Events & What’s Happening
A free community STEM celebration hosted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus with hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and activities for all ages.
💡Parking is free and the event is entirely indoors, making it a perfect rainy spring day destination for curious kids of all ages.
Omaha's beloved annual tradition bringing the top eight college baseball teams to Charles Schwab Field for the national championship.
💡Single-session tickets are the most affordable option for families; the Fan Fest area outside the stadium is free and great for younger kids.
One of the largest juried fine arts festivals in the Midwest, held in Gene Leahy Mall and the Old Market area with over 150 artists, live music, and food.
💡The kids' art-making tents are a highlight and completely free to participate in; go Saturday morning for the most relaxed experience.
A multi-night professional PRCA rodeo held at the CHI Health Center featuring bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, and a kids' mutton bustin' competition.
💡Kids under 5 often get in free; the mutton bustin' sign-up fills fast so register your child online in advance.
Halloween-themed evenings at one of the nation's top zoos, featuring trick-or-treating stations, costumed characters, and illuminated animal exhibits.
💡Costumes are encouraged and kids under 2 are free; arrive right at opening to beat the crowds near the trick-or-treat trail.
A massive walk-through holiday light experience featuring thousands of LED lantern displays, cultural exhibits, and interactive light installations at a local venue.
💡Bundle up even on mild nights as you are outside the entire time; weeknights are significantly less crowded than weekends.
The historic Old Market district transforms with hundreds of thousands of lights, a free horse-drawn carriage ride tradition, carolers, and holiday pop-up events throughout the season.
💡The official lighting ceremony in late November kicks off the season with free entertainment; the cobblestone streets are stroller-friendly during the day.
Free weekly story time sessions offered at multiple Omaha Public Library branches for toddlers and preschoolers, featuring books, songs, and simple crafts.
💡Sessions vary by branch so check the OPL website for your nearest location; the Millard and Benson branches tend to have the most consistent weekly programming.
Free guided nature walks led by Sarpy County naturalists at Chalco Hills, covering local wildlife, native plants, and wetland ecology along accessible trails.
💡Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle; kids are encouraged to ask questions and the pace is relaxed enough for ages 5 and up.
Periodic free admission Sundays at the Omaha Children's Museum offering hands-on exhibits covering science, art, and imaginative play for children up to age 12.
💡Check the museum's website calendar in advance as free days are select Sundays, not every week; mornings are less packed than afternoons.
One of Omaha's most popular Saturday morning traditions in the historic Old Market, featuring local produce, baked goods, crafts, and prepared foods from regional vendors.
💡Arrive before 9am for easy parking and a relaxed stroll; kids love the fresh-squeezed lemonade and kettle corn stands near the main entrance.
Free Thursday evening outdoor concerts in Elmwood Park featuring local and regional musicians across a variety of genres, with a relaxed lawn setting perfect for families.
💡Bring a blanket or low lawn chairs and arrive 30 minutes early to claim a good spot; the open grassy area gives kids plenty of room to dance and roam safely.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡Henry Doorly Zoo sells a Combo Pass that bundles the main zoo admission with the IMAX theater and the Skyfari aerial tram — buy it online the night before to save roughly $8 per person versus purchasing each at the gate, and you skip the ticket window line entirely.
- 💡The Omaha Farmers Market in Aksarben Village (Saturdays, 8am–12:30pm, May through October) has a dedicated kids' activity area near the south entrance most weekends and is far less crowded than the downtown Heartland Farmers Market — arrive before 9:30am for the best vendor selection.
- 💡The Durham Museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month — the Art Deco Burlington Station building alone is worth the trip, and kids can explore a full restored 1940s passenger train on the lower level at no extra charge on those days.
- 💡Omaha's Lauritzen Gardens charges no admission for children under 5 and hosts a 'Kids in the Garden' program on select Saturday mornings in May and June — check their calendar at lauritzengardens.org, as these fill quickly and require advance registration.
- 💡If you're visiting in June, the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in downtown Omaha is a uniquely affordable live baseball experience — early-round game tickets often run $15–25 per person and the family tailgate atmosphere in TD Ameritrade Park plaza is free to enjoy even without tickets.
- 💡For the best Nebraska Runza (a local beef-and-cabbage stuffed bread pocket found nowhere else in the country) with kids, hit the Runza location at 83rd and Dodge rather than the busier tourist-area spots — faster service and a clean indoor play structure in the dining area.
- 💡The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge spanning the Missouri River to Iowa is free to walk and genuinely fun for kids — you can stand in two states simultaneously at the midpoint arch, and the Omaha riverfront trailhead connects directly to the Gene Leahy Mall splash area for a no-cost half-day outing.
- 💡Pack the Zoo into a single day by entering through the south gate off 10th Street (the less-advertised entrance) rather than the main gate — it puts you immediately adjacent to the Desert Dome and Kingdoms of the Night, which see afternoon crowds, so hit those first and work backward toward the African Grasslands by midday.