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Omaha’s “A Christmas Carol” Celebrates 50 Years
A Christmas Carol at the Omaha Community Playhouse has shaped the holiday season for Omaha residents and visitors for 50 years. The tradition began after a 1975 tornado ripped the roof off the Playhouse. The theater needed a hit to financially recover. Charles Jones, then Playhouse’s artistic director, wrote and staged a new adaptation of the Dickens classic in 1976. The show’s success helped stabilize the Playhouse, and A Christmas Carol turned into one of the longest running holiday shows in the country. By 1979, the Nebraska Theatre Caravan (formed in 1976) was taking A Christmas Carol on the road, eventually sending three casts nationwide each season. Over four decades, the show reached more than 600 cities in 49 states and four Canadian provinces, introducing more than 3 million people to Omaha’s adaptation. The 50-year milestone honors the generations of artists and technicians who sustained the tradition, including three actors who portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge on the Mainstage....
HDR Engineering Brings 1,300 Attendees Downtown
Omaha's reputation as a meeting-ready city continues to grow with the return of HDR Engineering, Inc. for its Fall Business Group Conference, taking place November 9 to 11 at CHI Health Center Omaha. The global engineering and architecture firm will bring an estimated 1,300 attendees to the metro. Among those attendees, 90 percent will travel from outside the region, filling downtown hotels. Headquartered in Omaha, HDR employs more than 13,000 professionals across 200-plus offices worldwide. Conference programming will use CHI Health Center Omaha’s meeting space and highlight the city’s walkable convention district, where visitors can easily access restaurants, attractions and shops within steps of their hotels. Attendees will explore Omaha’s thriving hospitality scene, spend tourist dollars and experience why Omaha is a first-class destination for business events. You could say HDR is engineering a late-fall visitor boost for the city. Discover how Omaha is building more meetings...
See the Old Market Through a Tourist’s Eyes
When was the last time you wandered the Old Market like a visitor, seeing it the way someone new to Omaha might? Start at the twinkle-lit Passageway between 11th and 12th streets and take a selfie in front of the brick walls and hanging plants. Step into the quiet Garden of the Zodiac courtyard for a moment of reflection, then grab a cone at Ted & Wally’s and revel in the sounds of street musicians. Browse the shelves at Jackson Street Booksellers, play a few rounds of pinball at Hollywood Candy or ride a horse-drawn carriage down the cobblestones. Before heading home, stop by the Omaha Visitors Center at 10th and Farnam and say hello. Head to VisitOmaha.com for more ideas on how to enjoy your city like a visitor.
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Bands, Barn Finds and a Boardwalk: Junkstock Returns with a Beachy Twist
One of the Omaha area’s most beloved festivals is back. And this year, it’s bigger, beachier and more buzzworthy. Junkstock, the vintage-fueled maker fair held at Sycamore Farms in West Omaha, returns April 25–27 and May 2–4 with new experiences, record-breaking food offerings and its signature mix of music, makers and Midwest charm. This spring’s festival leans into an imaginative new theme. “By the Sea” will bring coastal vibes to the Heartland. Visitors will stroll a 150-foot salvaged boardwalk flanked by whimsical shops and selfie stops, including a surf shack, fortune teller’s booth, taffy shop, vintage boats, mermaid houses and even a giant clamshell. Other new features include a fully operational Ferris wheel, a classic car show, and more bands, food and vendors than ever. As always, Junkstock blends creativity, community and a touch of magic – this year with surf style and farm flair. Learn more about Junkstock and other Omaha-area events at...
Redefine 2025 Energizes Omaha with Industry Innovation and Local Impact
Rooted in Omaha and powered by the Foundation Supportworks Network, Redefine 2025 is a conference bringing its industry-changing energy to CHI Health Center Omaha April 9–11. This year’s event welcomes more than 800 attendees – 650 of whom are traveling in from out of town – from more than 80 companies across the country. Participants will explore everything from keynote talks to unique experiences like the K-9 Korner, Zen Den, Oxygen Bar and an Unlimited Ice Cream self-serve ice cream station. More than 45 event vendors are involved, with the majority being locally owned or operated businesses. Supportworks continues to push boundaries in foundation repair, garage organization and contractor software. Redefine 2025 aims to spark growth, connection and transformation across the contractor network.
Joslyn Art Museum is Best of the Midwest
Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum has been recognized in Midwest Living’s 2025 Best of the Midwest Awards as one of the year’s top openings or revamps. The museum’s reopening last fall, following a two-year closure, unveiled a new wing that expanded gallery space by 40 percent. A grand staircase leads visitors to the sunlit addition, featuring galleries, a second-story patio and bilingual (English and Spanish) signage. The update blends modern design with enhanced accessibility. Other notable changes include the addition of Omaha-born artist Ed Ruscha’s work and the integration of Native American art into the broader American and contemporary galleries. The Joslyn’s evolution is a major cultural moment for Omaha. The museum’s 12,000 works of art represent 5,000 years of human creativity. Now with more room, more light and more represented voices, The Joslyn is reaffirming Omaha’s place on the map as a destination for art, innovation and inclusion.
Scooter’s Coffee GROW Conference Perks Up Omaha
Scooter’s Coffee is bringing its GROW Conference to CHI Health Center Omaha from March 17th to 19th, drawing an estimated 1,500 attendees. Founded in Bellevue in 1998, Scooter’s Coffee has been pouring success into its growing network. Today the coffee franchise has 850 locations nationwide. The conference will feature general sessions, breakout discussions, networking opportunities and the popular Barista Cup competition. Attendees will have time to explore Omaha’s restaurant scene and experience a city as bold and energizing as their favorite cup. Sixty percent of attendees are traveling from outside Omaha while 40 percent are coming from the metro area – a perfect blend for brewing new opportunities.
What Are Your Plans for National Reuben Sandwich Day?
Omaha’s most famous culinary creation – the Reuben sandwich – takes center plate on March 14 for National Reuben Sandwich Day. First crafted at the historic Blackstone Hotel (now Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel), this beloved dish has become a nationwide menu staple, but Omaha still does it best. From classic Reubens to creative twists, local restaurants serve mouthwatering options. Crescent Moon offers the “Blackstone Reuben” as well as crispy Reuben Egg Rolls. Brazen Head Irish Pub puts a crunch on tradition with Reuben Nachos, while Stoysich House of Sausage crafts a savory Round Rubin sausage mixed with corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut. Other top Reuben spots include Bärchen Beer Garden, Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub & Grill, Brazen Head Irish Pub, Dundee Dell, Crescent Moon and Wilson & Washburn. Some dining establishments even roll out special Reuben-inspired dishes exclusively around National Reuben Sandwich Day – like Vis Major Brewing, which offers a Reuben pizza...
Exciting Updates to the Omaha Visitors Center in 2025
The Omaha Visitors Center is making it easier for visitors to explore and enjoy the city. Located in the Old Market, the Omaha Visitors Center is getting updates to improve accessibility and convenience. A new entrance will make it easier to find, clearer signs and brochure displays will help guests navigate their options and an expanded selection of gift shop items will give visitors more chances to take home a piece of Omaha. Education is also a big focus for the Omaha Visitors Center team in 2025. They will connect with airport and airline staff each quarter to raise awareness of the center’s services. In the broader Omaha community, monthly programs will introduce students, businesses and local groups to tourism’s important role in the city’s economy and culture. The center’s volunteer ambassadors – who help create a welcoming experience – will receive hands-on training to deepen their knowledge of Omaha. These updates will make the Omaha Visitors Center a more helpful and...