Do we always need to stay busy and active during the summer months? No. However, staying active is frequently full of joy, adventure, and experiences and the best of that is shared with family and friends; building stories to last. While entertaining our family with summer adventures, we love being part of yours by packing this magazine, our website, and social media channels with summer fun we hope you’ll enjoy.
This is one of our favorite parts of the year because there’s so much to do and always something new to try. Yes, it can be busy, but filtering and planning can ease those stressful moments and pro -
DISCLOSURE:
Family Fun In Omaha is part of an affiliate network and commission may be earned based on clicks or purchases when you use our links. Affiliate links help us continue to bring you the free content you love.
vide for calm and relaxing family fun days, too.
No matter what your family’s summer fun desires are, whether it’s packed full of summer camps or a much needed break. We hope this magazine and our online content help with all your summer planning. Do not forget to take peaceful walks through nature, find quiet mornings to fish, sit by a lake, or discover a secluded spot for a family picnic.
Please check out our website and our social media for more fun things to do this summer.
Photo by FFIO: Hiking in Schramm Park State Recreation Area, Gretna, NE
SUMMER CAMP GUIDE
Listing 1 of 5
Elkhorn Sports Academy
For girls and boys who love gaming! Come build skills, create connections, and compete in a fun team environment. Not just a full week of screen time. Activities and guest speakers to create awareness and interest in the technologies and careers in the esports ecosystem. Ages 8+. Join for all 10 weeks or just 1 or 2. Registration opens 2/1.
MCC College for Kids and Teens Summer Camps
Metropolitan Community College offers College for Kids and College for Teens courses that bring engaging learning to children ages 5-18. Kids and teens can take fun classes that focus on art, culinary and STEM learning, including robotics and much more. Courses are offered at multiple locations within the MCC four-county service area, including elementary schools near you.
YMCA of Greater Omaha Summer Day Camp
At YMCA of Greater Omaha Summer Day Camp, kids build friendships, learn new skills, & have a great time in a safe, supportive environment. From exciting activities to team challenges, every day is an adventure! Our camps help children grow in confidence, make lasting memories, & develop a love for exploration & play. Camps run weekly; attend 1 week or more, it’s up to you!
Creighton Prep Summer Camps
Keep your kids engaged in activities they love with Creighton Prep Summer Camps. Designed for boys and girls from K-8 grade, our weekly camps are offered mornings and afternoons from May 27 through July 3 – with a complimentary lunch for all-day campers. Older kids can take advantage of Prep exclusives like NIKE Sports Camps and Prep’s new Summer Climb Academic Program.
SUMMER CAMP GUIDE
Listing 2 of 5
Omaha Performing Arts Summer Dance Intensive
Designed for the advanced dancer, the Summer Dance Intensive provides a challenging training experience designed to improve your skills and enhance your artistry. Work alongside nationally recognized professionals on a variety of dance genres including musical theater, tap, modern, and hip hop, plus learn tips to help you nail your next audition.
Hip Hop Lab Summer Camp by Omaha Performing Arts
Find your voice as you learn about hip hop visual art, DJing, MCing, graffiti, and dance in this hands-on workshop led by industry pros. Tuition includes lunch daily and a capstone showcase for family and friends. Limited scholarships are available.
Sing Omaha Music Camps
FUN and EDUCATIONAL camps for musicians entering 1-12th grade in the Fall of 2025! Music Explorers for early-elementary students promises to be a fun and exciting exploratory experience!
Our two summer show choir camps are preparatory/growth experiences for students. We will meet each student at their current level of development to help them improve their abilities.
Lauritzen Gardens: Summer Adventure Camp
Discover the wonders of nature through summer camps at Lauritzen Gardens! Designed for children ages 5-12, these full-day camps offer exciting outdoor adventures, hands-on learning, crafts, games, and more. With FUN themes that connect kids to the environment, these camps build life skills and foster a love for the natural world. Before and after care packages available.
SUMMER CAMP GUIDE
Listing 3 of 5
Creighton University Bluejay Summer Kids Camp
Creighton University Recreation + Wellness is hosting Bluejay Summer Kids Camp again in 2025! Campers entering grades 1-6 are invited to register for one or more weeklong sessions. Each camp week will include traditional summer camp activities of arts & crafts, swimming, and games, along with special activities and field trips based on that week’s theme.
Quest Forward High School Esports Camp!
Join Quest Forward High School’s Esports Summer Camp for 7th & 8th graders! Train with the 3rd place Nebraska State winners and compete in Fortnite, Smash Bros., and Mario Kart. Campers do not need to bring their own equipment. End the week with a tournament to win awards!
Cost: $100
Registration opens Feb 21 Don’t miss this chance to level up your skills and have fun!
