We regularly post guides of things to do with kids in Omaha and Papillion throughout the year. While this summer will look different from last year, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of the warm weather and family time. To help, the team at Hawley Orthodontics is sharing some super fun summer activities for kids in Omaha this season all with social distancing in mind.
Head to an Omaha Farmers’ Market and Cook Something Together
Cooking and baking are fun things to do with kids at home and as a bonus, kids are more likely to eat something when they’ve helped make it. To have a blast while supporting local farmers and businesses, send someone from the family out to one of the Omaha farmers’ markets. Visit the Papillion Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays from 5 to 8pm, the Bellevue Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 8am to noon, the Omaha Farmers’ Market at Baxter Arena on Sundays from 9am to 1pm or at the Old Market on Saturdays from 8am to 12:30pm, or the Gifford Park Neighborhood Market on Fridays from 5 to 8pm. Then, try one of these easy recipes kids can make using the ingredients you purchased. To take things up a notch, have an at-home picnic and eat your meal outdoors on a blanket.
Cool off at an Omaha Hydrant Party
Hydrant parties, put on by the local firefighters, are an awesome Omaha kids’ activity. Children can put on their swimsuits and splash around in fire hydrant sprinklers for free. They’re so much fun! The events are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Check out the schedule here.
Explore the Papillion Butterfly Benches
Papillion is celebrating its 150th anniversary with stunning butterfly benches around town since “Papillion” means butterfly in French. Exploring the 33 different artistically decorated benches is a fun Papillion kids’ activity to do this summer. Want to sweeten the deal? Enter to win a $50 gift card by taking a picture at the bench we sponsored right outside of our office wearing your Hawley Orthodontics t-shirt. Post the photo to Facebook or Instagram and tag us between now and August 25. You can get extra entries by taking pictures in front of any of the other #Papillion150 butterfly benches with your Hawley shirts and tagging us too. Five winners will be announced on August 26.
Soak Up Summer at an Omaha-Area Sprayground
The Papillion and Omaha spraygrounds and splash pads are open for summer 2020. Check out one of these locations:
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- Benson Park -7002 Military Ave., Omaha
- Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge – 705 Riverfront Dr., Omaha
- Fontenelle Sprayground – 4405 Fontenelle Blvd., Omaha
- Kountze Sprayground – 1920 Pinkney St., Omaha
- Levi Carter Park Sprayground – 809 Carter Lake Shore Dr., Omaha
- Miller Sprayground – 2707 Redick Ave., Omaha
- Morton Park Sprayground – 5724 S. 41st St., Omaha
- Orchard Park Sprayground – 6502 Hartman Ave., Omaha
- Upland Sprayground – 3104 Jefferson St., Omaha
- Seymour Smith Park All Play Park – 6802 Harrison St., Omaha
- Westwood Heights Sprayground – 12334 Seldin Dr., Omaha
- Eagle Ridge Splash Pad – Two Blocks East of 66th Street and Ashwood Ave, Papillon
- Schwer Park Splash Pad – 800 West Centennial Rd, Papillon
- First Street Plaza Splash Pad – First and Washington St., Papillion
Go to an Outdoor or Drive-In Movie
Drive-in movies are back this summer and they’re one of our favorite nostalgic and fun kids’ activities in Omaha. Marcus Theatres is hosting them at various theater locations, including the Twin Creek Cinema in Bellevue. During their Parking Lot Cinema event, they’ll be showing double features on a big screen in the parking lot that you can watch from the comfort of your own vehicle. Concessions will be available and can even be purchased online. Up next on July 24 is The Fifth Element and Starship Troopers. Gates open at 7pm. Get tickets and details here. Free Starlight Movies have also returned to SumTur Amphitheater this summer with a limited capacity. No tickets are required but it’s first come, first served. On July 24, Aladdin will be shown. The gates open at 8:15pm. See the full schedule.
Take Advantage of Virtual Programming at Sump Memorial Library
Sump Memorial Library has a host of summer activities for kids in Papillion to do at home with its virtual programming perfect for rainy or really hot days. You’ll find storytimes, a performance from a magician, a science show and more. Check out the schedule here.
Spend the Day at a Local Lake or River
The Hawley family loves going to Louisville Lake to play in the water and sit on the beach. However, that’s not the only Omaha area beach to soak up the sunshine and take a dip. Some other favorites, include:
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- Linoma Beach, Gretna
- Fremont Lakes, Fremont
- Lake Manawa Beach, Council Bluffs
- Lake Icaria, Corning
Break Out the Chalk and Leave Messages for Your Neighbors
Have the kids create masterpieces on the sidewalk and encourage them to leave positive messages for the neighbors to see when they’re walking around. If your kids have friends in the neighborhood, you could even leave specific messages and drawings for one another so every time you take a walk, both your child and their friends will have something to look forward to while staying connected.
We hope you loved these ideas for summer activities for kids in Omaha! If you’d also like to learn more about perfecting your or your child’s smile this summer, schedule an in-person or virtual consultation with our Papillion orthodontist Dr. Hawley today! To learn more about the steps we’re taking to keep our patients safe while providing outstanding care, read our post on what’s changed due to COVID-19.
