Events & What’s Happening
One of the Midwest's premier running events drawing thousands of participants through Lincoln's neighborhoods and parks, with a full marathon, half marathon, and youth run options.
💡Stake out a cheering spot near Antelope Park or the finish line at Pinnacle Bank Arena — kids enjoy making signs and the festive atmosphere.
One of the country's largest state fairs held at Fonner Park in Grand Island but drawing massive Lincoln-area families, featuring rides, livestock shows, concerts, carnival food, and agricultural exhibits.
💡Buy a ride wristband for the best value if you have kids who want unlimited midway time, and go on a weekday to avoid peak crowds.
Three-day celebration of Greek culture with authentic food, live music, folk dancing, and cultural exhibits hosted by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
💡Kids love the loukoumades (honey puffs) and the traditional dance performances — arrive hungry and plan to stay for at least two hours.
Season-long lineup of family-friendly performances including touring children's theater, puppetry, dance, and interactive concerts at the University of Nebraska's premier performing arts venue.
💡Check the season schedule in August — early-bird tickets sell fast and many shows are geared toward ages 3 and up.
Home games at Memorial Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in the country, where the Cornhuskers routinely sell out in front of 90,000+ fans in a sea of red.
💡Arrive two hours early to enjoy the Tunnel Walk atmosphere and let kids explore the area around the stadium — bring earplugs for little ones sensitive to crowd noise.
Annual Halloween event at Lincoln Children's Zoo featuring trick-or-treating stations, costume contests, themed animal encounters, and festive decorations throughout the zoo grounds.
💡Wear costumes but bring a wagon or stroller for younger kids — the zoo grounds involve a lot of walking and little ones tire quickly between candy stops.
Annual holiday celebration in downtown Lincoln featuring the lighting of the Capitol building, holiday market vendors, ice skating, live entertainment, and family activities throughout the season.
💡The Friday evening tree lighting ceremony is a beloved tradition — dress warmly and plan to stay for the fireworks display that caps off the event.
Free weekly story time sessions offered at multiple Lincoln City Libraries branches including Bennett Martin, Anderson, and others, featuring themed read-alouds, songs, and simple crafts for young children.
💡Check the Lincoln City Libraries website for the specific branch schedule since times vary — the sessions fill up fast so arrive 10 minutes early for a good spot.
Free weekend naturalist-led programs at Pioneers Park Nature Center covering local wildlife, native plants, and Nebraska ecosystems through hands-on activities and guided nature walks.
💡Wear closed-toe shoes and bring bug spray in summer — programs are best for ages 5 and up though younger kids enjoy the indoor animal exhibits year-round.
Monthly free admission days at the Lincoln Children's Museum sponsored by community partners, giving all families access to hands-on exhibits spanning science, arts, health, and imaginative play.
💡Check the museum's website each month to confirm the free day date — it varies and weekday free days are significantly less crowded than weekend ones.
Antelope Park offers free use of tennis courts, extensive playground equipment, picnic shelters, the Sunken Gardens formal garden, and open green space making it Lincoln's most family-friendly urban park.
💡The Sunken Gardens are in peak bloom mid-June through August and admission is free — combine a garden visit with playground time and a packed lunch for an easy half-day outing.
One of Lincoln's most beloved Saturday traditions in the historic Haymarket District, featuring local produce, fresh flowers, artisan goods, baked items, and prepared foods from regional vendors.
💡Arrive before 9am for the best selection and fewer crowds — grab a breakfast pastry and let kids pick out one fruit or vegetable to try that week.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Lincoln Children's Zoo offers a free Family Fun Night on the second Friday of June and July — admission drops to $2 per person after 5pm, and the zoo stays open until 8pm with live music near the carousel.
- 💡Morrill Hall on the UNL campus is free admission for everyone on the first Sunday of each month through the 'First Sundays' program — a legitimate $8-per-adult savings for out-of-state families.
- 💡The Haymarket Farmers Market runs every Saturday from 8am to noon, May through October, at 7th and P Streets. Arrive before 9am if you want the tamale vendor from La Casita — they routinely sell out by 10am.
- 💡Robber's Cave at 9th and Robber's Cave Road runs public family tours on weekend afternoons for $8/adult and $5/child — it's a genuinely unusual underground sandstone cave network beneath a south Lincoln neighborhood that almost no visitors know about.
- 💡On Husker home football Saturdays, avoid O Street between 9th and 17th entirely from 9am until 2 hours after kickoff. Instead, use the Van Dorn Street corridor to move east-west — it remains clear while the rest of downtown gridlocks.
- 💡Zesto at 2300 South 14th Street has been serving soft-serve ice cream since 1956 and is open seasonally April through October. The dipped cones and suicide floats are a Lincoln rite of passage — cash-only, lines move fast.
- 💡The Jazz in June free concert series at Antelope Park runs every Tuesday evening in June starting at 7pm. Bring a blanket, arrive by 6:30pm to claim a flat spot near the bandshell, and pick up street tacos from the food trucks that set up on the adjacent parking lot.
- 💡Holmes Lake Park on the southeast edge of Lincoln has a completely free fishing pier and paddle boat rentals through Lincoln Parks — pedal boats rent for around $10/30 minutes and the lake has enough egrets and turtles to keep kids entertained without any formal programming.
- 💡The Nebraska State Capitol building on K Street offers free guided tours Monday through Saturday and the observation deck elevator is free — the 400-foot tower view over the flat Platte River basin is genuinely dramatic and worth 45 minutes with kids over age 5.