Cub Scouts Camp Amikaro
You can attend Camp Amikaro as a pack, den, or with your own Scout. Enjoy programs from STEM to range activities and nature to swimming. Campers will rotate to all program areas and can earn advancements while trying new things! Meals are provided from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. Camp Amikaro is only open to registered Cub Scouts with a parent/ guardian or registered Cub Leaders.
Check out our family weekend camping and day camp opportunities at: www.GoCubCamping.org
Camp Kaleidoscope at The 402 Arts Collective
Camp Kaleidoscope is a vibrant summer arts camp for kids 5-12, featuring daily rotations in drawing, dance, improv, music, and multimedia art. Led by professional artists, campers explore creativity in all its colorful forms, building confidence, friendships, and lasting memories. Join us for a week of artistic adventure and self-expression!
SUMMER CAMP GUIDE
Listing 4 of 5
Spark Adventure Camp
Spark Adventure Camps are our week-long, part-day summer STEAM-based camps designed to maximize fun, foster growth, and create lasting friendships. Camps are designed for incoming 1st - 6th graders. Spark Adventure Camps will be located at Millard North Middle School and Chalco Recreation Center.
Durham Museum Summer Camp (Camp Durham)
With fun and affordable camps ranging from “Wizard Academy” to a new Minecraft camp, Camp Durham sparks the imagination! Dust off investigative skills for “Durham Detectives,” discover superhero powers at “Heroes in Training,” draw up the perfect summer at “Animation Academy” and so much more! Create a historic summer at Camp Durham!
Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
Discover the magic of camp! Enjoy swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, and endless fun in the great outdoors. Perfect for girls in first grade and up, our camps located in multiple locations across Nebraska are designed to inspire adventure, friendship, and confidence. Don’t miss out—sign up by April 1 to save on your unforgettable camp experience!
Camp Legacy
Summer day camp on 11-acres, offering 10 themed one-week sessions for K-5th grade. Swimming, sports, zipline, arts and crafts, and more. Voted Best of Omaha 11 years in a row. We aim to foster curiosity, build confidence, and encourage teamwork, all while exploring what it is like to be a kid. Create lasting memories and friendships this summer. Registration opens Feb 13.
New experiences, skill-building, a sense of community, and lasting friendships are all an integral part of YMCA Summer Day Camp.
Campers will build their self-confidence, appreciate teamwork and sportsmanship, all while gaining independence as they nurture their spirits, challenge their minds, and strengthen their bodies. Kids will explore diverse interests and have a lot of fun along the way!
For ages 5-12 years old!
5 year olds must have completed Kindergarten Attend one week, a few weeks, or all summer - your choice!
SUMMER EXPLORATION 2025
COLLEGEFOR KIDS & TEENS
Registration is open for summer College for Kids and Teens classes and camps. Exciting highlights for 2025 include:
• Adult and Me: Intro to STEM
• Filmmaking Intensive
• Medical Boot Camp: Patient Experience from Onset to Discharge and Beyond
In Your Neighborhood summer camps (ages 5-11)
In addition to regular camps and workshops, In Your Neighborhood camps travel to locations convenient for you and your family. Find us on location June 2 through July 28.
FEATURED ARTICLE
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
Visit littlepotatoes.com to find a store near you and more quick, convenient family meal solutions.
5 Time-Saving Cooking Tips for Busy Families
Family Features
When it comes to sit-down family meals, one thing is for certain: It feels like you never have enough time. With your hectic schedule – full days at school and work, afternoon sports practices for the kiddos and plans with friends on the weekends – preparing a home cooked meal everyone will love can be daunting.
However, that time together in the kitchen and at the table is valuable. It offers an opportunity to bond through shared meals and gives kids a chance to learn life skills, such as measuring ingredients, simple cooking methods and properly seasoning favorite dishes. Dining at home also promotes healthier eating habits like portion control.
By rethinking your approach to home cooking, you can bring back
family meals for those special moments together. Call your loved ones together and plan for fresh, homemade recipes with these easy steps.
Plan the Menu in Advance
Thinking about the week (or two) ahead can help avoid last-minute decisions to hit the drive thru. Pick a day – many families opt for Sunday evenings – you can sit down together and schedule meals for the upcoming week. If you can, try and plan dishes little ones can help with so the whole family can get involved. Make sure everyone feels included by allowing each member of the family to pick a recipe for the week. Be flexible and keep in mind plans may change. Try to plan at least one recipe you can make in 30 minutes or less so you can be prepared for the unexpected,
FEATURED ARTICLE
and remember to take advantage of hands-off cooking methods like the slow cooker.
Use Ready-to-Cook Ingredients
With fresh, flavorful ingredients from The Little Potato Company, busy families have more options to choose from for meals the whole family will love. For easy and delicious oven-roasted or grilled potatoes, A Little Garlic & Parmesan Oven or Grill Ready Little Potatoes deliver a classic garlic and cheese flavor. Perfect for those seeking plant-based options, they’re an easy side to serve with your favorite main courses.
