Native Omaha Days sparked by cold sandwiches

Native Omaha Days brings families back.

They come for the colorful sights, smells and sounds along North 24th Street.

Ribs, burgers and brats sizzle on the grill. Roars of laughter roll out of the Native Omahans Club. And tears and hugs prevail as longtime relatives meet again.

The Native Omahans Club holds a reunion every other year to celebrate with Omahans who left the city. Sample the good times at the six-day celebration, which goes through Monday.

It started over cold sandwiches.

Bettie McDonald and Vera Johnson hopped a bus from Omaha to California.

A trip for “Omaha Days,” a reunion for native Omahans who had moved to the Western state, turned into a disappointment — they were expected to bring their own cheese and lunch meat to eat on a blanket.

“Never again,” the Nebraska women vowed.

So they decided to host their own “Omaha Days” in their city. And did they — with a dance, picnic, parade and social mixer, for 30-plus years now.

The citywide celebration is a gathering of people who grew up in Omaha, or spent many years here, to celebrate their roots. People from across the country come to Omaha every two years for this celebration, including celebrities Gabrielle Union, former NFL player Ahman Green and NBA player Dwyane Wade.

Dozens of family reunions and entertainment events, including the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame ceremony and BET's Terrance J's nightclub visit, are scheduled during Native Omaha Days.

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