Don’t let the cold weather keep you from enjoying the outdoors! Throughout the winter months, parks across the state are hosting seasonal events for you and your loved ones to attend. Join us for fun festivities like archery, candlelit tours, light displays, sledding, sleigh rides, holiday games, crafts, living history reenactments and more!
Christmas at the Mansion
Arbor Lodge State Historical Park
Nov. 23, 24, 30; Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15 See the 52-room mansion — home of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day — at its festive best during the holiday season. Enjoy vintage décor, special holiday-themed collections on display, and holiday music to get you into the spirit of the season.
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Light Up the Fort
Fort Robinson State Park
Dec. 1 Each December, community members install lights on Fort Robinson’s park buildings for Christmas cheer. Lights turn on at 6 p.m. and remain lit each evening through December. Visit the park to see this historic setting sparkling with a beautiful display of Christmas lights!
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Archery on Fire
Platte River State Park
Dec. 1 Spend a fun day outdoors shooting archery with the whole family. This free event will feature archery, crossbows, tomahawk throwing and our new pellet gun shooting gallery. Warm up to the campfire, roast marshmallows and crafts and food will be available.
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24th Annual Christmas Dinner
Fort Robinson State Park
Dec. 1 The 200 attendees at the park’s Buffalo Barracks will be treated to the same menu as that one in 1890. The feast will include beef ribs, turkey, gravy, dressing and “all the fixings.” There will be live music and historical commentary. Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 5.
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Christmas in the Woods
Ponca State Park
Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 Celebrate the season with old-fashioned holiday crafts, lighted hayrack rides, sledding hill, free cookies and hot cider, and more!
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Christmas at the Cody’s
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park
Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23 This event includes hayrack rides, cookies/chestnut roasting, nightly entertainment in Irma’s parlor, kid’s scavenger hunt and pictures with Santa, to name a few!
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Nature’s Gifts: Decorations from the Great Outdoors
Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area
Dec. 8 Come and help us create garland feeders, bird feeders and fun nature ornaments that will dress up the Nature Center and your own homes for the winter season!
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Classic Christmas
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
Dec. 8 Join us for a Christmas celebration featuring pictures with Santa taken by NEBRASKAland photographers! Plus, sugar cookie decorating, crafts, greeting cards for veterans and free hayrack rides through the park.
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Christmas Bird Count
Indian Cave State Park
Dec. 15 The Christmas Bird Count is a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society that allows researchers to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. Thousands of volunteers participate in the count each year, and you can be one of them – no birding expertise needed.
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7th Annual Winterfest
Ponca State Park
Dec. 29 A truly unique outdoor winter tradition, Ponca State Park’s annual Winterfest includes a fruitcake fling and a yule log quest, as well as seasonal crafts and lighted hayrack rides. Come on out to enjoy the beauty of the winter season after the Christmas rush has passed.
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View the events section of our Facebook page to see more fun events and share them with your circle. For a comprehensive look at all Game and Parks programs and events check out the online calendar.
