Omaha’s Ultimate List Of Christmas & Holiday Events (2024)

Searching for the best holiday events in Omaha in 2024? Look no further than Omaha. This city comes alive during the festive season, making it a prime destination for families, couples, and friends alike. From memorable kids’ activities to diverse live performances, ranging from ballet and orchestra to rock, Omaha is a hub for holiday celebrations.

And let’s not forget the many opportunities to meet Santa! Whether you’re a local or planning a visit, our guide answers the question “Are there any good holiday events near me this year?” (The answer: YES!) While many events are perfect for families, we’ve also highlighted some special occasions just for the kid-free crowd. Dive in and discover the magic of the holidays in Omaha.

UPDATED: This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated in December 2024 with this year’s holiday events. If you have an event to add or see an error in the schedule, please leave a comment or email me!

A round-up of holiday events near Omaha in 2024

Not sure what you want to do? What date are you looking for? The list below is in chronological order. On a budget? Visit this post for all the free things to do this Christmas season and holiday lights displays in Omaha. Looking for places to get photos with Santa? There’s a post just for that, too.

Season of Lights at Midtown Crossing

When: Nov. 17, 2024 through Feb. 14, 2025

Where: Turner Park at Midtown Crossing, 3110 Farnam St.

What: The magical display is throughout Turner Park, as well as along Farnam Street, and it’s free to visit.

Zoolightful

When: Nov. 22 through Dec. 30, 2024 (excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

Where: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

What: Zoolightful is an evening event at the zoo featuring displays of archways and sculptures aglow, activities like sliding down the 120-foot slides and decorating gingerbread sweets. Santa will also be at the event.

Zoolightful Sleeping Bag Safari

When: Nov. 22, 23, 29 & 30 and Dec. 7, 14, 20, 21 & 30, 2024 from 9:30 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Where: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

What: Sleep overnight at the zoo on select nights of Zoolightful. Locations of the Sleeping Bag Safaris include Desert Dome (Nov. 22 & 30), Hubbard Orangutan Forest (Nov. 23 & 30) and Scott Aquarium (Dec. 30). Desert Dome overnights require a tent. Cost is $75 per person, and it’s designed for families with kids ages 4+.

Santa’s Rock N Lights Drive-Thru Light Show

When: Nov. 22 through Dec. 31, 2024

Where: Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion Neb.

What: Considered Omaha’s largest holiday lights drive-thru, the route is more than a mile of lights including a 700-foot light tunnel, giant dinosaurs, polar bears, reindeer, and a Rock N Santa among other light displays. Tickets range from $29.99 to $37.99 per vehicle with up to six people. Tickets must be purchased online. 

Merry & Bright Holiday Poinsettia Show

When: Nov. 23 through Dec. 31, 2024

Where: Lauritzen Gardens, First and Bancroft streets, Omaha, Neb.

What: This indoor flower show is perfect for the holidays, and includes a 20-foot-tall poinsettia tree. The indoor model train is always a hit with kids. Included with admission

Bright Nights

When: On select nights Nov. 23 through Dec. 30, 2024; from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 23-24, 27, 29-30 and Dec. 1, 6-23, and 26-30; themed Family Fun Nights during the event are Merry Music & Art (Nov. 27 & Dec. 27), Holiday Express (Dec. 1 & 8), Wild About Animals (Dec. 11 & 12), Magic of the Season (Dec. 17 & 18), and Winter Carnival (Dec. 30 & 31). Meet Santa on the nights of Dec. 1, 6-8, and 11-23.

Where: Lauritzen Gardens, First and Bancroft streets, Omaha, Neb.

What: The floral display hall and the conservatory will be adorned and enhanced with light as the garden extends its hours to celebrate the beauty of the season. gather around the crackling fire, write letters to Santa, shop for thoughtful holiday gifts in the gift shop, purchase a S’mores kit to roast a marshmallow, enjoy the family-friendly activities in the Family Chill Zone, create art in the Lite-Brite Forest, and more. Tickets are $15.

Holiday Hut

When: Nov. 28 through Jan. 1; hours are Thursday & Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Fridays & Saturdays from 5 to 11 p.m.

Where: Pool house at Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel, 302 S. 36th St.

What: A pop-up bar with festive, creative cocktails and over-the-top decorations.

