Indoors, outdoors, for big kids, for little kids. There’s something for everyone this month in the Omaha metro area. I’ve rounded up a big list of family-friendly events in Omaha – many events are FREE!
Out and About Storytime
When: Feb. 1, 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Where: Chalco Hills’ Natural Resources Center, 8901 S. 154th St.
Cost: FREE
National Geographic Live’s On the Trail of Big Cats with Steve Winter
When: Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.
Cost: $10-$25
“WATER” Exhibit
When: Feb. 5 through April 23 (public opening event is Feb. 5, 6 to 9 p.m.); Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Kaneko, 1111 Jones St.
Cost: FREE ($5 suggested donation)
Friday Fridays Old Market
When: Feb. 5, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Various galleries in the Old Market
Cost: FREE (includes trolley rides to each location)
Owl Prowl Night Hike
When: Feb. 5, 7 p.m.
Where: Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek, Iowa (meet at lodge)
Cost: $4 per person
Guided Snowshoe or Winter Hike
When: Feb. 6, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Where: Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek, Iowa (meet at lodge)
Cost: $5 (Please call 712-242-1197 to pre-register for either the 10:00 am or 1:00 pm session)
Cookie’s Anniversary Party
When: Feb. 6, 11 a.m. to noon
Where: Abrahams Branch Omaha Public Library, 5111 N. 90th St.
Cost: FREE (includes treats and crafts)
Chinese New Year Family Craft @ Swanson
When: Feb. 6, 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: W. Clarke Swanson Branch Omaha Public Library, Main Level, 9101 W. Dodge Road
Cost: FREE
Tip: Families with young kids should arrive early for the 10:30 story time.
Lakeshore Learning Store Crafts
When: Saturdays, Feb. 6 (Lots of Love Suncatcher), Feb. 13 (President’s Day Mask), Feb. 20 (Chore Chart Door Hanger), and Feb. 27 (Fantastically Funny Fish), 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (drop-in)
Where: Lakeshore Learning Store,12005 W. Center Road
Cost: FREE
Saddlebrook Punt/Pass/Kick Competition
When: Feb. 6, 1 to 3 p.m. (K-2 and grades 3-5 compete from 1-2 p.m.; grades 6-8 and 9-12 compete from 2-3 p.m.)
Where: Saddlebrook Library and Community Center, 14850 Laurel Ave.
Cost: FREE (includes refreshments; winners get a new football; RSVP with Miss Katy at 402-884-7473)
An Hour of Code
When: Feb. 6, 2 to 3 p.m.
Where: South Omaha Branch Omaha Public Library, Conference Room A, 2808 Q St.
Cost: FREE (for ages 7-12)
Winter Carnival
When: Feb. 6, 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: Motto McLean Ice Arena, 45th and P streets
Cost: $8 (includes food, refreshments and bounce house; does not include skate rental)
Family Fun Night Extravaganza
When: Feb. 6, 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Strategic Air & Space Museum, 28210 West Park Highway, Ashland, Neb.
Cost: $6-$12
Soup-er Bowl Party 5
When: Feb. 7, 5 p.m.
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: $5 for members; $10 for non-members
Valentine’s Day Craft Make & Take
When: Feb. 8-13
Where: Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch Omaha Public Library, 2100 Reading Plaza., Elkhorn, Neb.
Cost: FREE
Tweens and Teens Anti-Valentine’s Movie Night
When: Feb. 10, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Milton R. Abrahams Branch Public Library, Conference Room, 5111 N. 90th St.
Cost: FREE (includes snacks)
Lenten Fish Fry
When: Fridays, Feb. 12 through March 25, 4 to 8 p.m.
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: Adults, $10; ages 12 and younger, $5
Opera Omaha Presents Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West”
When: Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 14, 2 p.m.
Where: Orpheum Theater, 419 S. 16th St.
Cost: $19 to $99
Tip: I’m told this is a good one to introduce middle schoolers and high schoolers to opera/
Lowe’s Build & Grow – Valentine’s Picture Frame
When: Feb. 13, 10 a.m.
Where: All Lowe’s Locations
Cost: FREE (registering early is recommended)
Safety Saturday
When: Feb. 13, March 12 and April 9, 1 to 5 p.m.
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: FREE to members; non-members pay daily entry fee of $5 per youth, $7 per adults (for ages 8-12)
Teen Poetry Workshop feat. Louder than a Bomb Artists
When: Feb. 13, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Millard Branch Omaha Public Library, West Meeting Room, 13214 Westwood Lane
Cost: FREE
Get Crafty: Teen Valentine’s Day Craft
When: Feb. 13, 2 to 3 p.m.
Where: A. V. Sorensen Branch Omaha Public Library, Library Teen Area, 4808 Cass St.
Cost: FREE
All-Ages Valentine’s Day Craft Make and Take
When: Feb. 13, 3 to 4 p.m.
Where: Milton R. Abrahams Branch Omaha Public Library, Meeting Room, 5111 N. 90th St.
Cost: FREE
Parents’ Night Out!
