More than a million reasons to come downtown

Omaha warms up for the holiday season, no matter how cold it is between Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Eve.

Families shove their holiday dinner leftovers into the refrigerator and rush downtown to see the mayor and schoolchildren flip the switch that illuminates the trees throughout Gene Leahy Mall and the streets nearby Thanksgiving night.

David Belcher of Bellevue and his family have made the lighting ceremony in downtown Omaha a part of the family's Thanksgiving tradition for four years.

“We like the whole atmosphere of it,” Belcher, 45, said. “We're big holiday season fans. I like the winter weather. I like the lights and the festivities. There's always something to do down there.”

The focal point for Omaha's Holiday Lights Festival is Gene Leahy Mall, stretching from 10th to 14th Streets, between Douglas and Farnam Streets.

Omahan Eric Nelson, 39, has been enjoying the festival with his four children, ages 6 to 13, for six or seven years. They come downtown early on Thanksgiving to park, to eat dinner and to enjoy all the activities associated with the lighting ceremony.

“It's great,” Nelson said. “It has a festival atmosphere. We enjoy walking around. Omaha does a great job of putting on shows that families can do.”

The Mayor's Office and Downtown Omaha Inc. produce the holiday festival with private donations. The lighting ceremony is gift to the community from Mutual of Omaha and Mutual of Omaha Bank as a conclusion to Mutual's centennial year celebration.

(Speaking of Mutual: If you're heading downtown, be sure to loop past the company's headquarters. The greenspace a neighboring Midtown Crossing at Turner Park glows with thousands of white lights on newly planted trees.

AFTER THE TURKEY SETTLES:

Downtown Holiday Home Tour: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 5.

See what it's like to live downtown by touring model apartments and homes decorated for the holidays. Start at any of these tour locations: 1101 Jackson St.; the 420 Building, 420 S. 11th St.; the Enclave at the Brandeis, 210 S. 16th St.; jLofts in the Market, 1125 Jackson St.; the Paxton, 1402 Farnam St.; Riverfront Place, 555 Riverfront Plaza; and the Rows at SoMa, 11th and Leavenworth Streets. Admission is $5, paid at the first home or apartment you visit. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Food Bank for the Heartland.

ConAgra Foods Ice Rink: Dec. 12 through Dec. 31, 10th and Harney Streets. Enjoy the old-fashioned fun of skating outdoors. Hours are 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 1 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The rink will observe holiday hours of 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. (Closed on Christmas Day.) The $5 admission fee includes skate rental as needed. Proceeds go to the Food Bank for the Heartland.

Wells Fargo Family Festival: Noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 13, downtown. Seven downtown locations present free entertainment with free trolley service between sites. See Omaha's largest indoor Christmas tree, plus the exhibits, at the Durham Museum. Tour Joslyn Art Museum and create some holiday art of your own. Play at the Omaha Children's Museum and watch a puppet show. Visit the Omaha Police Department Horse Barn. Hear stories at the W. Dale Clark Library. Catch a glimpse of history at the Wells Fargo banking store. And try out the ConAgra Foods Ice Rink.

Ice skating show: 5 p.m. Dec. 20 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21, 10th and Harney Streets. The Blade & Edge club and the Figure Skating Club of Omaha collaborate on a show with holiday music and costumes. The show is about 30 minutes long, and spectators may stay afterward to skate. The show is free to watch. Visitors are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the food bank.

First National Bank Fireworks: 7 p.m. Dec. 31, Gene Leahy Mall.

Multicolored fireworks, combined with the more than a million white lights on the trees below, create a magnificent once-a-year experience. Admission is free, and the best viewing is in Gene Leahy Mall. Come early to park. Organizers are anticipating attendance of more than 30,000.

Information: www.holidaylightsfestival.org

Sounds of the Season

Local choral groups and entertainers stroll and perform downtown from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays from Nov. 28 to Dec. 19. Most performances are at the Gene Leahy Mall near 14th and Farnam Streets. A few, as noted here, are also in the Old Market area near 11th and Howard Streets.

Nov. 28: Golmanaviches and Giselle

Dec. 5: Nebraska Choral Arts Society–Jubilate; Nebraska Choral Arts Society–Camerata;

Mater Dei Academy Choir, Old Market

Dec.12: Morton Panther Show Choir; Union Pacific Railroad Chorale; Omaha Chorus of Sweet Adelines; Titanium of Papillion-La Vista South High School;

SNJ Studio Singers; Chordside Quartet, Old Market

Dec. 19: Golmanaviches and Giselle; Nebraska Choral Arts Society–Masterworks; Nebraska Choral Arts Society–CAST;

Nebraska Choral Arts Society–Bel Canto; Millard North Middle School Jazz Band; Millard North Middle School Swing Choir; Mercy High Singers, Old Market; St. Columbkille Select Choir, Old Market

Contact the writer:

444-1052, jane.palmer@owh.com

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