This year, several local organizations and businesses have come up with creative and safe Drive-Thru Holiday events to enjoy from your car! Additionally, we have added Outdoor Holiday Events that are happening this Season. 

Check back as more Holiday events in Omaha will be added throughout the season as details become available.

PLEASE NOTE: Many events require pre-registration, have limited capacity, or offer timed slots. As things continue to change during this time, it is highly recommended to verify details, closures, cancelations, hours of operation, and any requirements or procedures for guests before visiting. Thank You!

Join our growing community and keep updated on Omaha family-friendly events and activities and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!

 

 

Old Market, North Omaha, & South Omaha Lighting Displays – Nov. 20 – Jan. 4 (nightly), FREE

• Old Market Display – White lights, garland, and festive decor will illuminate the brick streets of the Old Market and surrounding areas. The display will run from 10th St. to 13th St., and from Harney St. to Jackson St.
• North Omaha Display – The North Omaha lighting display will be showcased along a 6-block area around 24th St. and Lake St.
• South Omaha Display – The South Omaha lighting display will be showcased on 24th St. between L St. and Q St.

 

Season of Lights at Midtown Crossing – Nov. 20 – Feb. 14, FREE

• Stroll in the glow of a cherished holiday tradition – tens of thousands of white LED lights strung throughout Turner Park and along Farnam St. Plus, visit the beautifully-decorated tree in Farnam Court.
• Location: Turner Park (31st Ave. and Farnam St.), Omaha, NE.

 

Santa’s Rock ‘n Lights at Werner Park – Nov. 20 – Jan. 3 (find times here), $19.99-$27.99/vehicle [REGISTER]

• More than 700 feet of light tunnels, including a new techno rainbow tunnel. 
• Location: Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion, NE.

 

Downtown Papillion’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru – Nov. 28 (5:30 – 8 p.m.), FREE

• Enjoy a drive-thru experience with all the holiday cheer you can handle!
• Location: Downtown Papillion, NE.

 

Drive-Thru Christmas in the Village – Saturday, Dec. 5 (12 – 3 p.m.) – FREE

• Community Celebration and Holiday Tradition at 24th & Lake. 
• Drive-Through starts at 24th & Burdette.

 

KETV Drive-Thru Family Festival – Dec. 6 (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

• Though different from previous years, hands-on activities will still be part of the event. Craft kits will be handed out to vehicles to complete at home as a family and there will be festive holiday entertainment, Santa, and, police riding their horses! The first 500 vehicles will receive one complimentary Paddington Bear book, courtesy of the Omaha Public Library.
• Location: Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, 615 Leavenworth St., Omaha, NE.

 

Elkhorn Tree Lighting Drive-Thru – Sunday, Dec. 6 (5:15 – 6 p.m.), FREE

• Load the kids in the car and drive thru Olde Towne Elkhorn on Sunday, Dec. 6 between 5:15-6:00pm. Your family will be able to say Merry Christmas to Santa, his Elves, and other holiday characters, get Christmas goodie bags for the kids, and see the Elkhorn Christmas Tree all lit up and decorated.

 

Illuminate Inclusion – Dec. 11-12 (5 – 9 p.m.), FREE (Donations welcome)

• Grab your hot chocolate, load the family into the car, and drive-thru the Illuminate Inclusion holiday light display at Zorinsky Lake!
• Donations will be accepted to help make the accessible and inclusive playground at Zorinsky a reality.
• Location: Zorinsky Lake Park, Water Park Entrance, 3808 S. 154th St., Omaha, NE.

 

More Outdoor Holiday Events Near Omaha

Christmas in LaVista – Nov. 29 – Dec. 15

• Nov. 29 (3 – 7 p.m.): Santa’s Sleigh Ride
• Throughout Dec.: Walkin’ in LaVista Wonderland
• Dec. 8 & 15 (4:30 – 6:30 p.m.): See Santa and his reindeer
• Note: These events may need to adjust accordingly, so check back for the latest information.

 

Santa in the Village at Rockbrook Village – Nov. 28 (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.), FREE

• Visit Santa, meet his live reindeer, and enjoy a carriage ride around the village. Shop at your favorite stores while kids enjoy sweets and treats with a Holiday Scavenger Hunt.
• Location: 2800 S. 110th Ct., Omaha, NE.

