Annual Events & Festivals - Omaha, Nebraska



Annual Events & Festivals - Annual Events & Festivities

As the seasons change in Nebraska, so do the annual events that go on in Lincoln or Omaha. More often than not, the events on this list have something to do with the season. Fall activities are centered on the stunning fall foliage, eating food that comes with the annual harvest, or Oktoberfest. Winter events often are holiday-centric or tied in with cold weather outdoor activities. In the spring, people simply want to get outside, and athletic and ethnic festivals are popular this time of year. Summer certainly has the most diverse offerings, with live music festivals, food and drink, fireworks, sports, and arts ruling the season.

The diverse festivals listed in this chapter are, to be sure, a sampling of a much larger festival circuit that spans the state of Nebraska; some of the best, well-attended festivals take place outside of the metro areas of Lincoln and Omaha, and those looking for a true small-town festival experience would be well served to take a Nebraska road trip and experience some of these singular events first-hand.

1. Cathedral Flower Festival

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (402) 568-3100
Address: 100 N. 62nd St.

Description: Flowers are the perfect antidote to Nebraska’s winter weather, and the annual Cathedral Flower Festival is the best in the city. Each year at the end of January, the festival takes place in Omaha’s historic St. Cecilia Cathedral—worth visiting without the festival for its own special beauty—and draws more than 15,000 visitors. Local florists transform thousands of varietals of flowers into works of art that decorate the cathedral space; special events are often scheduled during the run of the show.


2. Easter Extravaganza

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (402) 346-4002
Address: 100 Bancroft St.

Description: Lauritzen Gardens knows how to run an Easter egg hunt, and it’s not your run-of-the-mill backyard search. The Easter Bunny arrives first thing in the morning—the cafe on-site is open so parents can grab a coffee—and craft activities fill the morning before the hunt begins. The two-hour main event is divided into three age groups so everyone gets a fair shot. Lauritzen’s Children’s Garden is overflowing with hidden treasure, and kids will have a ball seeking it out.

3. Cinco De Mayo

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: South Omaha comes alive on Cinco De Mayo, and the community’s vibrant Mexican residents have been celebrating with a parade, food, and live music for more than 20 years. The festivities span a number of days and include a parade and all day fiesta that includes lots of bands, carnival rides, a stage devoted to kids’ entertainment, vendors, and loads of delicious authentic Mexican cuisine. The final day of the celebration includes a fun run/walk and more live entertainment.

4. Lincoln National Guard Marathon And Half Marathon

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Insider Pick:

Description: One of the most popular athletic events in Nebraska, the Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon is truly exhilarating for its participants. The half-marathon course winds through Lincoln, and cheering fans encouraging the 10,000 runners on make the jog oh-so-much easier—and fun, to boot. The event sells out every year without fail, so participants should register early to be guaranteed a spot in the race. The certified run is a Boston Marathon qualifier. The night before the run, all race participants can chow down in a free pastathon held on the UNL campus.

5. Taste Of Omaha

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: Taste of Omaha is foodie heaven for the city of Omaha. Many of the city’s top chefs, best restaurants, and well-known food companies take to the Omaha riverfront and cook outdoors for thousands of pleased eaters. Live music accompanies the food, and five stages are scattered around the festival; music is playing almost non-stop and all the stage shows are free. The array of food served at the event runs the gamut: Nebraska beef takes center stage next to pizza; ribs; and ethnic food, like Mexican, Italian, Greek, Asian, and Polish.

6. Tour De Nebraska Bicycle Ride

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: Since the mid-1980s, happy bikers have been pedaling across rural Nebraska as part of the Tour De Nebraska. The ride, a five-day tour that begins and ends in a town near Lincoln that varies each year, lets riders leave things like cell phones, computers, and answering machines behind. The organizers plan the route and arrange for food and campsites. The ride usually fills up by late March and is limited to 200 cyclists. The route sticks to paved roads and riders get a map of each day’s travels. Cyclists are encouraged to train by riding three to four days a week for at least 20 miles in preparation for the trip.

7. Summer Arts Festival

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Insider Pick:

Description: What started out as a small artist festival has turned into a big one. A world music pavilion, young artist exhibition, children’s stage and play area, local artists’ market, and lots of food are some of the highlights. More than 100 juried artists from around the country show their wares in the streets; artists come to Omaha from 27 states. Artwork runs the gamut and includes jewelry, functional pottery, 2D work of all kinds, photography, fiber art, and woodworking. The Omaha ArtSeen gives participants the chance to interact with local artists doing live, on-site demonstrations of things like clay throwing, lamp work, and woodworking. Poetry readings, live music, and the Taste Fest food pavilion round out the artsy offerings.

