Looking for something to do this weekend?
We’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of family-friendly activities.
Check out the Gingerbread Festival: “Home for the Holidays” at the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters. Saturday is the last day the gingerbread exhibit will be on display. Scroll to the bottom of this post to see photos from the exhibit.
“Ticket to Toyland” is at The Rose Theater through Sunday. A girl and her little brother discover that one of their toys is alive when a magical elf shows up with a dire message: Santa is in trouble! The show is recommended for kids ages 5 and up and runs 55 minutes.
First Night 2013 in Council Bluffs! features local artists, performers and vendors celebrating the city’s culture and history. The focus of activities will be around Bayliss Park and nearby historic downtown locations such as City Hall, Union Pacific Railroad Museum, and the Masonic Temple.
Westroads Kid’s Club The January Kid’s Club Event is Wednesday and will feature The Amazing Bubble Show! Experience giant bubbles that float, bubbles that turn into smoke and even bubbles you can stand in! Science comes alive when children learn the scientific method and participate in great experiments that all revolve around one of our most favorite playthings, BUBBLES.
Celebrate Noon Year’s Eve at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo! Party with the animals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday. There will be activities, entertainment, and an early countdown to 2013, complete with beach ball drop at noon.
First Night of Play at the Omaha Children’s Museum is Monday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., enjoy a pizza dinner, goodie bag from Oriental Trading Company, face painters, balloon artists, dance party, and the museum’s signature countdown and Bubble Wrap Stomp to Ring in the New Year!
Noon Year’s Eve at The Durham Museum is Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can enjoy a fun-packed New Year’s party with music by The Doo-Dads, special crafts, and activities. The day ends with a celebratory bubble wrap stomp and ball drop at noon in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Great Hall.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks at the Leahy Mall starts 7 p.m. Monday. Join 30,000 people for a firework display. Older and disabled viewers can see the show from the 4th floor of the Downtown Library. Tune to 104.5 FM for music that will accompany the fireworks.
Christmas at the Dodge House, 605 Third St. See the Victorian mansion decked out for the holidays, with more than 20 Christmas trees decorated with unique ornaments by local organizations. Open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission on Family Nights $10 per family (limit two adults and dependent children or grandchildren). Information: dodgehouse.org or call (712) 322-2406.
Gingerbread on Parade, daily from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m., Historical Kanesville Tabernacle, 222 E. Broadway. More than 100 gingerbread creations on display from area families.
Holiday Poinsettia Show, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lauritzen Gardens, First and Bancroft, Omaha. Thousands of poinsettias bursting with rich, vibrant color fill the floral display hall in a glowing tribute to the holidays. Admission is included with paid garden admission of $6 for adults and $3 for children age 6 to 12. Garden members and children under the age of 6 are admitted free of charge. Closed New Year’s Day.
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A couple week ago my daughters — Alejandra, 4, and Gabriella, nearly 23 months — and I met up with friends Beka Doolitle of the Pink Store and her 3-year-old daughter Phoebe for a play date at the Gingerbread Festival. It was amazing. You could sweet smells of gingerbread the moment you stepped in the Mormon Trail Center. The houses were the most wonderful ornaments they had ever seen.
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