I love the many holiday activities that are available during the month of December. Everyone in our family chooses one activity/tradition that is really important to them and we work hard to make sure that happens during the month. 

1. Zoo Lights
Zoo Lights is a family tradition now. We went to Zoo Lights the year it opened and last year and we have tickets for this year. It is truly amazing how many lights are at the zoo and everyone loves to take a picture inside of the giant ornament. You can opt to ride on the train (bundle up!) and do other add-ons or just walk through the lights. It is a magical evening. To read more about Zoo Lights click here.




2. Drive-Thru Large Light Displays in Seward, Omaha and Lincoln.
There are three very large light displays in our area. All three take about 20 minutes, if you drive slowly (3 mph is suggested). to get through. We went to Seward's last year and my kids loved the Charlie Brown and Grinch songs but my husband’s favorite display was the light up corn display. As he said, "It is pure Nebraska." They update and add to it every year. In Omaha you can drive through "Santa's Rock n Lights" and Lincoln offers Nebraska Christmas Lights Show A Magical Holiday Experience at Haymarket Park.



3. Walk Through Holiday Lights
My family loves to go on a night walk and look at the holiday lights. You can walk through your own neighborhood or pick a new one to drive to and walk through. My favorite place to walk and look at lights is in the Country Club Neighborhood specifically the Stratford/Sheridan Loop. This loop is great for little legs, it is only 0.8 miles, but still long enough to make the drive over worthwhile.




4. Make a Holiday Craft at Home or in the Store
Many local businesses depend on the holiday months to get through the entire year. Support our stores by going there or picking up at-home craft kit. 2020 had us picking up ornaments to paint from Paint Yourself Silly and having a painting party at home. You can call ahead at Paint Yourself Silly or just stop in, pick out ornaments and paints and head home to create. Then, drop them off the next day to be fired and a few days later they will be on the tree. This year, we went to Architectural Glass Arts and made fused glass ornaments. They offer a few classes each week.



5. Watch a Holiday Movie
One of our favorite all-time holiday activities is putting on our pjs, snuggling under a blanket and watching a holiday movie. With most movies streaming on Netflix or Disney+, most movies are just a click away. For our full list of 24 movies click here. Marcus Theatres also has their Holiday Classics Series running from December 3-16 and they are showing Elf, White Christmas, A Christmas Story, the Polar Express, Christmas Vacation and more for only $5.




6. Volunteer
The true spirit of Christmas is about giving. One way that your family can give back is by picking up bags at Tabitha Meals on Wheels and decorating them. When the meals are delivered they are put in bags and the recipients love to see the art and the messages! More ways to help at Christmas is buy adopting a family and buying them gifts, donating a gift to Toys for Tots or donating food the the Lincoln Food Bank.




7. See a holiday show. There are musicals, singers, ballet and more! For a full list of holiday shows in our area click here.