September’s the best time of year in Omaha – nearly fall but still warm enough to go out and play like it’s summer. There are a lot of events, free activities and more to look forward this month in the metro area!
Have a family-friendly event you’d like listed? Send me an email with the date, location and cost and I’ll add it! Email ohmyomaha (at) gmail (dot) com.
Week 1 (Sept. 1-4)
Forever Young Family & Children’s Film Series – “Cartoons from the UPA Vault”
When: Sept. 1
Where: Film Streams at Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey St.
Cost: $9 general admission; $7, seniors, students, teachers, and military (and those arriving by bike); $4.50 for members; and $2.40 for children 12 and younger
“How The Apollon Showed Seuss”
When: Sept. 1-4; Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. (doors open a half-hour early)
Where: The Apollon, 1801 Vinton St.
Cost: $25-$35 (includes interactive performance and a three-course meal)
Note: This show is intended for adults but suitable for all ages (use your best judgement)
Septemberfest
When: Sept. 2-5; Friday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday through Monday, noon to midnight (parade is Monday at 10 a.m.)
Where: CenturyLink Center Omaha Parking Lot D, 455 N. 10th St.
Cost: $5 per person per day, FREE for children 5 and younger
First Friday Family Date Night – Minions Night
When: Sept. 2, 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St.
Cost: Included with regular museum admission, which is $12, $11 for seniors, and free for members and 2 and younger.
“Goodnight Moon”
When: Sept. 2-18; Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 5 p.m., Sundays at 2 and 5 p.m. (no 5 p.m. show on Sept. 4)
Where: Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St.
Cost: $20
First Fridays in the Old Market
When: Sept. 2, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Various Old Market galleries
Cost: FREE
AppleGrass Festival
When: Sept. 3 and 4 (live music starts at 6 p.m.)
Where: Ditmars Orchard, 19475 225th St., Council Bluffs, Iowa
Cost: $10 per person for one night; $15 for a two-night pass
Labor Day Weekend Activities
When: Sept. 3-5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St.
Cost: Included with zoo admission, which is$17.95, adults (ages 12 and over); $11.95, children (ages 3-11); $16.95, seniors (65 and over); and FREE for children 2 and under.
Living History
When: Sept. 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, 201 S. Seventh St., Fort Calhoun, Neb.
Cost: State park permit required
Forever Young Family & Children’s Film Series – “Boy and the World”
When: Sept. 3, 4, 8, 10, 11 and 15
Where: Film Streams at Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey St.
Cost: $9 general admission; $7, seniors, students, teachers, and military (and those arriving by bike); $4.50 for members; and $2.40 for children 12 and younger
Week 2 (Sept. 5-11)
Lauritzen Gardens Free Admission Day
When: Sept. 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Laurizen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.
Cost: FREE
Omahawks Radio Control Club Airshow
When: Sept. 5, noon to 4:30ish
Where: Hawk Field, 138th and Fort streets
Cost: FREE
Hip Hop Line Dance
When: Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27, 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library Washington branch meeting room A
Cost: FREE
Dinosaur visits libraries’ story times
When: Sept. 9, 10 a.m. (Saddlebrook); Sept. 10, 10:30 a.m. (Swanson); Sept. 12, 10:30 a.m. (Abrahams); Sept. 13, 10:30 a.m. (Millard); Sept. 14, 10:30 a.m. (Willa Cather); Sept. 15, 10 a.m. (Elkhorn); Sept. 17, 10:30 a.m. (Sorensen)
Where: Various Omaha Public Library locations
Cost: FREE
Fields of Flight
When: Sept. 9, 6 p.m. Fun Flight, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. live music, glow at dusk; Sept. 10, 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Competition Flight, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. live music, glow at dusk; Sept. 11 Competition Flight
Where: Ditmars Orchard, 19475 225th St., Council Bluffs, Iowa
Cost: $3 per person; parking is $5 per car
Opera Outdoors
When: Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Turner Park at Midtown Crossing, 31st-33rd and Farnam-Dodge streets
Cost: FREE
When: Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. (register for one session)
Where: Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, Iowa
Cost: FREE (pre-register by Sept. 7, space is limited. Go online to www.mycountyparks.com)
Harvest Party
When: Sept. 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Mulhall’s, 3615 N. 120th St.
Cost: FREE
Kidchella
When: Sept. 10, 2 to 8 p.m.
Where: Stinson Park at Aksarben Village, 2285 S. 67th St.
Cost: $12, FREE for children under 2
Moonshell Storytelling Festival
When: Sept. 10
Where: TBA
Cost: FREE
Midtown Car Show
When: Sept. 11
Where: Turner Park at Midtown Crossing, 31st-33rd and Farnam-Dodge streets
Cost: FREE
Taste of Florence
When: Sept. 11, 1 to 5 p.m. (includes kid zone)
Where: 7915 N. 30th St.
Cost: $15, adults; $7.50 for children under 12
KinderNature: Soaring Wings
When: Sept. 11, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, Iowa
Cost: $5 per child
Week 3 (Sept. 12-18)
“Elf Jr.”
When: Sept. 16-25; performances are Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m.
