NOTE: This page is updated almost daily.
There’s a hint of fall in the air, which means new exhibits, new stage shows, and lots of outdoor events for families are here. Get the scoop on kid-friendly activities, free events and more fun stuff that will keep your family busy exploring Omaha.
How to read this post: The first events listed are things to come in chronological order, followed by all the on-going events like exhibits or shows that have already opened. The post ends with weekly activities at rec centers and libraries (you may want to call ahead to make sure it is happening the day you plan on visiting).
Forever Young Family & Children Series Meets Cinemateca – “El Libro de Lila” (Spanish with subtitles)
When: Sept. 9, 13, 15, 16 & 20; check theater for times
Where: Film Streams at Dundee Theater, 4952 Dodge St.
Cost: $10, general admission; $2.50 for children younger than 12
Simply Vintage
When: Sept. 14-16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 506 Skyline Road, Elkhorn, Neb.
Cost: $5, general admission Saturday and Sunday; $10, general admission Friday; FREE for kids ages 12 and younger
Taco Dragon Visits Story Time
When: Sept. 14-22 ; Sept. 14 at 9:30 a.m. (Saddlebrook); Sept. 15 at 10:30 a.m. (Willa Cather); Sept. 17 at 10:30 a.m. (Abrahams); Sept. 18 at 10:30 a.m. (Washington); Sept. 19 at 10:30 a.m. (Main); Sept. 20 at 10:30 a.m. (South Omaha); Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. (Swanson); Sept. 22 at 10:30 a.m. (Sorensen)
Where: Various Omaha Public Library branches
Cost: FREE
“Shrek The Musical”
When: Sept. 14 through Oct. 14; performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Ogre Parties before the shows on Sept. 16, Sept. 23, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 start at 12:45 p.m.
Where: Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St.
Cost: Tickets start at $42. Ogre Parties are an additional $15 per person and are limited.
Tinkerfest
When: Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St.
Cost: Included with regular museum admission, which is $13 for children and adults, $12 for seniors, and FREE for members and children younger than 24 months
Fall Festival
When: Sept. 15 and 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Gifford Farm Education Center, 700 Camp Gifford Road, Bellevue, Neb.
Cost: $5, ages 2+
Southwest Iowa Art Tour
When: Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sept. 16, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Various locations in Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Malvern, Red Oak, Harlan, Neola, Taber, Avoca, and Shenandoah
Cost: FREE
Chalk Art Festival
When: Sept. 15 and 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Midtown Crossing at Turner Park, 3110 Farnam St.
Cost: FREE
Apple Festival
When: Sept. 15, 1 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Super Bee Orchards, 4571 Highway 75, Fort Calhoun, Neb.
Cost: FREE
Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow
When: Sept. 15, 1 to 7 p.m.
Where: Fort Omaha campus of Metro Community College, 5300 N. 30th St.
Cost: FREE
Salute To The USS Omaha Concert
When: Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. (park opens at 5 p.m.)
Where: Midtown Crossing at Turner Park, 3110 Farnam St.
Cost: FREE
Family Fiesta
When: Sept. 15, 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library Florence branch, 2920 Bondesson St.
Cost: FREE (registration required)
Team Survivor Challenge (Teens)
When: Sept. 16, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. or 4 to 6 p.m.
Where: Zorinsky Park, 156th Street aquatic park entrance, straight back to Shelter 1
Cost: $20 per team (must have at least two female teammates; must be in ninth-12th grades). Registration required through Omaha Parks & Rec.
Cowboy Story Time
When: Sept. 21, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library Florence branch, 2920 Bondesson St.
Cost: FREE (must register)
Hispanic Heritage Fiesta
When: Sept. 22, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library South Omaha branch, 2808 Q St.
Cost: FREE
Game On: This History of Science & Gaming
When: Sept. 22 through Jan. 6, 2019
Where: Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, 28210 W. Park Highway, Ashland, Neb.
Cost: Included with admission
Small Guy Promotions Fall Expo
When: Sept. 22, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Omaha Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Cost: FREE
Family Campout
When: Sept. 22-23, 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Where: Mockingbird Hills Community Center, 10242 Mockingbird Drive
Cost: $7 per person or $28 per family (bring a tent; food is provided). Register by Sept. 16.
Cirque Italia Water Circus
When: Sept. 27-30; performances are Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.
Where: Westroads Mall, North East Parking Lot, 10000 California St.
Cost: $20-$40, adults; $10-$35 for children (ADA seating requires reservations)
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites”
When: Sept. 28 through Oct. 14; performances are Fridays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 5 p.m.; and Sundays, 2 p.m.
Where: The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St.
Cost: $20 each; members receive four free tickets
National Alpaca Farm Day
When: Sept. 29 and 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Alpacas of the Heartland, 7016 County Road 39, Fort Calhoun, Neb.
Cost: FREE
Drone Expo
When: Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum
Cost: Outdoor activities are FREE; indoor activities are included with museum admission. Helicopter rides are $60 per person.
Forever Young Family & Children Series Meets Cinemateca – “La Ultima Isla” (Spanish with subtitles)
When: Sept. 22, 23, 27, 29, 30 and Oct. 4; check theater for times
Where: Film Streams at Dundee Theater, 4952 Dodge St.
