Wild About Omaha Weekend – Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

	Why is Mutual of Omaha doing this? Mutual of Omaha is Wild about the city that we’ve called home for 100 years. Omaha has so much to offer in terms of arts and entertainment venues. As we celebrate our Centennial, we want to open the festivities to the public. We invite you to come explore these fine venues, which will be hosting special activities on Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25. It’s our way of showing our appreciation to Omaha.
	What organizations will be participating in the Wild About Omaha Weekend activities on Friday? Fourteen organizations will be coordinating special events and activities at 12 locations the evening of Friday, July 24. View the Schedule of Events to see which organizations will be participating and where.
	What are options for parking? And, will shuttles be provided? Attendance at the Wild About Omaha Weekend activities will be high. But, rest assured, ample parking will be available. Many of the participating organizations have onsite parking lots that will accommodate a great number of vehicles. In addition, there will be street parking downtown and a number of pay lots will be open for business. Please pay close attention to parking signs at all locations to avoid being towed or ticketed.Venue-to-venue trolley service will be offered on Friday night and free remote parking within walking distance of the Zoo and Rosenblatt will be available on Saturday. More information on parking.
	Will the Friday evening venues be connected by trolley service? Yes, free trolley service will be available on Friday evening from 5-11 p.m. between several of the participating downtown venues. One shuttle loop will connect Film Sreams/Slowdown, Hot Shops Art Center, Holland Performing Arts Center, Joslyn Art Museum, The Rose Theater, BLUEBARN Theatre, and The Durham Museum. A second shuttle loop will connect The Durham Museum and Lauritzen Gardens.
	What are the hours of the events on Friday? Are the hours the same at all the venues? The majority of Friday night’s events will begin at 5 p.m. and conclude at 11 p.m. However, Slowdown will host an after hours party that will last until 1 a.m. The Family Zone activities will begin at 5 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m. Please refer to the Schedule of Events for times associated with specific entertainment acts during the events.
	Can I arrive at any time on Friday night? Will I miss anything if I come late? Many of the events will have ongoing activities throughout the evening to accommodate a steady flow of guests. However, some entertainment acts are slated for specific times and some venues will close earlier than others. For instance, the Family Zone, which is comprised of The Rose Theater, Downtown Family YMCA and Omaha Children’s Museum, will close at 9 p.m. Please refer to the Schedule of Events for information to help plan your evening.
	Is there a fee or admission charge at any of the events? Admission to every event that is a part of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild About Omaha Weekend is free. Additionally, some of the Friday evening venues will offer complimentary food, snacks and beverages. However, there may be cost associated with food and beverage purchases as well as merchandise purchased from gift shops at some of the venues. On Saturday, July 25, admission to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and the Omaha Royals baseball game will be free. However, free admission will not include concessions, IMAX Theater tickets or rides at the Zoo.
	Will food be served at the events? Many of the Friday venues will offer complimentary food and beverages or have food and beverages available for purchase. Concessions will also be available for purchase on Saturday at the Zoo and at Rosenblatt Stadium. Refer to the Schedule of Events for more information.
	Will alcohol be served at any of the venues? On Friday evening, alcohol will be available for purchase at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Film Streams and Slowdown, Lauritzen Gardens, Holland Performing Arts Center, and Opera Omaha at KANEKO. Free wine tasting will be offered at BLUEBARN Theatre, Hot Shops Art Center, and Lauritzen Gardens - Omaha's Botanical Center. On Saturday, beer and wine coolers will be available for purchase at the Zoo's Treetops Restaurant. And, beer will be available for purchase at the Omaha Royals game. *Alcoholic beverages may not be brought into the participating Friday evening venues, the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo or Rosenblatt Stadium.
	Will the Friday night activities be appropriate for me to bring my children? While the majority of Friday’s activities will be most appealing to adults, organizations along 20th Street between Farnam and Jackson Streets – the Omaha Children’s Museum, the Downtown YMCA and the Rose Theater – will offer kid-oriented activities that young families will enjoy. Check out The Schedule of Events for information on those activities offering a family-friendly environment.
	How can I get the free admission vouchers for the Royals game? Free tickets will be available at all three Mutual of Omaha Bank locations in Omaha, customer service counters at any Hy-Vee Food Store in Omaha and Council Bluffs, beginning July 6 through close of business on Thursday, July 23. Distribution will be limited to four (4) tickets per person, per visit. A limited number of remaining game vouchers will be distributed at the Mutual of Omaha tent outside of Rosenblatt on July 25th from 5:30-8 p.m.
	Will there be reserved seats at the Royals game or will it be open seating? The free game vouchers will be exchanged for general admission tickets at the gate on July 25. All tickets distributed for Mutual of Omaha's Wild About Omaha Night at The Royals will be general admission. Seating will be first-come, first-served in designated sections at Rosenblatt Stadium.
	What time will the fireworks begin? The fireworks will begin approximately 10 minutes after the conclusion of the game. The estimated start time is 10 p.m.
	If I don’t attend the game at Rosenblatt, can I still see the fireworks? Where will be the best view? There are no public viewing areas reserved outside the stadium. This will be a smaller fireworks show than the 4th of July; however, if you choose not to attend the game but would still like to see the fireworks, they should be somewhat visible throughout the downtown area, particularly near Rosenblatt Stadium.
	Will the fireworks be choreographed to music? Which station will broadcast the music? Yes, the fireworks will be choreographed to music; however, the music will not be broadcast on the radio to listeners outside the stadium.
	Will the Wild About Omaha Weekend activities be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather? Activities planned for the evening of Friday, July 24 will take place rain or shine. In the case of inclement weather, participating venues will move as many outdoor activities inside, as possible. In addition, free admission to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo will be offered rain or shine on Saturday, July 25. In the event the Royals game is cancelled the evening of Saturday, July 25, Mutual of Omaha's Wild About Omaha Night at The Royals will be rescheduled to Saturday, August 29. All free tickets from July 25 will be honored for general admission seating in designated areas on August 29.
	What items are allowed or not allowed at the Zoo and Rosenblatt Stadium? Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo does not allow open fires and portable cookers, glass bottles and alcoholic beverages, sport equipment including balls, frisbees and hacky sacks, wheeled shoes, skates and rollerblades, balloons, streamers and straws, bikes, skateboards and scooters. No pets allowed, except service animals. The Royals have security measures at all gates and conduct bag checks on any bag, backpack, container or carrier. In addition, no containers, coolers, food, bottles, cans or umbrellas are allowed inside the stadium.
	What type of traffic should I expect at the events? Most of the time traffic should not be an issue. We are working closely with the Omaha Police Department and Omaha Public Works Department on a traffic plan for Friday evening and Saturday. Alternate routes and street closing information will be provided as details become available.