We’ve had our fall fun, from hayrides to pumpkin patches and beyond, but now we’re looking toward winter with a renewed sense of curiosity. After all, the world can feel dark at times, and it’s important to have things to look forward to—little bright spots that make every day a bit more interesting than the last.
Luckily, some of Nebraska’s best winter events will soon be here to act as beacons. These run the gamut from color-exploding light shows to giant markets and Santa Claus photo opps, and they’re all equally fun. Plus, they run from early November through late March, so there’s something fun to do no matter what part of winter we’re in.
With that said, here are 10 winter events in Nebraska to check out during the 2026-2027 season.
1. Omaha Winter Market
Where: The Fowling Waterhouse Omaha (5585 N 90th St, Omaha, NE 68134)
When: Nov. 1, 2026-Mar. 28, 2027
Price: Free
When you think of winter festivals in Nebraska, your mind may not immediately go to the farmers market—but we’re here to challenge that. Across the country, the classic farmers market has evolved into a place with endless treats, great shopping, fun activities, and more. Basically, they have everything you want at a classic festival, and the Omaha Winter Market is no exception.
Held every Sunday from the beginning of November to the end of March, the Omaha Winter Market, aka one of the biggest indoor markets in the Midwest, features over 50 vendors from a variety of industries, including food, crafts, home wares, pottery, drinks, and more. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., so you can bet that we’ll be checking out the coffee vendors first!
2. Falconwood Frosty Nights
Where: Falconwood Park (905 Allied Rd, Bellevue, NE 68123)
When: Nov. 13-Dec. 27
Price: $10 for adults & $5 for children
Returning to Bellevue this year is Falconwood Frosty Nights, an event that’s sure to warm the soul despite chilly temperatures. What makes this event so special is that it has a bit of everything—and we really do mean everything. Frosty Nights has live music, live reindeer, impressive light displays, a carnival, a Christmas-themed maze, virtual reality games, ice skating, sledding, a trolley, and so much more.
The best part? Tickets purchased on the event’s website are good for any day, giving you the ultimate flexibility when planning your fun night out. Note: The prices listed above are labeled as an early bird special. Regular prices have not been released yet.
3. Zoo Lights Powered by LES
Where: Lincoln Children’s Zoo (1222 S 27th St, Lincoln, NE 68502)
When: Nov. 20-Dec. 30
Price: $17
At the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, magic is real, and it comes to life through brilliant light displays, sweet-treat stations, and whimsical train rides. That’s right: The Zoo Lights event is back in 2026, brought to us by Lincoln Electric System (LES). The Zoo Lights event is open nearly every day except a few, like Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and it promises to make any child’s holiday season extra special. Note: When purchasing tickets, you must select a 15-minute interval for your selected evening, but it is merely your entry time, not how long you can stay at the zoo.
4. Fezvital of Trees
Where: Tangier Shrine Center (2823 S 84th St, Omaha, NE 68124)
When: Nov. 21-Nov. 28
Price: $2
Hosted annually by the philanthropic Tangier Shrine Center, the Feztival of Trees is a large display of Christmas trees decorated by Omaha businesses and organizations, and complete with gifts. Each tree is unique, and they change each year, making you want to return time and time again to see who pulled out all the stops. The goal? To make money for charity. The trees, including the gifts underneath them, are raffled off to bring in funds for the Tangier Shrine Center’s various philanthropic efforts. The festival is set to run for a week straight, bar Thanksgiving, when it will be closed. For tickets, click here.
5. Omaha’s Holiday Lights Festival
Where: Downtown Omaha
When: Nov. 28, 2026-Jan. 1, 2027
Price: Free
One of the state’s most adaptable winter festivals, Omaha’s Holiday Lights Festival can fit into anyone’s schedule because it happens every night for over a month. Thousands of lights in myriad beautiful colors bring Omaha to life, from the Old Market to the RiverFront. Some lights are strung around trees, while others create stunning shapes, like giant snowflakes. In both cases, the lights are absolutely show-stopping.
