Some changes are coming to the annual Holiday Lights Festival in Downtown Omaha.
Most notably, the popular outdoor ice skating rink will be debuting in its new, permanent home at the Capitol District on 10th and Capitol. The NRG Energy Ice Rink will officially open on Tuesday, November 21st with a ribbon cutting. Entry into the rink is $8, which includes skate rental, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Food Bank for the Heartland. Skaters will be able to enjoy the rink from November 21st through February 14th. Rink hours will be as follows:
- Monday-Thursday 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Fridays 6:00 PM - Midnight
- Saturdays 1:00 Pm - Midnight
- Sundays 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM
The Holiday Lights Festival will officially kick-off on Thanksgiving night at 6:00 when Mayor Stothert leads a countdown to reveal the 2017 display. Lights will stay on from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM through New Year's Day. Again this year, the festival will help to raise money and non-perishable food items for the Food Bank's 'Shine the Light on Hunger' campaign. Blue barrels will be located throughout the city, as well as at the Gene Leahy Mall during the lighting ceremony. After the lights are turned on Thanksgiving night, attendees are encouraged to head over to the Holland Performing Arts Center to enjoy the sounds of the Nebraska Wind Symphony with vocalist Camille Metoyer-Moten. The 'Making Spirits Bright Holiday Concert' starts at 7:00 PM and is free to the public.
On Saturday, December 2nd both North and South Omaha corridors of 24th will also have lighting ceremonies as those communities ring in the holiday season. Lights in North Omaha, placed along a six-block stretch near 24th and Lake, will be turned on at 5:00 PM. In South Omaha, 24th Street between L and Q will be lit up with thousands of bulbs at 5:30 PM.
The Holiday Lights Festival is also offering fun for the whole family on Sunday, December 3rd with the free Wells Fargo Family Festival. Festivities run from noon to 5:00 PM and will feature events at the following locations:
- Wells Fargo Downtown
- Omaha Children's Museum
- Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn
- The Durham Museum
- W. Dale Clark Library
- Joslyn Art Museum
Families can park at any of the participating locations to access a free Ollie the Trolley ride that will connect all the sites.
The festival will again be capped off by the New Year's Eve Fireworks Spectacular. The event draws over 30,000 people each year, with prime viewing available from the Gene Leahy Mall. The fireworks start at 7:00 on New Year's Eve.
For a full list of events and details, visit the Holiday Lights Festival website.
(Photo Courtesy of WOWT 6 News)