Your Guide for Food, Festivals & Fun This September in Omaha

If you're looking for a fun time in Omaha this September, look no further than the guide we've put together for you. From delicious foodie events like Omaha Restaurant Week and the Caffeine Crawl to family-friendly fun at the River City Rodeo and the 56th Annual Apple Jack Festival, there's something for everyone to enjoy. And if you're in the mood for an adult only outings, grab a friend & get your tickets for "Croctoberfest" and the Omaha Comedy Fest. With so much going on this month, you're sure to have a blast exploring all that Omaha has to offer. So grab your friends and family, and get ready for a September full of food, festivals, and fun!

AFRO FEST OMAHA
Sept 1 (2-10pm) | Heartland of America Park
Cost: $15
Afro Fest Omaha is like the ultimate party celebrating African and Afro cultures in the Midwest! There's a special area just for kids with cool stuff like robots and learning new languages. You can also explore the African Market and Food Row where you can buy clothes, art, and yummy food. And don't miss out on the awesome performances by local and international artists - it's going to be fantastic!

FARM-TO-TABLE DINNER - LIVE FIRE HOG ROAST
Sept 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 5:30-8:30 PM | Vala’s
Cost: $99 for food, plus $25 cider flight upgrade (Vala's entry ticket must be purchased separately)
Come hang out at Valas Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard for an awesome dinner event called Whole Hog Live Fire Dinner! Chef Jeff Myers will be cooking up some delicious meats on a spit, along with tasty sides roasted over a fire. You can also enjoy fun activities in the orchard and sip on some cider as the sun sets. It's going to be a night to remember!

DOWNTOWN OMAHA ART WALK
Sept 5 (Oct 3, Nov 7, Dec 5) | 5-9pm | Old Market
Cost: Free
Want to see some awesome art and maybe even take a piece home with you? Check out the Old Market galleries on the first Thursday of each month until 2024 (except July). You can meet artists, see cool artwork, and maybe find something you love. Some of the places you can visit are Artists Cooperative Gallery, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, KANEKO, Passageway Gallery, Old Market Artists Gallery, and Ground Floor in The Passageway. It's going to be a blast!

OPERA OUTDOORS
Sept 6 | Starting 7pm | Turner Park
Cost: Free
Get ready to grab your lawn chair, blanket, and some cold drinks because Opera Omaha is throwing their awesome Opera Outdoors event to start off the 2024-2025 Season! This is the 12th year they're doing it, and it's totally free and perfect for families. Head over to Turner Park at Midtown Crossing to hear some of the best opera songs and get a sneak peek at what's coming up in the new season. It's gonna be a blast!

HERO FEST 2024
Sept 8 | 9am-4:30pm | SAC Museum
Cost: $16 adult general admission, $8 kids general admission (ages 4-12)
Come hang out with us at Hero Fest and show some love for our awesome first responders and military heroes! They work super hard to keep us safe and we want to give them a big shoutout. We'll have cool guest speakers, fun activities for the whole family, and awesome live music. Let's celebrate and thank our everyday heroes together!

JOSLYN ART MUSEUM REOPENING DAY
Sept 10 | 1-8pm | Joslyn Art Museum
Cost: Free
The Joslyn is finally open again for everyone to visit! They've added a huge 42,000-square-foot addition, more cool art to check out, brand new gardens, and even better stuff for you to enjoy. You've gotta come see it for yourself!

CROCTOBERFEST: LATE NIGHT AT THE ZOO
Sept 12 & 26 | 7:30-10:30pm | Henry Doorly Zoo
Cost: $70pp (members) & $78pp (non-members)
Adults Only! Come indulge in the best Oktoberfest in the Midwest! Along with food and beverage offerings, guests will immerse themselves in the fascinating world of crocodiles and alligators through captivating exhibits, interactive experiences and educational talks. Plus, guests won’t want to miss out on our special activities including live music and performances. Finally, in partnership with Empyrean Brewery, we will proudly unveil a bubbly nod to our event name with a brand-new brew: Croctoberfest. Must be 21+ years old to attend.

OMAHA RESTAURANT WEEK
Sept 13-22 | Participating Restaurants
Cost: Depends on restaurant ($20, $30, $40, $50pp)
Come try some of the best food in Omaha! You can taste all the yummy local flavors and have a fancy meal with three courses for a great price. You can eat delicious Italian food at Dante, juicy steak at Sullivans, or yummy burgers and beer at Benson Brewery. And the best part is, when you eat out during Restaurant Week, some of the money goes to help the Food Bank for the Heartland. So you can enjoy a tasty meal and help out people in need at the same time!

