25 Free Things to Do With Kids in Omaha This Summer

Somebody always asks it around 9 a.m. What are we doing today. And you're standing there with coffee, kids already restless, and no plan.

Here's the good part. A lot of the best stuff in Omaha costs nothing.

Splash pads. The giant slides at Gene Leahy Mall. Free admission at Joslyn. Lake trails, library events, concerts on the grass, outdoor movies. Plenty of ways to get everybody out the door before someone melts down. You don't need a budget for any of it. Just this list.

One quick note before we go. Everything here is free to enter or enjoy. Some spots sell food or drinks or little extras, but the activity itself won't cost you. Screenshot this, text it to your mom group, keep it in your back pocket.

Let's start with water, because in July that's usually the whole ask.

Omaha's city spraygrounds are free. For 2026 they're listed as open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 24 through August 31, weather permitting (as of July 2026 — confirm before you go). Miller Park is the big one. Viking theme, 37 spray features, a dump bucket, a huge play area. Bring towels and snacks and sunscreen, and just accept that leaving will be a negotiation. Benson Park leans younger, with 29 water features shaped like cattails and insects and flowers, plus some shade nearby, which you'll want when the heat is really doing the most. Fontenelle Park is your toddler pick. Dumping bells, spinners, spray flowers, ground sprays, low water jellies that little hands can actually manage. Simple. And downtown gives you one more. The RiverFront ties together Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park, and Lewis and Clark Landing, with free events for all ages, playgrounds, art carts, board game carts, classes, and movie nights.

Sometimes the easiest plan is the best one. Fill the water bottles, let them run.

Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront is honestly one of the best free things to do with kids in Omaha, full stop. Giant slides, a big lawn, public art, a state-of-the-art playground, that easy downtown energy. Free, open daily. Nearby, walk the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge across the Missouri River. The kids can stand in Nebraska and Iowa at the same time, which never stops being a hit. The bridge connects Omaha and Council Bluffs and the river views cost nothing.

Want something quieter? Heron Haven is a spring-fed wetland and wildlife sanctuary right in Omaha. Trails are open from sunup to sundown, and kids can hunt for turtles, frogs, and birds from the boardwalk. For more room to roam, Zorinsky Lake out west has paved trails, fishing spots, and playgrounds, good for strollers and scooters and bikes. Standing Bear Lake is another easy one, with a playground, fishing, no-wake boating, and hiking and biking trails. Southwest of town, Chalco Hills Recreation Area gives you hiking, biking, fishing at Wehrspann Lake, picnicking, and prairie views, with more than nine miles of trails so you can make the day as short or long as your kids allow.

A couple more parks worth your time. Memorial Park is simple and always a good idea. Bring a picnic, toss a frisbee, let the kids roll down the hill, then walk the rose garden for a slower minute before home. Free, open daily. And Hanscom Park, one of Omaha's oldest, still holds up. Green space, a playground, walking paths, a lagoon, lots of shade. It sits near the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens, so you can knock out two free stops in one trip.

Now, hot days and rainy days. Sometimes you just need air conditioning and something for the kids to do.

Joslyn Art Museum is the big free indoor win. General admission is free to everyone, always. It's open Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays, and open late on Thursdays. Kids 12 and under are also free for ticketed exhibitions. Do Space, now part of the Omaha Public Library, is a great free tech stop for curious kids, built for all ages and experience levels, whether that's coding, building, or just trying something new without paying for another camp. Train kid in the house? The Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs is free and open to the public, just across the river.

Hot Shops Art Center feels like a hidden gem even though it's right here. Admission is free, always. You walk through working artist studios and catch glassblowing, pottery, or blacksmithing in progress. The Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters is free and family-friendly too, a visitors' center with exhibits about the westward migration, wagons, handcarts, and life on the trail. And the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens is a short, easy, free stop honoring President Gerald R. Ford, who was born in Omaha. Open daily. Pair it with Hanscom Park.

Free events are where the Omaha summer really fills up.

Jazz on the Green is a classic. In 2026 the free concerts run Thursdays from July 9 through August 13 at Turner Park in Midtown Crossing. The lawn opens at 5 p.m., preshow starts at 6:30 p.m., and the music starts at 7:30 p.m. (as of July 2026 — confirm current times at their site). Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, let the kids dance up front. Aksarben Village runs free Saturday night concerts at Stinson Park through the summer, an easy setup with music, green space, and food nearby. Benson First Friday is a free monthly art walk in the Benson Creative District. Go earlier in the evening with kids, catch the art and vendors and music before it turns more grown-up later.

The farmers markets are free to walk, even if you leave with peaches or pastries or flowers. The Old Market runs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Aksarben Village runs Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (as of July 2026 — confirm current market hours before you go). Stroller-friendly and lively, and best done before the day gets too hot. Speaking of easy wins, the Omaha Public Library's 2026 Summer Reading Program gives babies, toddlers, kids, and teens two free books when they register, plus prizes and event rewards for hitting reading or activity goals.

Two more. Free outdoor movie nights pop up all over Omaha. The RiverFront runs free events for all ages, and local calendars list free outdoor movies with yard games and themed activities. Bring chairs, blankets, snacks, and bug spray. That's the whole plan. And on the days it's too hot to exist outside, Kids Bowl Free lets registered kids bowl free at participating Omaha-area lanes. Some spots offer two free games a day, though shoe rental may not be included, so check before you go.

Here's the truth. You don't need 25 ideas in your head. You need one good idea at the right time.

That's the whole reason Explore Omaha exists. We help you find the best family events, free things to do in Omaha, hidden gems, and easy weekend plans without scrolling for an hour while your kids are already begging for snacks. Join the free community, grab the Omaha Family Savings Pass, and let us send the good stuff straight to you.

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Prices and hours change, so always confirm the latest on each place's official website before you go — the figures in this guide are current as of July 2026.