Happy holidays! While 2020 has definitely put a wrench in our annual holiday plans, the show must go on—light shows, that is. It just so happens that the time-honored tradition of driving around at night to see local holiday light displays is perfect for social distancing!
That’s why today, we’re looking at some of our favorite annual light displays in the Omaha area. From massive, downtown shows to family-made, animatronic displays, Omahans really know how to get into the holiday spirit. So make some hot chocolate, settle into the car, and get ready for a night that your family won’t ever forget!
Dates: November 20 – January 3
Location: Werner Park
Photo courtesy of Santa’s Rock n Lights
Due to gathering restrictions and social distancing measures this holiday season, a drive-through light display might just be the perfect way to celebrate! Head to Werner Park in Papillion for a drive-through wonderland, complete with a light tunnel, massive light sculptures, displays timed to music, and more. There will be a limited amount of vehicles allowed in every night, so you’ll want to get your tickets as soon as possible. Click here for more information.
Dates: November 20 – January 4
Location: Between 24th and Lake Streets
We look forward to the Omaha Holiday Lights Festival every year. While we won’t be able to gather like we normally do, they are still planning several light displays around Omaha that you can enjoy on foot or from the comfort of your car. The six-block area between 24th Street and Lake Street will come alive with lights and decor, November 20th through January 4th.
Dates: November 20 – January 4
Location: Between L and Q Streets
After exploring North Omaha, head south for a gorgeous display of lights and holiday decorations between L and Q Streets. You’ll be able to catch the view every day until January 4th.
Dates: November 20 – January 4
Location: Between 10th to 13th Streets & Harney to Jackson Street
Photo courtesy of Brad Williams Photography via the Holiday Lights Festival
The first is in Old Market, where the brick streets will be donned with white lights, garland, festive decor and more. For information on all the lighting displays and events occurring during the Omaha Holiday Lights Festival, click here.
Dates: November 20 – February 14
Location: Turner Park
Don’t miss the annual Season of Lights at Midtown Crossing! This incredible tradition consists of tens of thousands of white LED lights strung throughout Turner Park and along Farnam Street. Plus, plenty of local businesses will be decorating their front windows for your viewing pleasure. Stop by to explore the lights and see the beautifully decorated tree in Farnam Court!
Dates: November 26 – December 25
Location: 502 9th Street, Scribner
The Hull Holiday Light Show in Scribner has been a holiday favorite for families in the Omaha area since 2018. This annual display lasts for a whole hour, celebrating the season with an incredible light show with accompanying music that you can play in your car. The excitement kicked off on Thanksgiving and will run until Christmas. Follow them on Facebook for a behind-the-scenes look at the show and any closure information.
Dates: November 26 – December 26
Location: 13468 Larimore, Omaha
Photo courtesy of Steinauer Family Lights via Noah Steinauer
The Steinauer family has been providing holiday cheer to the Omaha community for more than a decade. They’ve made it their mission each year to top the last, creating a bigger and better light show every November—so you’ll never know what to expect! The fun will go on for a month, from Thanksgiving until the day after Christmas, with an amazing light display set to music that you can tune into in your car. Follow them on Facebook for all the information and directions to their home.
Dates: November 26 – December 31
Location: 8406 North 47th Street, Omaha
The Phillips family works on their holiday light display all year long, crafting handmade light sculptures just for your enjoyment. In fact, they started setting up the 2020 holiday display at the beginning of October! This year’s show will feature new light sculptures, a 20-foot tree and so much more, which you can enjoy every night through New Years Eve.
Dates: November 26 – January 2
Location: 1006 West 31st Avenue, Bellevue
Lights and Sounds of Christmas is a computerized light show in Olde Towne Bellevue featuring more than 30,000 lights every year. Stop by, set your radio to the directed station, and enjoy a musical light display for the whole family! Afterward, don’t miss the annual Washington Park display right down the road.
Dates: Starting November 27th
Location: 10407 Elm Hurst Drive, LaVista
Photo courtesy of ‘Twas the Light Before Christmas
‘Twas the Light Before Christmas is one of the largest residential light displays in Nebraska, featuring more than 80,000 lights set to dance with music. Follow them on Facebook for 2020 information and photos of last year’s extravagant show.
Dates: November 28 – January 2
Location: Washington Park
The Christmas in Olde Towne Holiday Light Show in Bellevue only started last year, but it has already become an annual tradition for local families, with many already marking their calendar for the huge light show in Washington Park! This massive display can be seen from your car or enjoyed on the sidewalk. Click here for all the information for the 2020 season.
Location: Downtown Papillion
Photo courtesy of David Black
Every year, the streets of Papillion come alive with thousands of twinkling lights, spun like cotton candy around the area’s many trees and strung along the tops of buildings and houses. The display can be viewed while driving through or while stopping in to support the area’s many wonderful local businesses!
Dates: Starting December 3
Location: Dundee-Happy Hollow Historic District
This year, Dundee businesses are coming together for a holiday light spectacular like you’ve never seen before! Enjoy walking through the historic district surrounded by lights, holiday decorations and gingerbread houses locally made all across Omaha. The fun kicks off with a special event on December 3. Click here for more information.
Dates: Follow them on Facebook for updates
Location: 3425 6th Avenue, Council Bluffs
Photo courtesy of the Abbott Family Christmas
For holiday fun in Council Bluffs, don’t miss the Abbott Family Christmas light show on 6th Avenue! This special display is a family favorite, featuring thousands of lights, sculptures and a massive Christmas tree. The show will be a little smaller than usual this year, but you can still expect a whole array of exciting holiday fun waiting for you at the Abbotts’.
Dates: Follow them on Facebook for updates
Location: 1233 East Avenue, Red Oak, IA
The Baird’s Christmas Light Show in Oak features acres of holiday fun every year! They set up strings of lights and sculptures all throughout their farm, like a mini stable, a church, Mickey Mouse characters and more. They usually turn on the lights the second weekend in December, but that may change depending on the 2020 harvest. You can follow them on Facebook to stay updated.
Dates: Follow them on Facebook for updates
Location: 25011 Capitol Circle, Waterloo
This incredible display in Waterloo has been going strong for more than 38 years! Created completely by the Bortol Family, this neighborhood display features hundreds of lights, figures and more—all computerized to dance to music! Just tune your radio to 95.5 FM and enjoy some good, old fashioned Christmas spirit.
Dates: Follow them on Facebook for updates
Location: 7433 North 169th Street, Bennington
The Lammers family has a new home in Bennington and they’re ready to provide you with some holiday cheer! This animated Christmas display gets better every year as they add more features, songs, channels and lights. During the 2020 season, they will be accepting donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation during the light show, so stop by to see the show and support a good cause while you’re at it!
Location: 3210 29th Avenue, Columbus
Passersby cannot get enough of this incredible light display in Columbus that pops up every year. Donned with every Christmas light and figure imaginable, we bet this house could even be seen from space!
Dates: Follow them on Facebook for updates
Location: 15055 Meredith Avenue, Omaha
Photo courtesy of Vanek Christmas
The Vaneks have been hosting an exciting Christmas light show every year since they got married in 2003. After adding hundreds of lights and new sculptures every year, the show has gotten so big that they actually start decorating in October! Visit them on Facebook for behind-the-scenes photos, weather updates and exciting videos.
Who did we miss?
Did we leave out your favorite holiday display in Omaha? Let us know about it in the comments below or tag us on Instagram at @npdodge.
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