 

Santa’s Reindeer in Bel Air Plaza – Dec. 5 & 12 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), FREE

• Children will be able to see the reindeer up close in the heated tent – and parents are encouraged to take photos to capture the holiday memory. Santa and his elves will be on hand providing hot cocoa and scrumptious cookies.
• Location: Bel Air Plaza Parking Lot, 12100 W. Center Rd., Omaha, NE.

 

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular – Dec. 31 (7 p.m.), FREE

• Enjoy the spectacular firework show in the warmth and safety of your vehicle or home!
• Arrive early and park for FREE to view the up-close show in the recommended viewing areas listed here.
• The fireworks will be launched from Parking Lot D of the CHI Health Center.

This year, several local organizations and businesses have come up with creative and safe Drive-Thru Halloween events to enjoy from your car!

Check back as more Halloween events in Omaha will be added throughout the season as details become available.

PLEASE NOTE: Many events require pre-registration, have limited capacity, or offer timed slots. As things continue to change during this time, it is highly recommended to verify details, closures, cancelations, hours of operation, and any requirements or procedures for guests before visiting. Thank You!

Join our growing community and keep updated on Omaha family-friendly events and activities and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!

 

 

Lowe’s Curbside Drive-Up Trick or Treat – See dates by location, [REGISTER] FULL

• Come celebrate Halloween with Lowe’s Drive-through Curbside Trick-or-Treating event! Register your child today so they don’t miss out on free sweet treats and a kid-sized pumpkin. Registration opens October 10. Space is limited.

 

Boo Drive-Thru at Oak View Mall – Oct. 23 (6 – 8:30 p.m.), FREE [REGISTER]

• Decorate your car, wear your costume, and drive-thru for an eerie-sistible time. Receive a treat bag with a take-home craft, offers and discounts to various Oak View Mall restaurants and stores.
• Reserve your treat bag here. Once supplies are gone families are still welcome to drive thru the event to see the decorations. 
• Location: Oakview Mall, 3001 S. 144th St., Omaha, NE.

 

The Great Halloween Drive-Thru at The Durham Museum – Oct. 27 (5 – 8 p.m.), FREE

• Come in costume and even feel free to decorate your car as you adventure through the parking lot visiting themed stations and collecting treats and trinkets along the way. Plus, watch a Halloween laser light show from the comfort and safety of your car.
• Vehicles must enter the Drive-Thru event from the museum’s lower parking deck at 9th & Leavenworth Streets (and exit on the upper level).
• Location: 801 S. 10th St., Omaha, NE.

 

Walmart Spooktacular Drive Thru – Oct. 29 – 31 (See Flyer for Specific Dates, Times, & Locations), FREE

• Walmart shoppers can safely trick-or-treat from their car! Join in a FREE drive-thru event at select Walmart stores. Find specific dates, times, and locations here. 

 

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES:

          

Fall is beautiful in and around Omaha! We asked our readers to share their favorite areas and best scenic drives near Omaha to see Fall colors!

Join our growing community and keep updated on Omaha family-friendly events and activities and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!

 

Best Places to See Fall Colors Near Omaha

 

 

Lauritzen Gardens

Location: 100 Bancroft St.
Admission Cost. Memberships available.

Stroll around the beautiful Botanical Gardens with paved walking paths. See a model train railroad, indoor Conservatory, Visitor Center, and many themed garden areas.

Members of Omaha Public Library or Council Bluffs Library can check out a pass to visit Lauritzen Gardens. Find out more here!

 

Mahoney State Park

Location: 28500 West Park Hwy, Ashland, NE
Cost: Park Entry Permit is required

During the Fall, families can enjoy scenic drives, explore the park’s hiking and biking trails, visit the indoor playground, and climb the observation tower.

 

OPPD Arboretum

Location: 108th & Blondo
Cost: Free

The OPPD arboretum is an outdoor education area where you can walk along paved pathways.

 

Platte River State Park

Location: 14421 346th St., Louisville, NE
Cost: Park Entry Permit is required.

Enjoy the park’s picturesque waterfall, scenic hiking and biking trails, and two observation towers that allow those who climb to the top a spectacular view of both the Platte River and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, which is just across the river.

 

Schramm Park

Location: 15810 Hwy 50, Louisville, NE
Cost: Park Entry Permit is required.