Grocery Shop Online
If the thought of hunting the store aisles for that one missing ingredient keeps you awake at night, online grocery shopping can save you the time and hassle. While meal planning for the week, jot down a list of each ingredient you’ll need for those recipes then add every-
thing to your digital cart in minutes. Some stores and services even offer delivery so you can collect groceries right off your front porch. An added bonus: Shopping online means you can mindfully plan your shopping list with groceries you actually need.
Take Advantage of Quick Cooking Methods
On those hectic evenings when you don’t even have time to let the oven preheat, look to the microwave for salvation. Combining the sweetness of honey with a little heat from chili, A Little Hot Honey Microwave Ready Little Potatoes provide a pop of flavor that’s ready in minutes. Simply heat the potatoes in the microwavable tray for 5 minutes, sprinkle on the hot honey seasoning pack and enjoy. Because they come pre-washed, require no peeling and are small enough they don’t need to be cut, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time around the table.
Ask for Help in the Kitchen
Even the simplest of recipes is bound to require a little work in the kitchen. Make cooking at home a family affair by asking loved ones to help set the table, put away leftovers and wash dishes so you can focus on conversation instead of cleanup.
Source: The Little Potato Company
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
CELEBRATIONS & FESTIVALS
Listing 2 of 4
Omaha Air Fair
June 6–8
Aksarben Village 67th and Center, Omaha, NE
Omaha Art Fair is a vibrant and diverse art fair located at Aksarben Village in Omaha, NE. Over 150 talented artists, from across the country, showcase their work to visitors who can explore a wide range of artistic styles and mediums. With free kids activities, festival food favorites and music all day, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
Strawberry Festival
June
6–8
& June 13–14
Nelson Produce Farm 10505 N 234 St, Valley, NE
Celebrate the start of summer at the annual Strawberry Festival! This berry-filled event is packed with fun activities for all ages—and of course, everything strawberries.
Bennington Days
June 6–8
City of Bennington Bennington, NE
Bennington, Nebraska Community Event that includes a Parade, Food, Fireworks, BBQ Tournament, Community Worship Service, Beer Garden and Street Dance and more!
Springfield Days
June 6–8
City of Springfield Springfield, NE
Friday evening’s events begin at 5pm with a food, games, and entertainment. Saturday’s highlights include 5K run/walk, pancake feed, corn hole tournament, kids foam party, parades, rubber duck race, food trucks, games, street dance with a live band, beer garden, fireworks show & more! We’ll start off Sunday with an outdoor worship service along with refreshments, fun games, and activities. Prepare for a fantastic time!
Summerfest at River’s Edge
June 6
Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park East Side of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, Council Bluffs, IA
Featuring an epic drone show, live music, interactive activities, and fun for all ages. New this year: a longer, more dynamic drone show and a rain date on Saturday, June 7, so the fun doesn’t stop! With thousands of attendees, community partners, and plenty of entertainment, Summerfest is a can’t-miss event to kick off summer in Council Bluffs
Midwest Fest
June 7–8
Heartland of America Park 800 Douglas St, Omaha, NE
Artisan Showcase: Shop from over 150 curated artists, makers, and entrepreneurs in a fun and inspiring environment that champions community, creativity, and craftsmanship. DJs will be spinning all weekend, bringing fresh mixes and crowd favorites to keep the vibes just right.
Omaha Potter Faire
June 7–8
Bellevue Berry Farm and Pumpkin Ranch 11001 South 48th Street, Papillion, NE
Another weekend of magic at the Bellevue Berry Farm! Children 4 and under are free with a parent or guardian! (ticket fees apply)
Soaring Wings Blues Fest
June 7
Soaring Wings Vineyard 17111 S 138th St, Springfield, NE
An all-day celebration of soul-stirring blues kicking off in the afternoon and rocking into the night! This year’s lineup brings four incredible bands to the stage, each delivering their own electrifying take on the blues.
CELEBRATIONS & FESTIVALS
3 of 4
Papillion Days
June 11–15
Downtown Papillion Papillion, NE
Papillion Days is a time-honored tradition that takes place over Father’s Day weekend in June each year. Dating back to 1947, Papillion Days is the pinnacle summer celebration in town.
Parade, Kiddie Parade, Beer Garden, Fireworks Show, Car Show and more.
Omaha Freedom Festival
June 14
Malcolm X Outside Event Plaza 3448 Evans St, Omaha,
Parade at 10:00 a.m. Festival: Kidz Zone / Family Activities, Educational / Community Info, Free Health Screenings, Vaccine Station, Local Artists / Musicians, Food & Beverage Vendors Available.
