Open Omaha, a free metro-wide open house celebrating the city’s most fascinating centers of design, history and culture, returns for its fourth year this Saturday – August 9. Hosted by nonprofit Omaha by Design, the event invites the public to step inside the spaces that make our city so dynamic— many of which are not typically open and free to the public. Spanning the metro, this curated showcase is open to all.
Launched in 2022, the event has opened doors to more than 140 of the metro’s most unique spaces. Open Omaha 2025 will feature 44 venues across seven neighborhoods, encouraging attendees to discover the variety of venues that are just a walk, ride or roll away from one another.
Newly participating venues include Joslyn Art Museum, UNO’s Mallory Kountze Planetarium, Steelhouse Omaha, RailsWest History Museum and Omaha Central High School. Returning venues include Conagra Brands, Joslyn Castle and Gardens, Hardy Coffee Co. Roasting Lab, Squirrel Cage Jail and No More Empty Pots Greenhouse.
Inspired by similar concepts in cities like Minneapolis, Chicago and New York, Open Omaha encourages residents and visitors alike to explore their city in new ways. Venues will be open on Saturday for walk-in tours and curated experiences. Attendees can choose their own adventure and visit as many venues as they wish using the Open Omaha app and printed map guide.
“With thanks to our partners and sponsors, Omaha by Design is thrilled to welcome the community to this celebration of the spaces that shape our city,” said Scott Dobbe, executive director of Omaha by Design. “As the region’s hub for people-centered urban design and policy, we believe there is immense value in bringing people together to open doors, open minds and open conversations about Omaha’s built environment. With over 40 venues to explore, I am certain attendees will see something new and leave inspired by the creativity of our community. We hope you’ll join us – and perhaps bring a friend!”
Participating venues will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to download the Open Omaha app to find venue accessibility information and map out the spaces they plan to visit. The app can be downloaded on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Learn more about Open Omaha and check out the full list of venues at OpenOmaha.org.
Open Omaha is made possible by the following sponsors: The Sherwood Foundation, NuStyle Development, Conagra Brands, DLR Group, Millwork Commons, OPPD, Cordia, Emspace + Lovgren, BVH Architecture and Confluence.
