Holiday Events

from December 2021 Momaha Magazine

Santa Bread

Experience the season with holiday events

STORY Ashlee Coffey

There’s nothing better than spending time together with loved ones during the holidays. Let these fun events around Omaha get you into the spirit this festive season.

For our most up-to-date list of holiday events, visit bit.ly/3mZauAg.

Check out the Holiday Lights

Festival. Celebrate the holidays with the 22nd annual Holiday Lights Festival, runs through Jan. 3. There will be lighting displays in the Old Market, North Omaha and South Omaha. The Old Market display will take place from 10th to 13th Streets and from Harney to Jackson Streets. The North Omaha display will cover a sixblock area around 24th and Lake Streets. In South Omaha, the display will light up 24th Street between L and Q Streets. www. holidaylightsfestival.org

Meet Santa and his reindeer. On Dec. 4, come to Bel Air Plaza parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for an up-close visit with Santa and his reindeer. On Dec. 11, Santa and his elves will stop by for a visit. Don’t forget your camera. There will also be free giveaways, cookies and hot cocoa, and a station for kids to make their holiday wish lists and drop them off in Santa’s mailbox. Both events are free and open to the public. Bel Air Plaza is located at 12100 West Center Road.

Check out a holiday family festival.

The KETV drive-through family festival, part of Omaha’s Holiday Lights Festival, will take place Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, 615 Leavenworth St. The event will include to-go craft kits, holiday characters, Santa, police officers on their horses and holiday entertainment. The first 500 vehicles will receive a complimentary Paddington Bear book, courtesy of the Omaha Public Library. www.holidaylightsfestival.org

Check out a bubbly New Year’s Eve

party. The Omaha Children’s Museum will host a Bubbly New Year’s Eve party Dec. 31 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event will feature a bubble wrap stomp, a goody bag to take home and other bubble-themed activities. The museum will host multiple bubble drops throughout the day so every family can take part in a festive countdown. All activities are included with museum admission. The Omaha Children’s Museum is located at 500 S. 20th St. www.ocm.org

Celebrate Noon Year’s Eve. The Durham Museum will once again host its Noon Year’s Eve at Union State event on Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include live music from Dino O’Dell and the T-Rex All-Stars, special crafts and activities. Kids can make their own party hat and enjoy a celebratory bubble wrap stomp and balloon drop at noon in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Great Hall. Masks will be required and advance tickets will also be required. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Dec. 17 to museum members and, if available, to the general public on Dec. 20. The Durham Museum is located at 801 S. 10th St. www.durhammuseum.org

Watch some New Year’s Eve

fireworks. The New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular, part of Omaha’s Holiday Lights Festival, will take place Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. The show is free. The fireworks will be launched from Parking Lot D of the CHI Health Center. www.holidaylightsfestival.org

Fireworks light up the downtown skyline on New Year’s Eve in Omaha.

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