Enjoy many FUN things to do over Thanksgiving Weekend in Omaha including Tree Lightings, Festivals, and more! Have a fun-filled Thanksgiving Break with these ideas!
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Things to Do Over Thanksgiving Weekend in Omaha
1. Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop – Nov. 16 – Dec. 24, FREE
- Santa’s Wonderland offers free crafts throughout the season, featuring a different craft each week. Plus, families can enjoy games and activities and visits and pictures with Santa. (Bass Pass required for free photo with Santa.)
- Location: Bass Pro Shops, 2901 Bass Pro Dr., Council Bluffs, IA.
2. Santa’s Wonderland at Cabela’s – Nov. 16 – Dec. 24, FREE
- Santa’s Wonderland offers free crafts throughout the season, featuring a different craft each week. Plus, families can enjoy games and activities and visits and pictures with Santa. (Bass Pass required for free photo with Santa.)
- Location: Cabela’s, 12703 Westport Pkwy., La Vista, NE.
3. Tangier Shrine Feztival of Trees – Nov. 23-30 (hours vary – see the website for details). Admission is $2 per person (kids 12 and under are free).
- Get in the holiday spirit by walking through a Christmas tree wonderland. Purchase raffle tickets for $1 each to win one of the almost 70 fully decorated trees and the prizes that go with each tree. (Each tree is valued at a minimum of $500!) The trees will be raffled off on Saturday, Nov. 30 for pickup on Sunday, Dec. 1 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Location: 2823 S. 84 St. (just south of 84th and Center), Omaha, NE.
- Snowflake Cafe features breakfast items (try the yummy homemade pecan rolls), sandwiches, special drinks, desserts, and more than 9,000 homemade sugar cookies.
- Closed Thanksgiving Day.
4. Omaha Gingerbread Festival – Nov. 16 – Dec. 15, FREE
- Gingerbread displays and holiday performances.
- Location: Ramada Inn, 3321 S. 72nd St., Omaha, NE.
5. Helping Hands: Count Your Blessings at The Wonder Nook – Nov. 27 (10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.), FREE
- We count our blessings the day before Thanksgiving! Tie fleece blankets for The Humane Society, put together a meal for Youth Emergency Services, and decorate placemats for The Children’s Hospital.
- Location: The Wonder Nook Omaha, 10806 Prairie Hills Dr., Omaha, NE.
6. Tree Lighting & Holiday Parade at Shadow Lake Towne Center – Nov. 27 (6 – 7:30 p.m.), FREE
- Kick-off the holiday season with a spectacular parade and the lighting of the holiday tree in the center of Main Street.
- Location: Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7775 Olson Dr., Papillion, NE.
7. YMCA Turkey Trot Run/Walk – Nov. 28 (9 – 11 a.m.)
- The YMCA hosts a free 5K/1-mile run/walk on Thanksgiving morning with music, hot chocolate, and fun! Dress like a turkey for prizes. This is a free community run that helps support the Micah House food pantry by donating canned food items that morning.
- Location: Stir Concert Cove Parking Lot, 1 Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluffs, IA.
8. Visit Santa’s Woods for Choose & Cut Christmas Trees, Wreaths & Gift Shop + Special Coupon – Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 (Opening Weekend)
- Santa’s Woods will be open with ALL activities on November 29 and 30, December 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Family Fun Weekend Activities include Kids Crafts, S’more Station, Winter Wonderland, Hayrack ride to the field, Santa & live reindeer, Face painting ($2), and Pedal karts ($2). Complimentary cocoa and cider, and complimentary tree shake, bale and loading onto your vehicle.
- Concessions available supporting Trees for Troops. Military & First Responders 10% discount offered December 7-8.
- Get Coupon for Santa’s Woods here!
- Find out more about Santa’s Woods here: https://www.santaswoods.com/
9. Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Durham Museum – Nov. 29 (4 – 8 p.m.)
- Tree lighting happens at approximately 7 p.m. Entertainment, cookie decorating, holiday crafts, live music, and more. Included with admission.
- Location: The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St., Omaha, NE.
10. Lights of Aksarben Tree Lighting Ceremony – Nov. 29 (6 – 8 p.m.), FREE
- Join in for the Lights of Aksarben Tree Lighting at 6 p.m., and help The Godfather count it down. There will be a heated tent, free horse and carriage rides, free face painting, free food and drink, and the wonderful sounds of the Salem Baptist Church! Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive after the tree is lit.
- Location: Stinson Park, 2232 S. 64th St., Omaha, NE.
11. Holiday Lighting Celebration at Village Pointe – Nov. 29 (6 – 10 p.m.)
- Annual Holiday Lighting Celebration includes The Peppermint Elves Family Holiday Concert, Santa Parade, and free carriage rides.
- Location: Village Pointe, 17202 Davenport St., Omaha, NE.
12. Kids Workshop: Build a Stocking Ornament at Home Depot – Nov. 30 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
- Have fun making your own stocking ornament this holiday season, then paint your creation to make it truly unique.
13. Carriage Rides & Santa in the Village at Rockbrook Village – Nov. 30 (1 – 4 p.m.), FREE
- Visit Santa, his reindeer, and The Grinch, and enjoy free carriage rides.
- Location: Rockbrook Village, 2800 S. 110th Ct., Omaha, NE.
14. Winter Wonderland in Downtown Papillion – Nov. 30 (5 – 9 p.m.)
- Enjoy a variety of activities including carriage rides, bonfire, visits with Santa, popcorn, hot chocolate, photos with live reindeer and more.
15. KETV Family Festival – Dec. 1 (12 – 5 p.m.), FREE
- Enjoy family activities and experience many of Omaha’s leading downtown attractions for FREE including Omaha Children’s Museum, The Durham Museum, Downtown YMCA, Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, W. Dale Clark Library, and Joslyn Art Museum. A free trolley service will connect the participating venues.
16. Ralston’s Holiday Magic – Dec. 1 (1 – 7 p.m.), FREE
- Enjoy holiday activities at this fun, family outdoor event.
- Location: Independence Square, 77th St. & Main St., Ralston, NE.
>> See many MORE Holiday Events this Week here! <<
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