Families can explore a geologic display, feed fish in cool water trout ponds, tour the Schramm Education Center (admission), and enjoy a picnic on the bluffs.

 

Find More Beautiful Places here;

 

 

Best Scenic Drives to See Fall Colors Near Omaha

Highway 66 [Exit 426 between Omaha and Lincoln]

• Get off exit 426 between Omaha and Lincoln and enjoy the nearby attractions and scenic drive.
• Mahoney State Park – During the Fall, families can enjoy scenic drives, explore the park’s hiking and biking trails, visit the indoor playground, and climb the observation tower. Daily / Annual Park Entry Pass Required.
• Wildlife Safari Park – Drive-through and see elk, bison, deer, and more. In the middle of the park, you can get out of your car and walk to see the bears, wolves, petting corral, and eagle aviary. Hiking trails also available.
• Platte River State Park – Enjoy the park’s picturesque waterfall, scenic hiking and biking trails, and two observation towers that allow those who climb to the top a spectacular view of both the Platte River and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, which is just across the river.
• Reader Tip: Drive through Preparation Canyon and the Loess Hills. Then make a stop at Small’s Fruit Farm for fresh apples and cider.

 

Hwy 75 [South toward Nebraska City and Indian Cave]

• Nebraska City is a favorite place to visit during the Fall and is popular for their apple picking, and experiencing the Tree Adventure at Arbor Day Farm.
• Cross over into Iowa to visit Waubonsie State Park.
• Indian Cave State Park is a popular camping spot, with beautiful overlooks and hiking trails.

 

Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

• The Loess Hills National Scenic Byway passes through a unique land formation that is up to 15 miles wide and about 200 miles long from north of Sioux City, Iowa to near St. Joseph, Missouri.
• For inspiration and ideas, visit 5 Stops for a Fall Foliage Tour of the Loess Hills and 9 Best Fall Color Views in the Loess Hills.

 

Find more Fall Fun in Omaha:

If you live in the Omaha Metro, odds are you’ve heard of Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard. Visit here to see special precautions taken in 2020.

Craving your favorite foods? Vala’s is now offering Curbside Pick-up!

The attractions are so fun and unique. It really is a great place for some good old-fashioned fall fun, and a great place to make memories with your family. There’s an endless amount of things to do and see during your visit and you’re sure to work up an appetite. 

Thankfully, Vala’s has some of the very best food around. Nothing can get you in the spirit of Fall quite like some of the treats you can find at Vala’s!

It was challenging to narrow down our list to just 10 items, but we have rounded up a list of 10 of the Best Foods at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch!

Join our growing community and keep updated on Omaha family-friendly events and activities and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!

 

Best Foods at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch

Here are our favorites of Vala’s Best Food (in no particular order):

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake– This treat, accurately described as a “hidden gem” at Vala’s is absolutely amazing! It has a German chocolate crust and is so rich and decadent. You don’t even have to be a huge pumpkin fan to enjoy this. You can find it in the Country Bakery. Another yummy treat to try in the Country Bakery are the Pumpkin Bars.

 

Apple Cider Donuts– If you want some delicious, made-from scratch, apple cider donuts, head to the Harvest Barn. You can get your apple cider donuts cinnamon sugar coated or glazed. My personal favorite is glazed. If you can snag these first thing in the morning when they are hot and fresh, there really is little else comparable. These are a family favorite and served daily.

 

Apple Cider Slushy– If you find yourself at the patch on a particularly hot day, there is no better way to cool off than with an Apple Cider Slushy (although the Slushy Station is a close second)! They also offer Apple Cider Slushy Floats, but I personally love them as is (sans the ice cream). You, of course, can also just grab a hot apple cider, on a cold day, which is also amazing- perfect for dunking those Apple Cider Donuts in!

 

Turkey Legs– You can’t talk about food at Vala’s and not include their giant smoked turkey legs. My kids more closely resemble animals tearing into these, and love every minute of it. The are located at Time-Out Turkey Legs.

 

Brown Butter Salted Honey Pie– The fact that Vala’s has an entire pie barn, points to the fact that they know their pies!

While many are amazing, for me, the Brown Butter Salted Honey Pie takes the pie cake. This pie could be easily overlooked by some of its “flashier” looking relatives, but this salty-sweet pie is not to be missed! The texture is like custard. It gets an amazing caramel flavor from the brown butter and honey combination.

