Enjoy many FUN things to do over Thanksgiving Break in Omaha including Tree Lightings, Santa Events, Festivals, and more! Have a fun-filled Thanksgiving Break with these ideas!
Looking for more Holiday Fun? Find 100+ Holiday Events here!
It is always a good idea to verify the information with the business before visiting.
Find More Holiday Fun:
Things to Do Over Thanksgiving Weekend in Omaha
1. See Amazing Christmas Lights & Decorated Houses + Map in the Omaha Area!
- Find the best Christmas Lights in Omaha full of beautifully decorated houses with bright lights, inflatables, decorations, and some with thousands of lights choreographed to music!
2. Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
- Most open Thanksgiving Weekend.
- Choose from a variety of Christmas Tree Farms near Omaha that offer Choose and Cut your own Christmas Tree.
3. Run in a 5K Turkey Trot – Nov 28th
-
8th Annual Omaha Turkey Trot 5K Run & Walk – 8:45am Kids Dash, 9:00am 5K Start – Register
-
YMCA of Lincoln Turkey Trot – 7:45 kids tot trot, 8:00am 1 mile, 8:30am 5K – Register
4. Santa’s Wonderland at Cabela’s and Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops – Nov 2nd – Dec 24th – FREE [Advanced Registration Required]
- Santa’s Wonderland offers Contactless Claus visits, free Photo with Santa, and free take-home holiday craft activity kits.
- Advance reservations are required in all locations for Free Santa photo and can go quickly. Reserving is easy and free.
- Location:
- Cabela’s – 12703 Westport Pkwy, La Vista, NE
- Bass Pro Shops – 2901 Bass Pro Dr, Council Bluffs, IA
- More Santa Visit Opportunities
5. Tangier Shrine Feztival of Trees – Nov 23rd-30th – $2/person ages 13 and up (free for kids 12 & under)
- See the trees — and win the trees! Buy raffle tickets for $1 each and deposit your raffle ticket in the bucket for the tree — or trees — you want to win! One winner will be drawn for each tree, so there will be 60 winners! You win the tree, the decorations, and all the prizes that go along with it (each tree valued at a minimum of $500!).
- Location: Tangier Shrine Center – 2823 S. 84 St, Omaha, NE
6. Season of Lights at Midtown Crossing – Nov 17th – Feb 14th – FREE
- Stroll through tens of thousands of white LED lights strung throughout Turner Park and along Farnam Street. Plus, visit the beautifully decorated tree in Farnam Court.
- Location: Turner Park (31st Ave. and Farnam St.), Omaha, NE
7. Merry & Bright: Holiday Poinsettia Show – Nov 22nd-Dec 31st – 9:00am-3:00pm daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day) – Included with regular admission
- Thousands of poinsettias bursting with rich, vibrant color fill the floral display hall in a glowing tribute to the holidays during the spectacular holiday poinsettia show, Merry & Bright.
- Location: Lauritzen Gardens – 100 Bancroft St., Omaha, NE
8. Zoolightful – Nov 22nd – Dec 30th – 6:00-10:00pm – Tickets Required
- Something magical is coming soon! Be on the lookout for more details about Zoolightful: Omaha’s Wildly Bright Holiday Tradition!
- Location: Omaha Zoo & Aquarium – 3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107
9. Meet Santa’s Reindeer at Mulhalls – Nov 20th – Dec 16th – FREE
- Dasher and Dancer will arrive on Tuesday, November 20th and are available to visit anytime during store hours until they leave again on Sunday, December 16th. We hope you’ll come say hello before they head back to the North Pole to get ready for their big flight on Christmas Eve.
- Santa will be there as well for an extra cost ($10/Members, $20/Non-Members) Fridays 4-6pm, Sat & Sun 12-3pm
- Location: Mulhalls – 3615 N. 120th St., Omaha, NE
10. Celebrate at The Platform: Thanksgiving – Nov 23rd – 10:00am-Noon – FREE
- Join at The Platform, the museum’s interactive play space, and celebrate the holidays with us! Each date will have a special craft or activity and feature related photos from our Photo Archive for a bit of a history lesson while you celebrate.
- Location: The Durham Museum – 801 S 10th St, Omaha, NE
11. Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Parade Event – Nov 27th – 6:00pm – FREE
- 17th Annual Tree Lighting & Holiday Parade! Parade starts at 6pm with fireworks immediately following provided by Bellino Fireworks and the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Santa and all of his friends will be here, as well as surprise parade guests!
- Location: Shadow Lake Towne Center – 7775 Olson Dr, Papillion, NE 68046
12. Ice Skating at Winterland Heartwood Preserve Ice Rink – Nov 29th-Jan 5th – FREE
- Bundle up and bring your loved ones out to Heartwood Preserve this season to experience the joy of gliding on ice in the heart of West Omaha. Join for hot cocoa, seasonal treats from local vendors, and exciting themed skating nights—including visits from Santa himself! FREE admission and ice skate rentals courtesy of Applied Underwriters.