Cost: $10, general admission; $2.50 for children younger than 12
Black Violin’s “Classical Boom Tour”
When: Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.
Cost: $20-$55
DC vs. Marvel Family Date Night
When: Oct. 5, 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St.
Cost: Included with regular museum admission, which is $13 for children and adults, $12 for seniors, and FREE for members and children younger than 24 months
Moonlight Movie At Mockingbird
When: Oct. 5, 6 p.m. (indoor activities) and movie at 7 p.m.
Where: Mockingbird Hills Community Center, 10242 Mockingbird Drive
Cost: FREE
Alebrije Afternoon
When: Oct. 6, 3 to 5 p.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library South Omaha branch, 2808 Q St.
Cost: FREE
Iluminate
When: Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
Where: Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.
Cost: $22-$38
“The Little Engine That Could”
When: Oct. 12 through Nov. 4; performances are Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 5 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Where: The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St.
Cost: $12 for non-members and $10 for members
“Super Sports: Building Strength, Sportsmanship & Smarts”
When: Oct. 13 through April 14, 2019
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St.
Cost: Included with admission, which is $13 for children and adults, $12 for seniors, and FREE for members and children younger than 24 months
Kickball Extravaganza Tournament
When: Oct. 14, 1 p.m.
Where: Elmwood Park
Cost: $20 per team (teams must be 8-15 players, at least females, and 12 years or older). Register with Omaha Parks & Rec.
Escape Room For Grades 2-6
When: Oct. 17, 1 to 4 p.m., and Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library Millard branch, 13214 Westwood Lane
Cost: FREE (must pre-register)
Teddy Bear Sleepover & Story Time
When: Oct. 19, 4:30 p.m. (pick up stuffed animals on Oct. 20 at 10:30 a.m.)
Where: Omaha Public Library Sorensen branch, 4808 Cass St.
Cost: FREE
Looking for Halloween events? Click here to read all the Halloween events in Omaha this fall.
Family-Friendly Things To Do: Exhibits & Shows Ending Soon
“Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt”
When: Through Sept. 23; performances are Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 5 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Where: The Rose, 2001 Farnam St.
Cost: $20 for general admission (discount ticket vouchers are available at all area Hy-Vee stores); FREE for members of The Rose
“Reality”
When: Through Sept. 26; Tuesday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: KANEKO, 1111 Jones St.
Cost: FREE
Night Market
When: Select Fridays through Sept. 28; July 27, Aug. 31 and Sept. 28; 6 to 10 p.m.
Where: Turner Park at Midtown Crossing, 31st and Farnam streets
Cost: FREE
Lewis & Clark Ranger Programs
When: Through Sept. 30, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center, 601 Riverfront Drive
Cost: FREE
Omaha Farmers Market (Downtown)
When: Through Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Omaha’s Old Market, 11th and Jackson streets
Cost: FREE
Canoe The Great Marsh
When: Through Oct. 20; launch times are 6:15 a.m. (Sept. 8, Sept. 15), 6 p.m. (Sept. 11), and 9 a.m. (Sept. 22, Sept. 29, and Oct. 20)
Where: Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue N, Bellevue, Neb.
Cost: $25 per person
“Thomas D. Mangelsen: A Life In The Wild”
Where: Through Jan. 6, 2019
Where: The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St.
Cost: Included with museum admission, which is $11 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children (ages 3-12) and FREE for children younger than 24 months
“Fighting for the Good Life: Nebraskan Memories of World War I:
When: Through Jan. 28, 2019. Opening day activities for kids from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St.
Cost: Included with regular museum admission
Weekly Activities For Families & Kids
These activities are on-going and held on the same day each week. Still, it’s a good idea to call ahead before going, just to be sure.
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.
Crafty Tots
When: Wednesdays, 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Omaha Public Library Saddlebrook Branch, 14850 Laurel Ave.
Cost: FREE
Tots of the Town
When: Second Thursday of the month, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7775 Olson Drive, Papillion, Neb.
Cost: FREE
Story Time At Barnes & Noble
When: Fridays at 9:30 a.m. (Crossroads) and Saturdays at 11 a.m. (Crossroads and Oakview)
Where: Barnes and Noble at Crossroads, 7400 Dodge St., and Barnes and Noble at Oakview, 3333 Oakview Drive
Cost: 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
Family Fun Night
When: Fridays, 5 to 9 p.m.
Where: SkateDaze, 3616 S. 132nd St.
Cost: $11.99 (skate or play), $3.99 for non-skating parent
Kids Craft Time
When: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Mangelsen’s, 3457 S. 84th St.
Cost: $1
Second Saturdays Nature Program
When: Second Saturday of every month, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Heron Haven Wetland Sanctuary, 11809 Old Maple Road
Cost: FREE
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)
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)
Family Fun & Fitness
When: Sundays, 1 to 6 p.m.
Where: SkateDaze, 3616 S. 132nd St.
Cost: $8 (skate rental is additional $4)
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I'm a mom, wife, writer & coffee addict. I love my hometown, Omaha, but cannot resist the thrill of travel. Life is best spent discovering the extraordinary at home and on the road. With any luck, I'll inspire you to think the same. Inquiries at ohmyomaha@gmail.com
