A holiday lights outing does not have to begin downtown. Two organizers have posted detailed schedules for Bellevue and Omaha that give families alternatives, but the tickets and calendars work differently enough to make a little advance planning worthwhile.
Falconwood Frosty Nights has an any-day ticket approach and a season that starts in mid-November. Lauritzen Gardens has specific evening entry dates and lower advance prices on its earlier nights. Neither schedule should be read as an invitation to turn up on any evening between opening and closing day.
Falconwood: start with the open-night calendar
The Falconwood Frosty Nights hours page confirms a November 13 opening at Falconwood Park, 905 Allied Road in Bellevue. Opening night runs from 5 to 10 p.m. The final night is December 27, from 5 to 9 p.m.
November’s public nights are November 13, 14, 20, 21, 25, 27 and 28, all from 5 to 10 p.m. In December, the schedule generally uses Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m., with Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 to 10 p.m. There are exceptions around Christmas week, including December 20-23 from 5 to 10 p.m. The park is closed December 24 and 25.
The organizer says any-day tickets and season passes work on any open night. Its hours page advertises early-bird season passes at $30 for adults and $15 for children, plus fees. Those are season-pass prices, not a verified quote for a one-night ticket. Use the official ticket page to compare the available options.
Families considering December 12 should also notice the event distinction. The hours page says families are welcome until 10 p.m.; the separate Santa Rave afterward is 21+. A holiday-sounding event name does not automatically make every part of the night a children’s activity.
Lauritzen: earlier dates have lower advance prices
Lauritzen Gardens’ Bright Nights page lists the off-peak public dates as November 27-29, December 3-6 and December 10-13. Each runs from 5 to 9 p.m.
Off-peak advance admission is $18 for ages 13 and older and $9 for ages 3-12. Children 2 and younger are free, but still need a reserved ticket. On the later peak dates, the published general prices rise to $22 and $11 for those age groups.
The door-price warning matters: the garden says tickets cost $4 more per ticket at the door, and same-day tickets may not be available. Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and late arrivals are not guaranteed entry. Parking is free; food and drinks cost extra. The garden specifically warns visitors to use its own website for valid tickets.
If you still want a downtown kickoff
Holiday Lights Festival confirms November 28 music at 5 p.m. and the lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. at Gene Leahy Mall. It also identifies display areas along North 24th Street between Burdette and Ohio and South 24th Street between L and Q.
Pick the experience first, then the date and ticket type. Before leaving, recheck the organizer for weather changes and that evening’s actual hours. A calendar window is useful only when the place is open on the night you choose.
NowOmaha original information graphic. Not a photograph.
