In designing Mutual of Omaha’s Centennial celebration in 2009, VGA created an event that would attract visitors from throughout the community. Wild About Omaha Weekend, a special two-day celebration, featured dozens of free cultural and entertainment experiences showcasing some of Omaha’s best arts and concert venues, museums, family destinations and special attractions - all for free! More than 80,000 people participated in the celebration by attending at least one of the events.
On Friday, July 25, special programs, entertainment and refreshments were offered at more than a dozen of Omaha’s finest downtown destinations. Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, The Durham Museum, Hot Shops Art Center, Joslyn Art Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, Film Steams and Slowdown are just a few of the educational, arts and entertainment nonprofit organizations that opened their doors to the public for free. In addition, the Rose Theater, Downtown Family YMCA and Omaha Children's Museum combined to offer a special 20th Street Family Zone with activities indoor each facility and a large outdoor play zone with inflatable bouncers, face painters, hands-on scenery painting and more.
On Saturday, July 26, the gates of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo were opened to the public for free. A record number of more than 40,000 visitors enjoyed all of The Zoo's regular attractions, as well as nationally-known street performers and a variety of hands-on animal enrichment presentations. That evening, 14,850 baseball fans capped off the festivities by attending a free Omaha Royals game featuring the ZOOperstars! and a post-game fireworks show.
