Holiday Lights Festival Shines Bright for 18th Year

Omaha’s Millennium Lights celebration was originally meant to be a singular, spectacular celebration as the calendar turned to the milestone year 2000. But in the 17 years since, the Holiday Lights Festival (www.holidaylightsfestival.org) endured and became an annual holiday season tradition that has expanded to encompass a series of festive events beloved by the community.

Holiday Lights Festival is produced by Mayor Jean Stothert and the Downtown Omaha Inc. Foundation and presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska with media support from KMTV 3 News Now and STAR 104.5. The Festival features a community-wide campaign to “Shine the Light on Hunger.” The campaign, supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, encourages community members to drop off non-perishable food and household items at collection barrels placed at Festival events and other Omaha area locations, including Baker’s supermarkets and Wells Fargo branches. Donations can also be made online through the Holiday Lights Festival website. This year’s campaign goal is to raise the equivalent of 1.4 million meals for the greater Omaha community. Last year, more than 78,000 pounds of food and over $463,000 were collected during the campaign to support the efforts of Food Bank for the Heartland. The Conagra Brands Foundation will once again provide a generous $100,000 match of funds raised during the campaign, which includes a portion of proceeds from admission fees at the NRG Energy Ice Rink in the new Capitol District. It will be open through February 14, 2018 from 6 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays, 1 p.m. to midnight Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays. Special holiday hours for Christmas Eve are 1 to 5 p.m., closed Christmas Day and 1 to 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Hours are extended from December 22 – January 8 and January 15, 2018. An $8 admission fee (plus tax) includes skate rental, although patrons may bring their own skates.

Sounds of the Season will again showcase local choral groups ranging from school-based youth choirs to seasoned professionals. Performances take place in the Gene Leahy Mall at 11th and Farnam Streets and in the Old Market at 11th and Howard Streets. A schedule of performances is available online.

For the 12th year, Wells Fargo is sponsoring the Family Festival, an afternoon of free family fun taking place on Sunday, December 3. Six downtown arts and cultural institutions offer free admission and hands-on activities for the entire family from simple crafts and cookie decorating to stagecoach rides and a visit with Santa. Visitors of all ages can also enjoy refreshments and family-friendly entertainment and collect souvenirs at most of the sites. Free trolley service provided by Ollie the Trolley connects all participating locations from noon to 5 p.m.

The last signature event of the 2017 Holiday Lights Festival, the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular Presented by T-Mobile, is expected to draw more than 30,000 people, so spectators are encouraged to arrive early to the official viewing site at the Gene Leahy Mall located at 14th and Farnam Streets. The show features a professionally choreographed display of fireworks designed by J&M Displays to hit songs from Girls Who Rock over the decades. STAR 104.5 will broadcast the live musical accompaniment onsite, and viewers elsewhere can tune in as they watch the show that will be visible for miles.

Event sponsors include Conagra Brands, Lincoln Financial Group, T-Mobile and Wells Fargo. Shining Star sponsors include Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, The Sherwood Foundation, Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation and Union Pacific. Radiant Glow sponsors include Anonymous, Big Red Keno, Broadmoor, C&A Industries, CH2M, Dixon Family Foundation, Gavilon LLC, HDR, The Lozier Foundation, Mammel Family Foundation, Moglia Family Foundation, Pinnacle Bank, Valmont Industries, Inc. and Webster. Bright Light sponsors include Ag Processing Inc., Baird Holm LLP, Bank of the West, Baxter Auto Group, CHI Health, Circo Enterprises, Colliers International, Gallup, Inc., Greater Omaha Chamber, Husch Blackwell LLP, Kutak Rock LLP, Mutual of Omaha, Noddle Companies, Tenaska, Waste Management and WoodmenLife. For more information about The Holiday Lights Festival, visit www.holidaylightsfestival.org.