- Location: The Ice Rink at Heartwood Park – 301 N. 145th St.
13. Black Friday Hike at Platte River State Park – Nov 29th – 10:00-11:30am – FREE with Park Entry fee
- Instead of shopping on Black Friday, spend the day after Thanksgiving outdoors on a free, guided hike at Platte River State Park. Meet at the Waterfall Trailhead parking lot at 10 a.m. Nov. 29. A naturalist will lead the 2-mile hike, stopping to share some of his favorite fascinating finds along the way. The hike will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes and follow the Waterfall Trail, which is considered moderately challenging. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. To access the parking lot, visitors should turn left after they enter the park, then turn into the first parking lot on the right.
- Location: Platte River State Park
14. Village Pointe Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration Presented by Woodhouse – Nov 29th – 6:00pm – FREE
- Join Village Pointe for the annual tree lighting to kick off the holiday season! Free carriage rides will be offered immediately following the lighting ceremony until 9 PM. Holiday characters will be available for pictures after the tree lighting. Santa will be inside Marcus Village Pointe Cinema lobby after the event.
- Peppermint Elves Performance – 6:00 PM
- Santa Parade – 7:00 PM | Davenport Street – Santa will arrive by carriage led by the Arlington High School marching band along with favorite storybook and holiday characters.
- Location: Village Pointe – 17305 Davenport St, Omaha, NE 68118
15. Christmas at Union Station: Tree Lighting Ceremony – Nov 29th – 4:00-8:00pm- Museum Admission
- Join in-person for the official kickoff to Christmas at Union Station, presented by FNBO. That’s right, this year the ceremony is back to an in-person event after going virtual for the past three years! Mark your calendars now. More details to come.
- Location: The Durham Museum – 801 S. 10th St., Omaha, NE.
16. Lights of Aksarben Tree Lighting Ceremony – Nov 29th – 6:00-8:00pm – FREE
- Experience the holiday magic as they transform Aksarben Village into a Whoville-inspired winter wonderland! Lights of Aksarben kicks off Friday, November 29, with the illumination of the Stinson Park tower as Omaha’s largest lit tree. Bundle up and join for a visit from Santa, cookies and hot cocoa, face painting, live music by Cindy Lou and the Who Who Done Its, and an appearance from Mr. Grinch, too! Come encounter the music and merriment in Aksarben Village… where there is always something fun going on!
- Location: Stinson Park – 2232 S. 64th St., Omaha, NE
17. Home Depot Kids Workshop: Cocoa Ornament – Nov 30th – 9:00am-12:00pm – FREE
- A Special Holiday Edition of the Home Depot Kids Workshop
- Location: Home Depot Stores
18. Visit Santa at Rockbrook Village – Nov 30th – 12:00-3:00pm – FREE
- Celebrate a family tradition Saturday, Nov. 30th from 12-3pm. Bring the little ones to visit Santa and share their holiday wishes, then the whole family can enjoy a complimentary horse and carriage ride around the village. Kids – stop by Doodle Art Studio and Great Harvest Bread Co. for a free cookie and hot cocoa. And don’t miss out on the amazing Christmas lights around the village come dusk. It is our way of saying thank you for supporting local on Small Business Saturday! Come join the fun!
- Location: Rockbrook Village – 2800 S. 110th Ct., Omaha, NE.
19. Winter Wonderland 2024: Downtown Papillion – Nov 30th – 4:00-8:00pm – FREE
- Experience all the holiday cheer you can handle! A variety of fun activities throughout the event.
- Story Times: 4:30, 5:30, & 6:30pm inside of Sump Memorial Library
- Location: Downtown Papillion, NE
20. Holiday Lights Festival – Lighting Ceremony – Nov 30th – 6:00pm – FREE
- Come celebrate the beginning of the holidays with us and kick-off the 2024 Holiday Lights Festival season with the annual Lighting Ceremony!
21. ‘Twas the Lights Before Christmas in LaVista – Dec 1st – FREE
- Santa’s Sleigh Ride & Tree Lighting – Dec 1st – 1:00-7:00pm – FREE
- Letters to Santa – Nov 25th – Dec 13th – FREE
- Walkin’ in a La Vista Wonderland – Dec 1st – Dec 31st – FREE
22. Ralston’s Holiday Magic – Dec 1st – FREE
- Join Mayor Groesser as we light up downtown and get into the holiday spirit! Bring your family out to enjoy a Ralston tradition! Visit Santa and enjoy FREE carriage rides, children’s activities, hot chocolate, and cookies.
- Location: Independence Square – 77th St. & Main St., Ralston, NE
>> See many MORE Holiday Events here! <<
Find More Holiday Fun:
Join our growing community and keep updated on Omaha family-friendly events and activities and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!