16th Annual Polishfest
June 21
Crescent Moon Ale House 3578 Farnam St, Omaha, NE
You can bet your sweet dupa we are excited for our 16th Annual Polishfest on Saturday, June 21st! Beer Garden is open Noon-11pm on Saturday, June 21st with Polish beers, Polish food favorites & POLKA!! $3/person (no cover for children under 21 with their parent(s)).
Juneteenth JoyFest
June 21
The Union for Contemporary Art 2423 North 24th St, Omaha, NE
From 2–10PM This year, they’re honoring the power, presence, and creativity of Black femmes, with a special tribute to the Matriarchs whose love and care have shaped our families and communities for generations.
Heartland Hope Mission Block Party
June 25
Heartland Hope Mission 2021 U St, Omaha, NE
Free Music, Splash Pad, Food and Games! Pre-pack Pantries will be available 1pm–2pm.
Benson Days
July TBD
Annual John C. Fremont Days
July 11–13
Downtown Fremont Fremont, NE
The John C. Fremont Days festival is an award winning three day celebration of Fremont, held the second full weekend of July each year. This family oriented citywide festival began in 1987 and has events throughout the City of Fremont with something for everyone! Parade, Balloon Glow, Kids Activities, Rodeo, and more!
Douglas County Fair
July 19–20
Liberty First Credit Union Arena 7300 Q St., Ralston, NE
Discover the rich history of the Douglas County Fair. Explore our educational exhibits, enjoy delicious food, and create unforgettable memories with the whole family! Free Entry, Youth Livestock Show, Educational Exhibits & Entertainment
Gretna Days
July 23–27
City of Gretna Gretna, NE, United States Schedule TBD
CELEBRATIONS & FESTIVALS
Listing 4 of 4
Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival
August 15–16
Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Elkhorn, NE
Balloons launch Friday and Saturday Evening 7
PM. Gates open at 5:00 pm to give spectators an early glimpse at the hot air balloons as pilots assemble them for their flights.
7th Annual Chalk Art Festival
August 16–17
Midtown Crossing 32nd and Farnam, Omaha, NE
Saturday & Sunday 10am-6pm. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of vibrant colors and stunning creativity! Join us for the 7th Annual Omaha Chalk Art Festival, where local artists and enthusiasts alike will transform the sidewalks into beautiful works of art. This family-friendly event is not to be missed –come for the art, stay for the food, and enjoy a fun-filled day with us!
Millard Days
August 16–17
Anderson Park, Omaha, NE
Including the carnival, parade, & beer gardens.
Dundee Days
August 23
Dundee 5011 Underwood Ave, Omaha, NE
10:30-11:45: Parade
Pediatrics, this family-friendly street festival celebrates and highlights the Dundee neighborhood with a parade, 5k run, art and craft vendors, book sale, pancake breakfast, food trucks, live music, live art drawing, and beer garden.
OUTSIDE THE METRO
May 23-24 – Annual Tivoli Fest Elk Horn, IA
June 18-21 – Ice Cream Days Le Mars, IA
June 18-28 – NEBRASKAland Days North Platte, NE
June 14 – Kinderfest Manning, IA
June 22 – Homestead Days Beatrice, NE
June 27-29 – Des Moines Art Festival Des Moines, IA
July 11-13 – Annual Wayne Chicken Show Wayne, NE
July 16-21 – Pottawattamie County Fair Avoca, IA
July 26 – Kites and Castles at Lake MacConaughy – Ogallala, NE
Aug 7-17 – Iowa State Fair Des Moines, IA
Aug 15-17 – Kool-Aid Days: Sharkleberry Fun Hastings, NE
Aug 22-Sept 1 – Nebraska State Fair Grand Island, NE
Sept 4-6 – Plattsmouth Harvest Festival Plattsmouth, NE
Sept 19-21 – Pufferbilly Days Boone, IA
Sept 19-20 – Tri-City BBQ Fest Denison, IA
Summer
PRINTABLES FOR KIDS
SUMMER BREAK SUMMER BREAK
Find 10 words related to the summer break.
DOWN
A meal where food is cooked outside on a grill
Open sandal that you wear on your feet, usually in the summer
A cream or lotion you put on your skin to keep it safe from the sun
A time when you travel for fun or take a break from school or work
Clothes you wear for swimming or playing in the water
ACROSS
A trip where you take food to eat outside, usually on a blanket
A structure made of sand that kids build on the beach
A fire to sit around usually while camping.
A sweet, frozen treat made from flavoured cream
A sandy or rocky place by the ocean, sea, or lake where people go to have fun
Photo: Summer trail biking at it’s best at Tranquility Park in Omaha. These are some of our favorite local trails for trail running, and biking. They total 9 miles and are divided into three loops. Shoutout to THOR for maintaining this system!
