By Isaac Nielsen OMAHA, Neb.- The Best of Omaha Soirée isn’t just an awards party. It’s a night where Omaha’s favorite businesses, performers, and creators come together to celebrate what makes the city tick.
Hosted by Omaha Magazine, this year’s soirée filled the venue with activity from the moment guests walked in. In the foyer, a woman wearing a dress made of champagne glasses offered visitors a sparkling welcome. Nearby, acrobats performed midair and a woman on stilts waved to the crowd below. The steady beat of a DJ kept the atmosphere upbeat all evening, while the band Parfait played outside to greet people as they arrived.
Inside, tables were packed with food from local favorites, including Reis’ Bakery, Pettit’s Pastries, and Alpine Inn. Guests wandered between tables, sampling desserts, chatting with business owners, and snapping photos. The event felt less like a formal ceremony and more like a citywide open house—one where the people who make Omaha special could connect with the community that supports them.
For Omaha Magazine CEO Bill Sitzmann, that connection is what the soirée is all about.
“For our staff, who put in all this labor and all this effort working on our clients’ ads and working on stories that are done by subjects, this is kind of a culmination of that,” Sitzmann said. “For our vendors, this is an opportunity where they get to meet the community that voted them Best of Omaha.”
The soirée follows the release of Omaha Magazine’s annual Best of Omaha issue, which highlights top local businesses across dozens of categories. The winners are chosen entirely by public vote, giving the event a community-driven feel that matches its lively, approachable tone.
For performers like Parfait, being invited to take part was more than just another gig—it was a way to celebrate their role in the city’s culture.
“It’s good to be included in what people consider to be the Best of Omaha,” said Jordan “The Ninja” Smith, a member of Parfait. “And if people are considering us to be some of the Best of Omaha, then we’re out here working to make sure that we stay the best.”
As the night went on, laughter and conversation filled the room. Vendors swapped stories, guests exchanged business cards, and magazine staff mingled with longtime readers. Even with the spectacle—the glowing lights, the live music, and the crowd—it still felt like a local gathering at heart.
“We want the members of the Best of Omaha to be at our event, and we want the community who voted for the people who are Best of Omaha to get to experience them firsthand,” Sitzmann said. “It’s not very often where you get to bring all these winners into one place.”
The Best of Omaha Soirée might celebrate the city’s standout names, but what really shines is the community that brings them all together.
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