Wells Fargo Family Festival

Sunday, December 14, 12 – 5 pm

Various Downtown Arts & Cultural Institutions
http://www.wellsfargo.com

Wells Fargo will present this year's Holiday Lights Family Festival offering the community an opportunity to experience many of Omaha's leading downtown attractions for free. This year's Family Festival will be held Sunday, December 14th, from 12 to 5 pm. Free trolley service will connect the participating venues described below. Each site will offer free admission and family activities. In addition, Opera Omaha will perform at The Durham Museum and Joslyn Art Museum. Omaha Symphony musicians will perform at The Durham Museum, W. Dale Clark Public Library, and Joslyn Art Museum.

As an extra bonus, families can attend Holiday Wildlights at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo from 4 to 8 pm on Sunday, December 14th. Free admission passes are good for December 14th only, will be available for pick-up at participating Family Festival venues throughout the day.

ConAgra Foods Ice Rink:
The ConAgra Foods Ice Skating Rink will be open to the public from 1-5 p.m. on the ConAgra Foods Campus at 10th and Harney Streets. The public is encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items and household goods to drop into collection bins, which will be distributed to families in need by The Food Bank. All proceeds from the ConAgra Foods skating rink will also be donated to The Food Bank. Admission is $5 and includes skate rental.

Durham Museum:
Visitors to the museum will be able to experience Christmas at Union Station. Don't miss Omaha's largest indoor Christmas tree adorned with thousands of lights. “Holiday Miniatures" from the Omaha-Council Bluffs Miniature Guild and "Ethnic Trees" will be on display celebrating the holiday season. Guests are also invited to tour the Museum's permanent exhibits and view the extraordinary temporary exhibits including “Eyewitness: American Originals from the National Archives” during the Family Festival. The Omaha Symphony Brass Quintet will perform holiday selections in the Museum's main lobby at 1 p.m. and 1:55 p.m. Opera Omaha will perform festive holiday pieces at 2:15 p.m. as well as the Omaha Jazz Quartet at 3:30 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. Wells Fargo will offer a panning for gold activity, scavenger hunt and photos with Jack the Dog..

Joslyn Art Museum:
Explore Joslyn Art Museum’s galleries including the special exhibitions DIEGO RIVERA: Masterworks from the Museo de Arte del Estado de Veracruz and The Many Faces of David Diaz. Visit the art studio to create a unique cut paper poinsettia decoration inspired by this traditional Christmas plant from Mexico and a shimmering tin ornament like those found in homes throughout Mexico. The Omaha Jazz Quartet will perform holiday selections at 1 p.m. and 1:55 p.m. TubaChristmas, a 40-piece brass ensemble, will perform in the Witherspoon Hall at 2:30 p.m. Opera Omaha will perform seasonal, holiday and opera selections at 4:15 p.m. Wells Fargo Merchant Services will offer an opportunity for a chance to win a FREE Visa Gift Card for guests ages 18 and over *No purchase necessary. See a Wells Fargo representative at Joslyn Art Museum for complete details.

Omaha Children’s Museum:
Experience the museum's 2008 holiday version of "Lightplay: A Celebration of Holiday Magic." View the ornaments that will hang on the Nebraska Christmas Tree at the White House Christmas Pageant of Peace then decorate an ornament to take home. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting children and accepting letters in the North Pole mailbox. Children will be able to help build a giant gingerbread house out of magnetic candies. There will be a discounted admission of $3 to view "Dinosaurs: A prehistoric Expedition." Wells Fargo will offer hands-on holiday craft activities.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo:
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo's Holiday Wildlights is a walk-through colorful display of lights and animated figures among the Zoo's finest exhibits. From jumping frogs and wallabies to swinging monkeys and fluttering butterflies, the upper portion of the Zoo brilliantly glows with magnificent hues. Crafts, music and treats will be absorbed as visitors make their way through the Wild Kingdom Pavilion. Wells Fargo will take family photos with Jack the Dog and hand out holiday glow necklaces. Holiday Wildlights is open free to the public from 4-8 p.m. on December 14th, with coupons distributed at the Holiday Lights Festival Family Festival locations. *Free trolley service is not provided to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.

Omaha Police Department Horse Barn:
Visit the Family Festival’s newest location! Take a tour of the Horse Barn and learn how the officers care for the animals. Warm up with a cup of Swiss Miss hot chocolate while watching officers offer horse demonstrations. Wells Fargo will offer free stage coach rides from 1 to 4 p.m. and young buckaroos are invited to decorate their own cowboy hats.

The Rose Theater:
The Rose Theater will present three performances of “The Big (Not So Bad) Wolf at the W. Dale Clark Library at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

W. Dale Clark Public Library:
The library will host a variety of activities including a clown who will create balloon fun for children and The Rose Theater will present three performances of “The Big (Not So Bad) Wolf” at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. In addition, Omaha Symphony String Quartet will perform in the Brown Baggers at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. children’s illustrator and author Preston McDaniels will talk about becoming an author. Finally, a magician will amaze and astound the audience with a show at 3:30 p.m. Enjoy holiday music by the St. Leo Handbell Choir at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Stop by the Wells Fargo activity area for cookie decorating, Orville Redenbacker’s popcorn and Swiss Miss hot chocolate.

Omaha Symphony:
The String Quartet will perform at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the W. Dale Clark Library in the Books n' Beans coffee shop. The Brass Quintet will perform at the Durham Museum at 1 p.m. and 1:55 p.m. and the Jazz Quartet will perform at the Joslyn Art Museum at 1 p.m. and 1:55 p.m. and at the Durham Museum at 3:30 p.m. and 4:25 p.m.

Opera Omaha:
A vocal quartet and pianist will perform favorite seasonal, holiday, and opera selections at 12:15 p.m. at the Joslyn Art Museum and 2:15 p.m. at the Durham Museum.