Project E.L.F. Holiday Lights Tour

When: Nov. 29 through Dec. 30, 2024

What: Extreme Limousine’sholiday lights tour, Project E.L.F. (Extreme Limousine Fun), offers two types of tours. Santa’s Sleigh Ride is a two-hour festive tour featuring a 10- to 15-minute appearance by Santa (available Monday through Thursday). Christmas Lights Tour is similar, just no Santa visit. Tours are $400 Mondays through Wednesdays and $500 Thursdays through Sundays.

Magical Lights at Lake Cunningham

When: Nov. 29 through Dec. 31, 2024; hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Fridays & Saturdays from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Where: Lake Cunningham, 8305 Rainwood Road,

What: The drive-thru experience features more than a million lights. Tickets per standard vehicle (no more than 20 feet in length) are $20 from Mondays to Thursdays, $30 from Fridays to Sundays, and $30 on Dec. 24 & 25.

Winterland at Heartwood Preserve

When: Nov. 29 through Jan. 5, 2025

Where: The Ice Rink at Heartwood Park, 301 N. 145th St.

What: The new ice rink in West Omaha will have free ice skating and skate rentals, as well as theme nights. There will also be hot cocoa and seasonal treats from local vendors. Tickets and ice skate rentals are free, but reservations recommended.

Traditional Czech and Slovak Christmas Exhibit

When: Nov. 29 through Jan. 5, 2025; hours are Fridays, Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, and 27 from noon to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28 and Jan. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and Jan. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Where: Czech and Slovak Educational Center and Cultural Museum, 8106 S. 84th St., La Vista, Neb.

What: The annual Traditional Czech and Slovak Exhibit shows how Christmas has been celebrated in the “old countries.” Exhibit features Christmas trees decorated with traditional Czech and Slovak handmade ornaments, nativity scenes, and traditional Czech and Slovak Christmas music. Free admission.

Christmas at Union Station

When: Nov. 29, 2024 through Jan. 12, 2025

Where: The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St., Omaha, Neb.

What: See the largest indoor tree in the region will be on display and special displays. Holiday Cultural Trees Display is located in the museum’s galleries. Included with museum admission. The tree lighting ceremony is on Nov. 29. Santa will be at the museum on weekends from Nov. 29 through Dec. 22 with this schedule: Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 3 p.m. He’ll also visit on Dec. 17-18 and Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Holiday Concert Series will have shows on Saturdays and Tuesdays, Nov. 30 through Dec. 21. Performances are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. (during Family Nights with Santa).

Home For The Holiday Film Series

When: Nov. 30 through Dec. 28, 2024

Where: Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater, and Dundee Theater,

What: A series of holiday films shown at both locations. Films include “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (Nov. 30, and Dec. 1, 7 & 8 at Dundee), “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (Dec. 14 at Dundee), “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (Dec. 14, 15, 21, 22 & 23 at Dundee), “Christmas in Connecticut” (Dec. 21 at Dundee), “Black Christmas” (Dec. 22 at The Ruth), “It’s a Wonderful Life” (Dec. 24 & 25 at Dundee), and “Tokyo Godfathers” (Dec. 28 at The Ruth).

Holiday Lights Festival

When: Nov. 30 through Jan. 1, 2025

Where: The free Holiday Lights Festival features thousands of light displays around Omaha. The RiverFront — including Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park and Lewis & Clark Landing — is decorated for the holiday season nightly, including a 70-foot-tall holiday tree at the Eighth Street Arrival Plaza. A multimedia show will be projected onto the Gene Leahy Mall Performance Pavilion, the Burlington Building and the 10th Street Bridge video wall every Friday and Saturday night.

Find more spectacular displays in the Old Market from 10th Street to 13th Street and Farnam Street to Jackson Street; North Omaha along North 24th Street from Burdette Street to Ohio Street; and South Omaha along South 24th Street from L Street to Q Street.

More Omaha Christmas events and Santa visits

If you’re still looking for MORE things to do this holiday season, you’re in luck!

2024 New Year’s Eve Events In Omaha

For a complete list of Noon Year’s Eve for families, fireworks and New Year’s Eve parties for adults, check out this list of 2024 Omaha New Year’s Eve Events.

Please leave a comment or email me at Kim (at) ohmyomaha (dot) com if you know of an event or gift drive to include in this list!