5 Fright-Free Halloween Alternatives in Omaha

fright free halloween in omaha
Ghouls & Glow at The Omaha Zoo

As October rolls around, you can’t escape Halloween! From giant spider displays at Costco to the endless advertisements for haunted houses, it seems like Halloween is ALWAYS spooky. But for families with little ghouls or even those who prefer not to be spooked, there are some really awesome alternatives throughout Omaha for our non-creepy crowd.

5 Non- Scary Halloween Activities in Omaha

Go to a Pumpkin Patch

We live in the Midwest. It doesn’t make any sense to NOT visit any of the many farms throughout town! My kids’ favorites are Wenninghoff’s and, of course, the Bellevue Berry Farm! These two places both have countless activities, pumpkin picking, hay rides, and did we mention kettle corn?

It also wouldn’t be the harvest season in Omaha without ONE visit to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. (Talk about kettle corn!) There are also so many pumpkin patches to visit throughout the area where you can go pick out a pumpkin and make pumpkin dinner. Feel free to draw a face on your pumpkin to keep it silly!

Gouls and Glow at the Omaha Zoo is another family friendly halloween event. Let your kids dress up and explore the zoo after hours while collecting treats!

Check out our Guide to Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards.

Try a Trunk or Treat

Various churches and schools throughout the area host fall festivals with overwhelming supplies of candy! They have cake walks, face painting, and carnival-type games where your non-spooky little ones can go around enjoying themselves without worrying about catching a fright. 

See our guide to Family-Friendly Halloween Activities.

Check out Cobweb Castle

Celebrate Halloween without the scary as you learn about spiders, go through a maze, climb a castle wall, and more at the Omaha Children’s Museum Sept 28 through Oct 31, 2024.

Visit a Nursing Home

This is my favorite alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. Many nursing homes sponsor a trick-or-treat event for residents to say hello to little ones. My children love saying hello to these sweet people! Let’s just say, between you and me, these places are not only where you can be greeted with a smile, but they also have the sweetest candy!

Make Treats

If you don’t have a candy tooth, it is definitely worth your time to cook up your own treats for neighbors and friends! We like to make pumpkin dinner as our annual tradition, but we also really love making pumpkin bars and other sweet treats. Get your little ones involved in making treats or making treat bags for those who serve you in your community! Mail carriers, firefighters, police officers, and sanitation workers especially love receiving treats. What a better way to say hello and treat someone who serves your community!

*This post was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2023

Neidy
Neidy (pronounced "nay-dee") is a native Georgia girl, but moved to Omaha in 2012 and hasn't looked back. She lives in East Council Bluffs with her husband Zach, her sons Charlie and Eddie, and her daughter Tegan. Neidy met her husband while in college and married him while he was still serving active duty in the Marine Corps. After a brief stint living in San Diego, they decided to move back to her husband's native home in Omaha. Neidy finished her degree at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, pursuing Film Studies, which has cemented her love of Omaha. She's now a homeschooling mom and works at her church as the children's ministry site manager. She also loves a great cup of coffee, exploring various locally-based restaurants, indie movies, experimenting with new recipes, finding new ways to teach her children, and cheering on the Huskers.

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