When: Feb. 13, 6 to 9 p.m. (RSVP at Welcome Desk by Feb. 10)
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: Members, $15; non-members, $25 (for ages 5-11; includes use of pool, xBox tourney, movie and a snack)
Omaha Symphony’s “A Celebration of Spielberg & Williams”
When: Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.
Cost: $19-$85
Valentine’s Day Activities
When: Feb. 14, 1 to 5 p.m.
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St.
Cost: Included with museum admission, which is $12 for adults and kids, $11 for seniors, and FREE for members and children younger than 2.
Out and About Storytime: Joslyn Story Adventures
When: Feb. 16, 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Where: Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St.
Cost: FREE
“Disney’s Newsies”
When: Feb. 16-21, Tuesday-Thursday. 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 and 7 p.m.
Where: Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.
Cost: Tickets start at $30
Tangier Shrine Circus
When: Feb. 18-21; Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 and 4:30 p.m.
Where: MidAmerica Center, 1 Arena Way, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Cost: $15 (opening night); $15-$30 other performances
Clifford the Big Red Dog Visits At Omaha Libraries
When: Feb. 19, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. (Saddlebrook); Feb. 20, 10:30 to 11 a.m. (Swanson); Feb. 24, 10:30 to 11 a.m. (Willa Cather); Feb. 26, 2 to 2:30 p.m. (Sorenson)
Cost: FREE
Family Splash Party!
When: Feb. 19, time TBD
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: FREE to members; non-members pay daily entry fee of $5 per youth, $7 per adults (for ages 8-12)
Nebraska Robotics Expo
When: Feb. 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Strategic Air & Space Museum, 28210 West Park Highway, Ashland, Neb.
Cost: Included with museum admission, which is $6-$12.
Omaha Symphony’s Family Series Show “The Call of the Wild”
Where: Feb. 21, 2 p.m. (arrive early for pre-show activities in lobby)
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.
Cost: $12
Family Movie Day
When: Feb. 25, 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: A. V. Sorensen Branch Omaha Public Library, Library Storytime Area, 4808 Cass St.
Cost: FREE (includes snack)
Dance Theatre of Harlem
When: Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.
Cost: $20-$37
Out and About Storytime
When: Feb. 26, 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Where: Do Space, 7205 Dodge St.
Cost: FREE
Family Movie Night ‧ “Home”
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
When: Feb. 26, 5:30 p.m. activities, 6 p.m. movie
Cost: FREE
Saddlebrook Family Sing-A-Long Movie “Enchanted”
When: Feb. 26, 6 to 8 p.m. (doors open at 5:30)
Where: Saddlebrook Branch and Community Center, 14850 Laurel Ave.
Cost: FREE
“Plastic Drastic”
When: Feb. 26 through March 13; Fridays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 5 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.
Where: The Rose, 2001 Farnam St.
Cost: $18 (purchase discount tickets at all Hy-Vee locations for $14)
Buffalo Bill’s Birthday Bash
When: Feb. 27, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St.
Cost: Included with museum admission, which is $11 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children (3-12), and FREE for kids younger than 3 and members
Chinese New Year Celebration
When: Feb. 27, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Millard Branch Omaha Public Library, East Meeting Room, 13214 Westwood Lane
Cost: FREE (walk-ins welcome, but registration preferred; includes Chinese folk dancing performance, a children’s Kung Fu show, and Tai-Chi sword and fan demonstrations; try Chinese calligraphy, origami art and ancient paper cutting. Receive a red envelope gift for good luck. Taste Chinese dim sum and other traditional snacks.
Ongoing Events
Toddler Tuesdays
When: Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. to noon
Where: Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St. (gym or at the pool starting at 10:30)
Cost: FREE for members; non-members participate by paying a $4 activity fee for your toddler (age 9 months to 4 years) and the attending parent is Free.
Inflatable Fridays
When: Fridays, 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: FREE to members; non-members pay daily entry fee of $5 per youth, $7 per adults
Kidz Kayak Racing
When: Saturdays, 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: FREE to members; non-members pay daily entry fee of $5 per youth, $7 per adults (for ages 8-12)
Sunday Funday
When: Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m.
Where: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: FREE to members; non-members pay daily entry fee of $5 per youth, $7 per adults (for ages 8-12)
“Super City”
When: Through April 10; Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4.p.m; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St.
Cost: Included with admission, which is $9, adults and kids 2-15; $8, seniors 60+; FREE for kids under 2 & members
“Go West! Art of the American Frontier”
When: Through April 17; Tuesday-Wednesday & Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St.
Cost: $10, adults; FREE, 17 and younger, college students with ID & Joslyn members
“From Nebraska to the World: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show” Exhibition
When: Through May 1; Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Where: Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St.
Cost: $9, adults; $7, seniors; $6, children (3-12); FREE members and 2 and under
Have an event that should be added? Send me the details at ohmyomaha (at) gmail (dot) com!
Suzanne Holt
Saturday 30th of January 2016
You do such a great job of promoting area events. Thanks for taking the time to find family fun for all of us!
Kim
Sunday 31st of January 2016
Thank you, Suzanne!