CAFFEINE CRAWL
Sept 14 | Various Local Coffee Shops
Cost: $39.50
Get ready to explore different neighborhoods in the city while enjoying delicious coffee and tea! At this event, you'll have the chance to go on a scavenger hunt and visit various local businesses in Omaha. If you're curious about coffee and tea or love supporting local shops, this is the perfect event for you. At each stop, you'll get to try a sample drink and learn more about the industry from experts. You'll also have time to shop and ask questions. Don't worry about transportation - you'll travel with a team leader. Come join us for the 10th anniversary caffeine crawl!

OSC CORNHOLE CLASSIC
Sept 14 | 11am | Blackstone District
Cost: $45 for team of two people
Come hang out with us in The Blackstone District for the super cool 2nd Annual Cornhole Classic! OSC and The Blackstone District are teaming up to “throw” an awesome party by bringing cornhole to the streets. There will be live music, a bar outside, football games on a huge 16-foot screen, and tons of fun stuff to do! Don't miss out on all the excitement!

APPLE JACK FESTIVAL
Sept 20-30 | Nebraska City
Cost: Varies
Get ready for the ultimate apple celebration! The Apple Jack Festival in Nebraska City is a must-visit event that even your grumpy Aunt Edith will enjoy. From apple pie to apple cider donuts, there's something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Whether you're a hipster or just looking for a fun time, this festival has it all. Come join us for our 56th Apple Jack Festival starting on Friday, September 20th. Don't miss out on all the apple-filled fun!

RIVER CITY RODEO
Sept 20-21 | 7:30pm | CHI Health Center
Cost: Varies (Depends on Seating Preference)
Get ready for an awesome rodeo event with two nights of top-notch cowboys showing off their skills in seven different rodeo events like steer wrestling, team roping, and bull riding. These world champion cowboys will be competing for a chance to make it to the National Finals Rodeo. It's going to be a wild ride you won't want to miss!

HEARTLAND MARATHON
Sept 22 | 7am-1pm | Downtown Omaha
Cost: $65 to $225
Get ready to lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement for The Heartland Marathon - presented by Omaha Running Club. You can choose to run a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, or join a marathon relay team. It's going to be an epic day of running and staying active in Omaha! Plus, this marathon is a Boston Marathon Qualifier, so you never know where your running journey might take you next. Let's do this!

OMAHA COMEDY FEST
Sept 26-29 | 5 or 7pm
Cost: $65 VIP experience, $40 community pass, $35 headliners, $10 non-headliners
Get ready for four nights of hilarious comedy! There will be standup, improv, and sketch comedy at cool places like The Sydney Bar & Lounge, The Backline Comedy Theatre, Reverb Lounge, and Benson Theatre. The Omaha Comedy Fest will have comedians from all over the country, with Beth Stelling headlining on Saturday night. Don't miss out on the laughs!

JUNKSTOCK: HARVEST EDITION
Sept 27-29 (Oct 4-6) | Fri- 11am-6pm; Sat- 9am-7pm; Sun- 10am-5pm | Junkstock Waterloo
Cost: $15 general admission day pass; $25 full weekend; free for Children 12 & under
Junkstock is like a treasure trove of cool old stuff, yummy food, and fun activities. You can shop for unique items, listen to live music, eat from food trucks, and let your kids have a blast in Kids Village. Plus, you can bring your furry friends along! And guess what? Kids 12 and under get in for free!

KIDS NIGHT OUT AT THE ZOO
Sept 28 | 5-9pm | Henry Doorly Zoo
Cost: $50 per child
Get ready for a WILD night! While parents enjoy a well-deserved date night, kids ages 5-12 years old will discover fun new ways to appreciate wildlife. Hosted by trained educators, each unique program includes pizza, snacks, animal experience, movie time, engaging and educational activities and more!  The theme of this night is Athletic Animals so be sure to wear your favorite team shirt!! Limited space is available, so reserve your spot today! 

LANTERNS AT TWILIGHT
Sept 28 | 7-8:30pm | 15050 Q St.
Cost: $15 per family group (includes 4 lanterns); additional lanterns are $3
Come hang out with your family for a super fun night of games and making smores. After that, we'll get creative and send our lanterns up into the sky as the sun goes down!