By Hola Nebraska
Omaha will have a weekend of local history, college baseball, family activities and community events from Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21.
Omaha’s weekend schedule includes Juneteenth, the final stretch of the Men’s College World Series and community activities for families and visitors.
The June 19-21 agenda coincides with the federal Juneteenth holiday, the 50th anniversary of the Great Plains Black History Museum and the MCWS championship series at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
Most of the weekend activity is centered in Omaha, with events in North Omaha, downtown Omaha, the stadium area and community spaces. There are also ongoing summer options, including local markets and museum exhibits open during the weekend.
Omaha observes Juneteenth with city offices closed
The City of Omaha recognizes Friday, June 19, as a federal holiday, and city offices are closed.
In a public post, Mayor John W. Ewing Jr. recalled that Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when a U.S. general and soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to tell enslaved people they were free.
That announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Ewing wrote that the day is marked with solemnity and celebration. He also said he would carry that spirit to the Great Plains Black History Museum, which is commemorating Juneteenth alongside its 50th anniversary this year.
Great Plains Black History Museum celebrates 50 years
The Great Plains Black History Museum scheduled a special Juneteenth and 50th anniversary luncheon for Friday, June 19.
The event is listed as sold out on the museum’s official calendar, but the museum’s exhibit programming remains open for visitors.
The museum is located in North Omaha and preserves materials, exhibits and programs tied to African American history in Nebraska and the Great Plains region.
Date: Friday, June 19
Location: Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th St., Omaha
Special event: Juneteenth and 50th anniversary
Status: sold out, according to the museum’s website
Ewing also recognized Eric L. Ewing, the museum’s executive director, and mentioned Omaha’s connection to My Brother’s Keeper through the local work of the Empowerment Network on violence reduction.
An exhibit on the Negro Leagues remains open
The Great Plains Black History Museum is also keeping the exhibit “A League of Our Own Negro League Baseball” open from June 4 through July 5.
The exhibit presents the history of the Negro Leagues, which were formed during an era when African American players were not allowed to play in Major League Baseball.
The exhibit coincides with the Men’s College World Series in Omaha and adds a historical connection to the baseball atmosphere that fills the city in June.
Dates: June 4 through July 5
Location: Great Plains Black History Museum
Theme: Negro Leagues history and African American baseball
The museum also has permanent exhibits such as Hate & Hope, 24th & Glory and African American History Through Street Signs, with materials on African American history, Omaha athletes, local memory and streets named in honor of African American leaders.
North Carolina and Oklahoma play the MCWS finals
The Men’s College World Series enters its championship series this weekend at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
North Carolina and Oklahoma advanced to the national championship series in college baseball. The series is played as a best-of-three matchup.
Game 1: Saturday, June 20, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Sunday, June 21, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3, if needed: Monday, June 22, 6 p.m.
Location: Charles Schwab Field Omaha
Teams: North Carolina vs. Oklahoma
The MCWS brings fans, families, teams and visitors to downtown Omaha each year. The area around Charles Schwab Field Omaha usually sees more activity at restaurants, parking lots, hotels and nearby streets during game days.
Home Run Derby scheduled for Friday
Friday, June 19, also includes a High School and College Home Run Derby at Tal Anderson Field.
Doors are scheduled to open at 6 p.m., with the competition set for 7 p.m.
Date: Friday, June 19
Location: Tal Anderson Field
Doors: 6 p.m.
Competition: 7 p.m.
The derby adds another baseball event to MCWS week, with high school and college athletes taking part.
Omaha Farmers Market opens Saturday and Sunday
Omaha Farmers Market continues during the weekend at two locations.
The market brings together local vendors, growers, food, flowers, handmade items and morning options for walking through the city.
Old Market: Saturday, June 20
Hours: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Aksarben Village: Sunday, June 21
Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Old Market location can be paired with downtown Omaha activities and the MCWS atmosphere. The Aksarben Village market remains a Sunday morning option for families looking for a daytime plan.
Plans for June 19-21 in Omaha
For Juneteenth-related activities, the Great Plains Black History Museum anchors the local schedule with its 50th anniversary and the Negro League Baseball exhibit.
For sports plans, Charles Schwab Field Omaha will host the MCWS championship series between North Carolina and Oklahoma. Tal Anderson Field adds Friday’s Home Run Derby.
For a morning family outing, Omaha Farmers Market will be open Saturday at Old Market and Sunday at Aksarben Village.
Weekend quick guide:
- Juneteenth in Omaha: Friday, June 19
- City of Omaha offices: closed for the federal holiday
- Great Plains Black History Museum: 2221 N. 24th St.
- “A League of Our Own Negro League Baseball” exhibit: open through July 5
- MCWS: Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, at Charles Schwab Field Omaha
- Home Run Derby: Friday, June 19, at Tal Anderson Field
- Omaha Farmers Market: Saturday at Old Market and Sunday at Aksarben Village
Schedules, tickets, parking and last-minute changes are updated through each event’s official channels.
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