For even more fun, you can attend the kickoff ceremony at the Gene Leahy Mall at the RiverFront on Nov. 28, when the lights will roar to life for the first time. Then, Dec. 31 will see a spectacular fireworks show rain down on Omaha in honor of New Year’s Eve, ending the Holiday Lights Festival with a literal bang.
6. Yule Log Festival
Where: Platte River State Park (14421 346th St, Louisville, NE 68037)
When: Dec. 5
Price: Free
Sometimes, the best winter festivals in Nebraska are all about getting up close with nature. Enter the annual Yule Log Festival, held in the Walter Scott Jr. Lodge inside Platte River State Park on Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the festival, attendees can enjoy activities like roasting marshmallows, searching for kindling in the surrounding woods, building pine cone bird feeders, snapping adorable pictures with Santa Claus, and more. It’s a family-friendly event that your kids won’t soon forget.
7. Midwest Fest Holiday Market
Where: Heartwood Preserve (S 145th St, Omaha, NE 68145)
When: Dec. 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20, 2026
Price: Free
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on three weekends in December, the Heartwood Preserve will host the Midwest Fest Holiday Market, a large gathering of makers hoping to connect with their community. Two Omaha locals, Kierra Molina and Teri Healy, run Midwest Fest; they are passionate about shopping small, and they’ve made the Holiday Market a place folks really want to be.
In addition to meeting the faces behind some of Nebraska’s small businesses, attendees can enjoy seasonal snacks and drinks, see Santa Claus in the flesh, and bask in the joyful camaraderie flowing through the preserve.
8. Christmas at the Cody’s
Where: Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park (2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Rd, North Platte, NE 69101)
When: Dec. 11-13 & 18-20
Price: $10 for adults, $5 for children, and free admission for kids ages 3 and under
Every year, North Platte comes together to remember the good ol’ holiday traditions of one Buffalo Bill Cody and his wife, Louisa Frederici Cody. The two were well off, to put it lightly, which meant they owned many properties and hosted many fabulous events. Notably, they enjoyed the holidays until their respective deaths in the early 1900s. Now, their mansion in the Buffalo Bill Ranch Historical Park gets decked out in holly, jolly, and more every December.
For six days this December, you can visit their glorious, well-maintained mansion to see immaculately decorated rooms, enjoy hot cider and freshly toasted chestnuts, ride in horse-drawn carriages, and more. Do note that you’ll need a Nebraska Game and Parks vehicle permit to get to the mansion since it’s in a state park. You can purchase single-day permits here for $7 for a Nebraska-plated car or $14 for a non-Nebraska-plated vehicle.
9. University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Winter Festival
Where: Westbrook Music Building (1104 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588) and Kimball Recital Hall (1113 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588)
When: Jan. 29-31, 2027
Price: Free
Some winter festivals in Nebraska usher in the holidays, and others celebrate the impressive work of high schoolers who have dedicated years to learning their respective instruments. Every year, the music department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln allows high school students to submit auditions of themselves playing their instruments for a chance to participate in its Winter Festival, then selecting some to attend the event, learn from the college’s professors, and perform to wider audiences than they might be used to.
This festival is admittedly different from the others on this list, but we wanted to highlight it as an excellent way to support your community. These students have big dreams, and you can support them by attending their Festival Finale Concert on Jan. 31 for free.
10. Omaha Winterfest
Where: Motto McLean Ice Arena (5015 S 45th St, Omaha, NE 68117)
When: Feb. 18-21
Price: TBD
Early every year, the Blade & Edge Figure Skating Club partners with the Figure Skating Club of Omaha to host Omaha Winterfest, a multi-day ice-skating extravaganza. Nebraska’s ice skaters gather for stunning displays of raw talent, and while it’s all fun and games at the end of the day, there’s also a lot on the line. Namely, this is a qualifying event for the National Showcase, which can lead to career highs for budding skaters.
If you’re not a skater, there’s less pressure—but equal opportunity for fun. Gather your favorite loved ones (you know, the ones you watch the Winter Olympics with) and head to the arena to watch your local skaters pour their effort into their craft. Make a whole day out of it with yummy food and drinks, and you’ve got yourself a celebration.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: Here’s how to help the Salvation Army serve Omaha families in need this holiday season