Where: Chanticleer Community Theater, 830 Franklin Ave., Council Bluffs, Iowa
Cost: $20, adults; $16, seniors; $10, students
“The Music Man”
When: Sept. 16 through Oct. 2; performances are Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m.
Where: Bellevue Little Theater, 203 W. Mission Ave., Bellevue, Neb.
Cost: $20, adults; $18, seniors; $10, students
132nd German Day Celebration/Oktoberfest
When: Sept. 16, 5 p.m. to midnight, and Sept. 17, noon to midnight
Where: German-American Society, Inc., 3717 S. 120th St.
Cost: $5, adults; FREE for kids 12 and young and active military
“Sister Act”
When: Sept. 16 through Oct. 16; performances are Thursdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 2 p.m.
Where: Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St.
Cost: $42, adults ($32 on Wednesdays); $25, students ($20 on Wednesdays)
Midwest Winds Kiteflyers
When: Sept. 17 and 18
Where: Ditmars Orchard, 19475 225th St., Council Bluffs, Iowa
Cost: TBD
When: Sept. 17, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by refreshments and program at the Florence Library at 10:30
Where: Community Garden on 30th and Bondesson streets (behind the Shell Station)
Cost: FREE
Gifford Farm Fall Festival
When: Sept. 17 and 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Gifford Farm, 700 Camp Gifford Road, Bellevue, Neb.
Cost: $5 (ages 2 and older)
El Grito Festival
When: Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where: Plaza the la Raza, South 24th and N streets
Cost: FREE (rides are extra)
Welcome Week: International Culture Sharing
When: Sept. 17, noon to 2 p.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library Willa Cather branch
Cost: FREE
Tip: Bring something to share from your culture (food, jewelry, flag, etc.). This is a welcome event for refugees and immigrants
Forever Young Family & Children’s Film Series – “Habanastation”
When: Sept. 17, 18 and 22
Where: Film Streams at Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey St.
Cost: FREE
Family Fiesta
When: Sept. 17, 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library Florence branch meeting room
Cost: FREE (but pre-registering is requested)
Learning on the Lake
When: Sept. 18, 2 to 5 p.m.
Where: Lake Zorinsky Park, South 156th and F streets
Cost: FREE
Week 4 (Sept. 19-25)
AKSARBEN Stock Show & Rodeo
When: Sept. 22-25, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: CenturyLink Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St.
Cost: FREE for the stock show, rodeo is $21+
Barbecue for Blue – Law Enforcement Appreciation Lunch
When: Sept. 23, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Community of Christ Church, 140 W. Kanesville Blvd.
Cost: FREE
National Alpaca Farm Day
When: Sept. 24 and 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Alpacas of the Heartland, 7016 County Road 39, Fort Calhoun, Neb.
Cost: FREE
Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic – Fire boat
When: Sept. 24, 10 a.m.
Where: Lowes locations
Cost: FREE (pre-registration is recommended; here’s my post explaining how Build & Grow clinics work)
Fifth Annual ARTsarben
When: Sept. 24 and 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Aksarben Village,2232 S. 64th St.
Cost: FREE
Hispanic Stories for Families and Children
When: Sept. 24, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Where: Omaha Public Library South Omaha branch conference room A
Cost: FREE
Child Saving Institute Guild’s Touch-A-Truck
When: Sept. 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: First Data/UNO parking lots, just south of 69th and Pacific streets
Cost: FREE
25th Annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow
When: Sept. 24, 1 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus, 5730 N. 30th St.
Cost: FREE
Week 5 (Sept. 26-30)
Saddlebrook Family Lock-In
When: Sept. 30, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library Saddlebrook branch
Cost: FREE; registration opens on Sept. 1 at 8 a.m.
Tip: There will be some snacks, but they suggest families also bring a dish to share for a picnic-style dinner
“Shrek The Musical”
When: Sept. 30 through Oct. 16; Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 5 p.m., Sundays at 2 and 5 p.m. (no 5 p.m. show on Oct. 2)
Where: Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St.
Cost: $20
Ongoing Events
“Pirates and Mermaids: Voyage to Creature Cove”
When: Through Sept. 5, Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m.
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St.
Cost: Included with museum admission, which is $12, $11 for seniors, and free for members and 2 and younger.
“To Kill a Mockingbird”
When: Through Sept. 18; performances are Thursdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 2 p.m. Wednesday performances at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 and 14
Where: Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St.
Cost: $40, adults; $22, students; Twilight Tickets are available at half price after noon the day of the performance at the Box Office. Cash or check only. Subject to availability.
Tip: You know the book, so use your judgement on what age is best for seeing a play about it.
“Drawing Stories: The Picture Book Art of Marla Frazee Exhibition”
When: Through Sept. 18; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St.
Cost: FREE
“Project 10-2: Alzheimer’s in Omaha”
When: Through Oct. 1; Tuesdays through Thursdays & Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, 405 S. 11th St.
Cost: FREE
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)
Arts for All
When: Saturdays, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Omaha South Public Library, 2808 Q St.
Cost: FREE (ages 8-12, registration required)
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)
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