Annual Events in Omaha
Celebrating its history, culture, food, fashion sense, and love of music, not to mention its feverish devotion to sports, Omaha knows how to throw a good party.
Annual events and festivals offer visitors a wide range of things to do throughout the year.
NCAA Men's College World Series
The granddaddy of them all is the NCAA Men's College World Series. In Omaha since 1950, the MCWS is one of the longest-running sporting traditions in the country. This 10-day event every June features fan festivals, street vendors, live music, lots of food and the best college baseball in the country.
Summer Arts Festival
In the summer, it's all about outdoor music and art in all forms. The Omaha Summer Arts Festival features over a hundred of the nation's finest visual artists, two stages of continuous musical performances, and a hands-on children's fair.
Maha Festival
Omaha’s signature outdoor music festival is an annual indie rock event featuring national and local indie bands. The music-heavy Maha Festival is a two-day summertime celebration with shopping, comedy, community booths, and food and drink options sandwiched in between.
Jazz on the Green
A summer tradition for more than 20 years, Jazz on the Green is the ultimate outdoor jam session featuring national and local jazz musicians playing every Thursday on the beautiful Turner Park lawn at Midtown Crossing.
Taste of Omaha
The art of food is abundant at Taste of Omaha. This three-day food fest showcases Omaha's great locally-owned restaurants and their special recipes as well as live entertainment all weekend long.
Greek Festival
The Greek Festival is all about the Opa! Enjoy authentic Greek music, folk dancing, and delicious homemade Greek cuisine.
Shakespeare on the Green
Shakespeare on the Green is nationally recognized for its unique artistry where classic Shakespeare is performed in a tree-embraced, family-picnic environment. It's a great way to experience the power and beauty of classical theatre in a relaxing outdoor setting.
Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival
A treasured summer favorite, Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival combines a delightful hot air balloon glow with tastings of the region’s best wines, beers and spirits in an event the entire family will enjoy.
Omaha Fashion Week
Omaha Fashion Week is the nation’s fourth largest fashion event. The August show includes more than 40 designers and 400 creations featuring Fall/Winter collections, with the March show featuring Spring/Summer collections.
The International Horse Competition
The International is a world-class indoor horse jumping and dressage competition with shopping expo and family fun for the whole family. Off years occur when the FEI World Cup™ comes to Omaha, bringing with it the world's best show jumping and dressage horses and riders.
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a festive and colorful celebration that fills Omaha's historic South 24th Street. It includes a massive parade and authentic food along with food fun like tortilla throwing and burrito-eating contests.
Santa Lucia
Santa Lucia is a four-day carnival featuring everything Italian, like a cannoli eating contest, live music, and the coronation of the festival queen.
Oktoberfest
Everyone in Omaha is German when Oktoberfest rolls around with lots of schnitzel, pretzels, brats, beer and music.
Junkstock
Shop vintage wares, unique antiques, and handmade artisan foods and goods at this seasonal weekend-long event featuring plentiful live entertainment, food trucks, photo ops and more.
Heartland Pride Parade & Festival
Omaha’s premier LGBTQ+ celebration for all ages. Youth Pride is featured the first day, with a Pride festival the second after a celebratory parade downtown.
Native Omahan Days
Once every two years, Omaha celebrates Native Omahan Days, a reunion/welcome home party. This bi-annual event is held in North Omaha and celebrates the community's historical and cultural heritage with a parade, live entertainment and more.
Railroad Days at Mile Zero
All aboard for Railroad Days, a fun-filled celebration of the area’s rich railroad heritage across the river in Council Bluffs. Enjoy numerous train-themed activities at a variety of local attractions at one low price per family.
Pinnacle Bank Golf Championship
The PGA tour stops in Omaha with the Korn Ferry Tour's Pinnacle Bank Championship, the tour's season finale with 25 PGA Tour cards being awarded after the final round of competition.
Omaha Film Festival
Omaha Film Festival features over 100 short films, documentaries, and feature films from an average of 1,000 annual entries.
Omaha's River City Rodeo
Every September, the city celebrates its cowboy heritage with interactive adventures for the whole family. River City Rodeo is a weekend Western festival featuring two nights of high caliber PRCA rodeo where world champion cowboys will compete at the rodeo for their official entry into the National Finals Rodeo. The seven thrilling rodeo events include steer wrestling, team roping and bull riding.
Holidays
Omaha turns into a holiday wonderland beginning Thanksgiving night with the flip of a switch as hundreds of thousands of holiday lights twinkle throughout downtown Omaha. The Holiday Lights Festival is a month-long celebration that includes live music, old-fashioned carolers, and more family fun. Elsewhere, Dancing Santas at the Symphony, the lighting of the official Christmas Tree, the traditional performance of A Christmas Carol, topped off with a New Year's Eve fireworks display punctuate the most wonderful time of the year.