8. Bank Of The West Celebrates Independence At Memorial Park

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

9. Railroad Days

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: Five of Omaha’s and neighboring Council Bluffs’ biggest attractions get together once a year to celebrate the area’s railroad-centric past. Lauritzen Gardens, the Durham Museum, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, the Historic General Dodge House, and the RailsWest Railroad Museum join forces for the multi-pronged event. Families can buy a $10 pass that provides admission to all five locations as well as transportation between the venues for the weekend-long event. Each venue offers a wide array of events and exhibits focused on trains and railroads that vary from year to year; visit the website for a full schedule of events and an exhibition listing.

10. Meadowlark Music Festival

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: The state’s only music festival focused on classical music, Meadowlark Music Festival takes place in the green space outside the beautiful Sheldon Museum of Art on the UNL campus. A UNL professor started the event 10 years ago, and its first-rate chamber performers continue to draw crowds to the city. A subsidized ticket program allows everyone to attend Meadowlark’s regular concerts, and the musicians perform in schools and community centers around Lincoln. Each year Meadowlark collaborates with a visual artist to produce a piece of art inspired by the event; the work is displayed at a variety of venues and then becomes a part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Nebraska Art, located in Kearney.

11. Maha Music Festival

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Insider Pick:

Description: The most up-and-coming music festival in Nebraska has to be the MAHA music festival. Though only a few years old, in 2010 the festival drew big name acts such as Spoon, The Faint, Superchunk, Ben Kewller, and the Old 97s. Local Omaha acts joined the roster and the event draws a stellar turnout of people of all ages. The concert is general admission and many people arrive long before the music begins to secure a good seat; the music begins at 12:30 p.m. and continues until 11 p.m. No outside food or drink is allowed, but an array of vendors—many from locally owned restaurants—sell food and beverages, including alcohol, on-site.

12. Capital City Ribfest

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: The scent of roasting barbeque wafts through the humid streets of downtown Lincoln (and through the air of most of downtown’s office buildings) during Capital City Ribfest. A popular lunchtime destination on Friday, and popular all day during its weekend run, the event draws pit bosses from around the country to serve up a wide variety of BBQ recipes. Food includes ’que from Australia, Texas, and Southern, Memphis, and Southwestern-style ribs and sandwiches. Live music that includes rock, folk, bluegrass, and country permeates the event during the entire weekend. During Thursday and Friday over the lunch hour, visitors can get free Ribfest admission by donating a can of food.

13. Defenders Of Freedom Air Show

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: One of the most exciting displays of aeronautics (even for those who aren’t into planes) is what makes the annual Defenders of Freedom Air Show so much fun. The US Air Force Thunderbirds along with a wide variety of demo teams and planes fly during this daylong event, which also features a lot of planes displayed on the ground for visitors to look at up-close. The show doesn’t ever have a set schedule, so visitors are encouraged to arrive when they can, relax, and enjoy the display. The event is free, and families can bring their own drinks and food, though coolers are not permitted. Because the event takes place on a military base, visitors should be prepared for bags and other items to be searched for security reasons.

14. International Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Description: Held on the same grounds where Ponca Chief Standing Bear was held prisoner, the annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow holds special meaning. A celebration of the state’s Native American past, the powwow features traditional dance, music, art, storytelling, and food from Nebraska’s four tribes: the Northern Ponca, Omaha, Santee Sioux, and Winnebago. Thousands of people attend the yearly event that draws close to 400 artists of all ilk to participate. The powwow is different each year, but always opens and closes with prayer in English and native languages. The music and dance along with the delicious native cuisine makes attending the powwow well worth the time.

15. River City Rodeo

City: Omaha, NE
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 455 N. 10th St.

Description: The second largest rodeo in the world doesn’t come to Omaha without fanfare. AkSarBen’s River City Rodeo has all the things one would expect: top cowboys who compete for a spot to come to Omaha, fast-paced action, and cash prizes. But it also has a livestock show, concerts, a BBQ contest, a parade, and trail rides. The family-centric event teaches how farms work and gives children a chance to touch, see and—let’s be honest—smell farm animals up close. Concerts include big-name performers: The recent roster included Sawyer Brown and Jack Ingram.
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