Omaha Holiday Lights Festival – Free Family Events & Light Displays
Don’t miss Omaha’s top winter tradition! Enjoy downtown lights, music, fireworks, and free family fun throughout the holiday season.
Jul 12, 202560 Shares2.7K Views
📅 Festival Overview
The Omaha Holiday Lights Festival is a city-wide holiday event that takes place every year from November 30 to January 1. It started 25 years ago and has become one of the most loved winter traditions in the city. The festival features beautiful light displays across multiple Omaha neighborhoods and is free for everyone to attend. The goal of the event is to bring people together and create a joyful, family-friendly holiday atmosphere.
🌟 Lighting Displays
Thousands of lights are installed throughout Downtown Omahaand nearby areas. The main attraction is the RiverFront, which includes Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park, and Lewis & Clark Landing. A large 70-foot holiday tree stands in the park, and more than 200 trees are wrapped in lights across downtown streets. In the Old Marketdistrict, you’ll find classic white lights, wreaths, garlands, and snowflake decorations from 10th to 13th Streets and Farnam to Jackson Streets. These lights create a cozy and festive feel. The festival also brings bright and colorful decorations to North 24th Street(from Burdette to Ohio) and South 24th Street(from L to Q Streets), helping neighborhoods celebrate together and feel part of the city-wide fun.
🎉 Main Festival Events
The festival kicks off with a Lighting Ceremonyat Gene Leahy Mall on November 30. The event includes live music starting at 5:00 PM and an official tree lighting by the mayor at 6:00 PM. One of the most popular events is the KETV Family Festivalon December 8. Families can enjoy free indoor activities at multiple downtown locations like the Durham Museum and the Omaha Children’s Museum. Free rides on the Ollie the Trolley connect all the venues, making it easy for families to visit each place. The festival ends with a big New Year’s Eve Fireworks Showon December 31 at 7:00 PM, held near Heartland of America Park and the CHI Health Center. The fireworks can be seen from various locations downtown, and people are encouraged to watch from their cars. Parking is free after 5:00 PM in city garages.
🎗️ Community Involvement
The Omaha Holiday Lights Festival is not just about lights and entertainment. It also helps the community through the “Shine the Light on Hunger”campaign. This program collects food and donations for Food Bank for the Heartland, aiming to provide millions of meals for families in need. In 2024, the campaign set a goal to raise enough for 5 million meals. The festival works with local businesses and organizations to reach this goal each year.
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