendar.
Hummel Santa Sleigh Ride – 12/1, 10am-12pm
Go for a ride with Santa through the park! Sip on hot chocolate, decorate sugar cookies, make a craft, and enjoy many other activities for the whole family! Please bring a new pair of mittens or non-perishable food item to donate.
Scheels Santapalooza – 12/1, 10am-2pm
Enjoy Santa’s rooftop arrival at 10am, followed by free fun and activities with Santa and friends.
Omaha Holiday Market in Aksarben Village – 12/1-12/2, 10am-5pm
Visit local vendors and artisans and enjoy a special appearance by Santa on Sunday from 2-4 pm. WOWT anchors and staff will be on hand on Saturday from 10am-5pm to collect canned food donations in the Aspen Gym parking lot. Sponsored by Physicians Mutual and WOWT.
Special Storytimes at Barnes and Noble Crossroads – 12/1-12/14
See events at other Barnes and Noble Stores here.
- The Elf on the Shelf Party (December 1, 10:30am)
- Polar Express Storytime (December 7, 7:00pm)
- A Very Special Holiday Storytime (December 14, 9:30am)
Hot Shops Art Center’s Holiday Open House – 12/1 (12-8pm), 12/2 (12-5pm)
The event features fun and informative art demonstrations and live music, with most residents of the Hot Shops opening their studios to the public. All of the galleries host events, and the building walls are filled with art in a wide variety of mediums. Please donate a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank when you visit. Collection boxes will be available near the front entrance.
Complimentary Carriage Rides at Shadow Lake Towne Center – Saturdays: 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22 – 12-4pm
Take in the breathtaking holiday atmosphere of Shadow Lake Towne Center while riding in a horse-drawn carriage! Rides are free and available to all. *Weather permitting. Board between Chico’s & Coldwater Creek.
Complimentary Carriage Rides at Village Pointe – Saturdays: 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22 – 1-5pm
Carriage ride pick-up point is in front of the fireplace near Marcus Village Pointe Cinema.
Holiday Concert – 12/1, 3pm
Join Omaha Area Youth Orchestras (OAYO) and the Bluffs Art Council for the second annual Holiday Concert Collaboration featuring a concert and prepared reading. This event will be held at the Arts Center at Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs.
Wells Fargo Family Festival – 12/2, 12-5 pm
Enjoy family activities and experience many of Omaha’s leading downtown attractions for free including Wells Fargo, Omaha Children’s Museum, Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, The Durham Museum, W. Dale Clark Library, and Joslyn Art Museum. Ollie the Trolley will provide free trolley rides between locations.
Christmas in Germany at the German-American Society – 12/2, 1-6pm
Enjoy the festive activities of the season. Entertainment provided. Food and drink available for purchase. Visit the Christkindlemarkt and purchase some of the many seasonal gifts from Germany.
Christmas at Boys Town – 12/2-1/11
- Christmas Stamps
- Historic Creche Displays (December 2 – January 11)
- Gift of the Magi (December 2, 7pm)
- Christmas Tree Lighting (December 2, 7:45pm)
- Irish Christmas at Father Flanagan’s House (December 8-16, 10am-4pm)
♦Holiday Storytime at Pottery Barn Kids – Tuesdays: 12/4, 12/11, 12/18 – 11am
Enjoy festive storytime events highlighting all of the winter holidays December 4, 11, and 18 at 11am.
Santa Calls & Live Reindeer at The Shops of Legacy – 12/7, 6-8pm
Bring the kids, meet Santa’s reindeer, and sign up for the free phone call from Santa Friday December 7th from 6 to 8 at THE SHOPS OF LEGACY, Southwest corner of 168th & Center! Plus we’ll have free tickets to the holiday screening of Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase at Rave Cinemas!
Santa Visits Saddlebrook – 12/8, 10am
Come join Saddlebrook Community Center and Saddlebrook Library to sing winter songs, do holiday crafts, and meet Santa!
Free Pictures with Santa at Cabela’s – 12/8-12/9, 12/15-12/16 – 10am-4pm
Come see why Cabela’s offers the best background and the best Santa in LaVista. You will receive one free photo per family. Also, feel free to take your own picture with your own camera.
Munchkin’ Morning with Santa at Florence Community Center – 12/8, 10:30am-12pm
Join us as we enjoy a morning with Santa! Crafts, story time, snacks, and a visit from the big man himself. This is a partnered event with the Florence Public Library. Please bring a a non-perishable food item.
Holiday in the Village – 12/8, 11am-3pm
Children can ride around Rockbrook Village in a horse-drawn carriage and talk with Santa. Local school and church groups will entertain shoppers with seasonal music.
Storytime with Mrs. Claus at Shadow Lake Towne Center – 12/12, 12/19 – 11am
Join Mrs. Claus and friends for an hour of Holiday-themed stories and riddles inside Santa’s Workshop, a few doors down from Wheatfields.
Shadow Lake Towne Center Kids Club – 12/13, 10:30am
Enjoy a free hour of holiday fun with Santa Claus at Old Navy. No reservations required.
Cookie Decorating With the Gingerbread Boy & Girl at HyVee, 180th and Pacific – 12/13, 5-7pm
Bring the kids to have fun decorating cookies with the Gingerbread Boy & Girl. Mrs. Claus and her silly elves will be visiting the store too! It’s also Kids Eat Free Night (with an adult meal purchase)!
Lauritzen Gardens: Free Admission – Weekends, 12/15-12/16, 12/22-12/23 and 12/29-12/30, 9am-5pm
Enjoy free admission every Saturday and Sunday from December 15th through 30th.
Story Time & Cookies with Santa – 12/15, 10-11am
Santa and Mrs. Claus will serve up cookies and milk along with a story or two for a special holiday get-together at Best Buy in Village Pointe. Complimentary photos with Santa available.
The String Beans Holiday Concert – 12/15, 3pm
Join us for a fun afternoon of holiday singing, dancing, and silliness with the musical group the String Beans! This is a free event for the whole family at the Gretna United Methodist Church, located at 11457 S. 204th Street. Sponsored by Gretna Public Library.
Santa’s Reindeer visit Hy-vee, 180th and Pacific – 12/16, 11am-3pm
Come see Santa’s reindeer who will be making a special visit to your Pacific Street Hy-Vee. Find other local HyVee Store Events here.
Looking for more Freebies and Deals? See also:
It is always a good idea to verify the information with the business before visiting.
Do you have a Free Family-Friendly Holiday Event to add? Please leave a comment below and I will add it the list!