Boomer Destinations: Visit Nebraska Holiday Passport 2024
By Tim Trudell
Bring your sense of humor along during a visit to The Wise Olde Owl in downtown Fremont. It will help while choosing a few gifts, plus the owners will make you laugh. The downtown gift shop is one of 20 stops on Visit Nebraska’s 2024 Holiday Passport.
The Holiday Passport – in its third year – includes attractions from Omaha to Gering in western Nebraska. Running Nov. 22-Jan. 8, 2025, and patterned after its popular summer program, visitors to the attractions have their passport stamped. Send in your passport by Jan. 14 to be eligible for prizes.
Opening The Wise Olde Owl 10 years ago, Thom Enders and Brian Seil have created an impressive collection of unique decor and collectibles, from kitchenware and figurines to Husker fare and Toejam jelly.
The store’s holiday offerings include standard decorations such as ornaments. But, then venture down a path where a sense of humor is a must. Drink coasters with sayings like “Bah Hum Bug” and “The Grinch is My Spirit Animal.” Bill Murray fans will love the “Murray Christmas” coaster. Shoppers will also find Jellycat stuffed animals with a holiday theme.
While the Christmas season is in full bloom, Enders said not to forget Halloween decorations at the store.
“Halloween for Christmas is really popular,” he said.
As The Wise Olde Owl grew over the years, Enders and Seils found themselves moving around downtown.
“We were on the 300 block, then we outgrew that, so we moved to the 400 block,” Enders said. “Then, we outgrew that and moved here.”
Instead of moving to the 600 block of Main Street, they knocked down a wall and added The Purple Dragon book store. Here, books, CDs and famous people as bobbleheads, including Bob Ross and Mark Twain, as well as characters from the “Wizard of Oz.”
The Wise Olde Owl is one reason to visit downtown Fremont during the holidays, along with antique stores, MiLady Coffee, 505 Brewery and boutiques. Restaurants such as Semo offer excellent dining options. Stroll downtown at night and take in lighted trees and decorated storefronts.
While it’s easy to spend a good portion of the day at The Wise Olde Owl, you’ll want to get your passport stamped and visit other attractions on the map.
Omaha has three attractions on the passport: The Riverfront, Omaha Community Playhouse and Brite Ideas Decorating.
The Riverfront is decorated for the holiday festivities. With large ornaments, lighted trees and color changing lights, a walk through Gene Leahy Mall at the Riverfront is a perfect way to celebrate the season. Take in the LED multimedia show, along with holiday music, projected on the Burlington Building.
The Omaha Community Playhouse is a staple during the holidays as thousands of people will take in the annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” which is on stage Nov. 22-Dec. 22.
Celebrating its centennial, the Omaha Community Playhouse is the country’s largest community theater. Hollywood icons Henry Fonda and Dorothy McGuire made their acting debuts on stage here.
Soak in more than 20,000 sq. feet of holiday lights and decorations at Brite Ideas Decorating’s main store at 2011 N. 156th Street. Founded in Omaha, Brite Ideas decorates residences and businesses around the country.
Outside Omaha, Visit Nebraska celebrates the holidays with stops in places such as Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park in North Platte. The home of the famous western showman is decorated in festive colors.
Tour the ranch, taking in the magnificent lights and decorations. Carolers and instrumentalists perform in the parlor. Enjoy hot apple cider, cookies and roasted chestnuts during your visit. Tractor-drawn hayrack rides take visitors around the property nightly. The historic barn is also decorated for the season.
Gering Merchant’s Santa Village has greeted holiday visitors for 20 years. Children can write letters to Santa Claus, and you can enjoy cookies and hot cocoa. Santa visits each Saturday until Dec. 21.
Whether you get all 20 stamps or just one, don’t forget to send in your passport to eligible for prizes. Five stamps will get you a $5 Nebraska Lottery coupon, 10 stops are two $5 coupons and 15 stamps get you three coupons. Get all 20 stamps, and you’ll also receive a Holiday Champion candle from Sugar Shack Home Decor in addition to the lottery coupons. Participants must be at least 19 years old.
Other stops on the passport include:
Elkhorn River Coffee Company, Scribner
The Gift Niche, Ashland
The Taylor-Wessel-Bickel-Nelson House, Nebraska City
The Chocolate Season, Lincoln
Beatrice Bakery, Beatrice
Clean Slate Soap, Beatrice
Floral Designs, Hartington
Village of Verdigre’s Vesele of Vanoce, Verdigre
Shops at the Victor Anderson Building, Stromsburg
Plainsman Museum, Aurora
The Indigo Bungalow, Kearney
Scratchtown Brewing Company, Ord
Sidney Floral and Gift Shop, Sidney
Festival of Trees, Chadron
