Pumpkins, corn, hay, hauntings, and more have one thing in common: They’re fall favorites. Here are 8 places in Omaha that you need to check out this year.
If you’re anything like us, you’re ready for a fun fall that comes complete with memories of pumpkin patches, hay rides, corn mazes, haunted houses, and more. This is how we feel every year, but it’s heightened this go-around thanks to summer 2026 being a scorcher.
It’s not just you sweating through your clothes, either. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, this summer was the hottest in the United States since weather records began being recorded in the 1800s. This August was also the hottest one on record, so entire seasons and individual months have both been unbearably warm this year. Of course, this follows last winter, which was unusually warm and led to crop failure across the country.
Now, this isn’t all doom and gloom. Warmer temps will certainly subside soon enough, and fall fun will be in full swing. Before you know it, crisp air will be wafting through Omaha, and you’ll be checking out our fall 2026 guide to leap-peeping across Nebraska. But before you do that, you need to check out the following eight activities that we’ve hand-picked as some of the very best for this fall if you want to feel the season’s magic at every turn.
1. Nelson Produce + Farm
Address: 10505 N 234th St, Valley, NE 68064
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
When it comes to fall fun around the Omaha area, Nelson Produce + Farm has it all. The farm has great vibes and beautiful scenery—hello, movie-worthy sunflower field!—but its Fall Festival is also so over-the-top enchanting that everyone needs to attend at least once.
The 2026 event runs from Sept. 11 to Nov. 1 and features pumpkin picking (the farm has over 40 varieties of everyone’s favorite gourd), a corn pit, hay rides, and a corn maze to get delightfully lost in. On the yummy side of things, guests can enjoy fresh apple cider donuts, warm apple cider, and apple cider slushies for the adventurous among us. Attend on the right day, and you might even find live music and dancing. General admission tickets range from $16.05 to $21.40 depending on the day. Intrigued enough to show up yet?
2. Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard
Address: 12102 S 180th St, Gretna, NE 68028
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard is a perennial fall favorite for many Omaha-area locals. At Vala’s, pumpkins are the name of the game, and countless people flock to the farm each year to find their favorite gourd to carve, decorate, or simply set on their porch as a statement piece all its own. Vala’s Pumpkin Patch also has a corn maze and hay rides that keep people coming back for endless fun. General admission tickets are $26 Monday through Thursday and $46 Friday through Sunday.
Now, based on the farm’s name, you may be wondering, “But what about the apples?” Don’t worry; there’s plenty of fruity fun to be had, too. From Sept. 4 to 30, Vala’s is holding its annual Apple & Cider Festival, complete with apple picking, house-made cider and hard cider, live music, butterfly releases, photo opportunities, and more. This is a fun-for-the-whole-family type of event, and you’ll be glad you visited!
3. Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch
Address: 11001 S 48th St, Papillion, NE 68133
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m-8:30 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch sells everything from fresh corn and vibrant pumpkins to the juiciest of raspberries and blackberries, making it a lovely spot to visit seasonally as crops come and go. In the fall, pumpkins reign supreme, and everyone from older folks to little kids has a blast finding the perfect one for them. Pumpkin season at Bellevue officially begins on Sept. 12, and it will remain open daily through Nov. 1. On weekdays, you’ll pay $13.44 for entry to the pumpkin patch, while it rises to $21.72 on the weekends.
At night, you can ride the Haunted Hayride or hit up the Haunted House. These attractions start at 6:30 p.m. from Friday to Sunday, and each is guaranteed to make your skin crawl in the best way. Tickets cost $23.79 for one attraction or $34.14 if you’d like to do both. The latter price can also get you one haunted attraction and a pass to the pumpkin patch.
4. Wenninghoff’s
Address: 6707 Wenninghoff Rd, Omaha, NE 68122
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wenninghoff’s has a long legacy in Omaha. It opened 70 years ago in 1956, and it’s delivered high-quality, fresh produce to the local community ever since. This farmer’s market is the perfect place to find seasonal produce to take home and use in your favorite fall dishes with your loved ones. It opened for the season on June 15 and will remain open through Oct. 31, so you have plenty of time to not only support local farmers but also put on your favorite music, dance around the kitchen, and live life to the fullest with your family and friends as you enjoy delicious, nourishing bites.
5. Mert’s Market & Farm
Address: 25870 W Maple Rd, Waterloo, NE 68069
Hours: Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Mert’s Market & Farm is another Omaha-area venue that seems to do it all—and well. Mert’s Market has a corn maze, a petting zoo, kids’ activities, a pumpkin patch, corn hole, and more. It even hosts pet adoptions for those looking to bring a new furry friend into their home this fall. This year, opening day lands on Sept. 19, and entry remains free, so everyone is welcome to come check out the goods before committing to purchase anything.
If that weren’t enough, Mert’s Market is slated to host fun events throughout the season, including pot-painting sessions for plants and dog days where guests can mingle with fosters.
6. Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch
Address: 3935 NE-133, Blair, NE 68008
Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thursday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
The Omaha area is blessed to have several solid pumpkin patch options, including Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch. This patch is excellent for pumpkin picking and offers much more, too. Skinny Bones has a large corn maze, corn hole, hay rides, pumpkin-themed basketball, and a petting zoo, among other attractions. It also has several on-site eateries and shops, including a sweets store, a pizza shop, a bakery barn, and more.
Skinny Bones is open from Sept. 4 to Nov. 1 for the fall season in 2026, and like many other places on this list, its prices vary by day. In September, admission tickets cost $18 from Monday to Thursday and $24 from Friday to Sunday. In October, that rises to $21 from Monday to Thursday and $30 from Thursday to Sunday.
7. Lauritzen Gardens
Address: 100 Bancroft St, Omaha, NE 68108
Hours: Monday-Tuesday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sometimes, the best fall activity is simply walking around and enjoying the weather, as well as the season’s beauty. Lauritzen Gardens is the perfect place in Omaha to do just that. The gardens are stunning year-round, but in the fall, you get classic vibrant reds that you associate with the season. It’s perfect for a calming, relaxing outing, and it’s perfect for the ‘Gram, too.
The Woodland Trail is equally stunning when autumn takes over, with fallen leaves lining it oh-so brilliantly. Plus, since it’s only two-thirds of a mile long, it’s not too much of a commitment—a perfect escape. Tickets to Lauritzen Gardens are just $18.
8. Dungeon of the Damned
Address: 1209 Jackson St, Omaha, NE 68102
Hours: Thursday: 7 p.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 7 p.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday: 7 p.m.-11 p.m.
Last but not least, if you’re looking for a spooky time, Dungeon of the Damned is your best bet in Omaha. In 2026, the haunted house runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 31, and it’s bringing another year of beautiful chaos. The titular dungeon is a warehouse that’s been transformed into a sinfully fun and daring “labyrinth,” as the attraction’s website describes it. Tickets are relatively affordable, too, at $22 on Thursdays and Sundays and $25 on Fridays and Saturdays.
One of the best parts, in our opinion, is that Dungeon of the Damned has a food truck on-site—because you’re definitely going to leave hungry after running around scared for a while. All the menu items are themed, to boot! For example, the Texas Hotdog Massacre features “demon taco sauce” on the dog. How fun is that?