Other contenders for best pie, are the popular Salted Caramel Apple and Classic Pumpkin.

*Fun fact…did you know you can order their pies for Thanksgiving? Typically around the first week of November you can pre-order a Vala’s pie to be picked up the day before Thanksgiving. Follow their Facebook page for more information.

 

Apple Dumpling– We’ve gotten an annual family pass to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch for the past decade and it wasn’t until just recently that I discovered their Apple Dumplings. Dare I say it rivals their pies. The Apple Dumpling consists of an entire peeled apple (grown at Vala’s), wrapped in homemade pie crust and drenched in caramel sauce. I have never had anything quite like it- a truly unique treat. It’s important to note that these are only available on the weekends. You can find them in the Pie Barn.

 

Vala’s Seven Layer Bars– The treat that brings the most nostalgia for our family has to be the Seven Layer Bar. The pumpkin patch season doesn’t close without our family having consumed at least a few of these. Layers of chocolate and butterscotch chips, sweetened condensed milk, graham cracker crumbs, coconut and pecans, all come together to make a rich treat that is out.of.this.world. They are located in the Exit Barn.

 

Popcorn Balls– I think it’s pretty widely known that Vala’s sells great kettlecorn, but have you tried their, homemade, popcorn balls? The recipe is Grandma Lois Vala’s and is still being used today. Conveniently located in the Exit Barn, this is a good treat to take home to be enjoyed for later. They are appropriately orange in color as well, adding to the festiveness of the treat.

 

Succotash– Being more of a savory guy, my husband’s favorite thing at the patch is the Succotash, located at the Potato Patch Cookery. Other savory favorites include Chicken Pot Pie and soup in a bread bowl.

 

Cookie Coop Cookies– These cookies are truly amazing and yet another very unique recipe to Vala’s. These mini, warm, chocolate chip cookies are so thin, and absolutely scrumptious! You can purchase a cookie cone or a bucket of cookies. 

 

It was honestly super hard to narrow this list down, so if something didn’t make the list, it doesn’t mean it isn’t worthy. It’s just a testament to how great the food is at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch!

With that said, I wanted to add some honorable mentions:

• Hand-Dipped Caramel Apples
• Caramel Apple Funnel Cake Sundae
• Freak Shakes (Caramel Apple & S’mores)
• Kettle Corn

 

If having these treats just a few times a year isn’t enough for you, did you know they have a Vala’s Cookbook full of some of the very recipes listed above? Located in the Exit Barn, you can grab a cookbook for yourself and give some of these amazing recipes a try yourself! 

Discover more Helpful Tips for Visiting Vala’s Pumpkin Patch here!

 

Brooke Wheeler is married with 3 children. She is a stay-at-home mom who lives in the Omaha area. She shares about family, fun, food, fashion, and more, on her Instagram page.

Markman Pumpkin Patch, located at 120th & Military, is a small, family-friendly, and popular local farm where you can purchase pumpkins and gourds.

It is one of the Pumpkin Patches included in our Omaha Area Pumpkin Patch Guide!

We love coming here every season and finding the perfect pumpkin, and kids love playing on the playground.

What started out with just a few pumpkins has grown to become a part of many local families Fall traditions!

Join our growing community and keep updated on Omaha family-friendly events and activities and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!

 

Huge selection of small pumpkins, with more brought in all season!

 

We love the wide variety and selection full of various colors, sizes, and shapes.

 

Early in the season, families can go out in the field to find their perfect pumpkin.

 

Later in the season, tractor loads of more pumpkins and gourds are brought in.

 

Additionally, families can add to their Fall decor with corn stalks and hay bales.

 

We love this large pumpkin – perfect for a Fall photo!

 

Reader Tips

• If you have a wheelbarrow or wagon, bring it along. This way you don’t have to wait for an empty one.
• Bring gloves and some kind of cutting tool if you want to go in the fields to cut your own pumpkins and gourds.
• Bring cash (credit cards not accepted).
• – Thanks Diana for these tips!

 

Markman Pumpkin Patch

Location: 120th & Military

Dates: Opens around mid-September each year, usually 9 a.m. – dusk.

Cost: No admission fee. You pay for the pumpkins and gourds you purchase. (Credit cards not accepted.)

 

 

Find more Fall Fun: