Omaha Events & Things to Do the Week of April 30, 2026

April is wrapping up, and Omaha's got a lot going on this week. From fresh greenery in the Old Market to a close call at city council, here's what's making news:

There's a lot to catch up on, so let's get into it.

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🌳 Old Market getting new trees and native plants The Old Market Association is swapping out declining trees for 21 new native aspen trees and more than 400 native plants and grasses. Several of the existing trees had been declining, and the refresh was overdue. Installation is expected to wrap up within a few weeks, giving the popular district a cleaner, greener look just in time for summer foot traffic.

🛤️ New Girard Trail Connection opens in North Omaha Five years in the making, a new half-mile paved trail near 72nd Street and Sorensen Parkway has officially opened in North Omaha. Built on an abandoned railroad track, the Girard Trail Connection links the east side of 72nd Street up to Girard Street, giving residents easier access to recreation and tying neighborhoods together.

🔥 Nebraska wildfire season torched over a million Great Plains acres -- now what? This year's fires burned through more than a million acres of Great Plains land, with roughly 800,000 in Nebraska alone. Experts say the priority now is scaling up prevention tools like prescribed burns and improving community coordination to reduce how bad future seasons get. The damage is done for 2026 -- but the groundwork for next year starts now.

The commercial real estate playbook is being rewritten—and Brightway Commercial's expertise is where businesses are putting their trust for measurable savings. The company specializes in tenant representation, investment sales, and strategic consulting that protects your bottom line.

Why smart businesses choose Brightway:

🚽 $411M Sewer Deal Passes — But Three Council Members Said No
Omaha just approved a $411 million contract to expand the Papillion Creek Water Resource Recovery Facility — the city's biggest deal of the night by a long shot. McCarthy Building Companies will do the work. But it wasn't easy. The vote was delayed twice and barely passed 4-3, with Councilmembers Harding, Melton, and Rowe all voting against it. This project affects every Omaha home and business. Stay tuned — we haven't heard the last of this one.

🏃 Ironman 70.3 Is Coming June 7 — Know Before You Go
Big race, big road closures. On June 7, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., several major roads will shut down for the Ironman 70.3 Omaha bike course. Expect closures on State Street, N 60th, N 138th, Wenninghoff Road, Highway 36, and Highway 75. If you live or commute in northwest Omaha, plan ahead. The city council quietly approved this in the consent agenda — but the impact is anything but quiet.

🏘️ 63 New Homes Coming to Far West Omaha
Farmland near 192nd and Fort Streets is turning into a neighborhood. The council unanimously approved Indian Creek Village — a 63-lot subdivision for single-family homes. The developer, Indian Creek East LLC, will handle the build-out. Homeowners there will pay special assessments to fund their own roads and utilities through S.&I.D. 404. West Omaha keeps growing fast — and Fort Street is going to feel it.

Watch the City Council meeting here.

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi has set up shop in the old IHOP building at 4707 North 72nd Street, just north of 72nd & Ames. This franchise, which got its start in North Dakota, runs an all-you-can-eat, made-to-order setup with sushi, hibachi, and appetizers on the menu.

801 Chophouse is in a bit of a tight spot after its parent company, 801 Restaurant Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this month. The steakhouse at 1403 Farnam Street in Omaha will keep its doors open and operate as usual, though the Kansas City-based company has already shuttered a couple of its other locations around the country.

The Corner Kick is bringing its sports bar and cantina vibe to Aksarben Village, taking over the former Voodoo Taco space at 2295 South 67th Street. This will be the third location for the local spot, and it'll come with a patio and weekend breakfast service to boot. The other two locations are in Millard and west Omaha.

7 Brew Coffee is headed to the 168th & Harrison Street area, with a building permit filed for a compact 646 sq. ft. drive-thru at 16901 Polk Street. The Arkansas-based chain, which serves coffee, tea, and energy drinks, already has a spot at 182nd & West Maple Road and another one in the works in Council Bluffs.

Godfather's Pizza swapped one southwest Omaha address for another, opening at 20462 R Street in the Coventry development near 204th & Q Street. The new spot replaced the 180th & Q location (now closed) and features seating for 60 plus a drive-thru window. A grand-opening celebration is set for May 3.

Osaka Steakhouse & Sushi Bar Elkhorn is coming to 18118 Evans Street, southwest of 180th & West Maple Road, with a planned mid-2026 opening. The 7,000 sq. ft. restaurant, owned by the same duo behind the La Vista location, will offer hibachi dining and a similar menu to the original. It was previously announced under the name Kyoto Sushi & Hibachi.

Manhattan's Coffee Deli & Grill closed its downtown location this past Friday, April 24. The spot at 1802 Farnam Street, on the ground floor of a parking garage near the Douglas County Courthouse, has served its last cup.

Javier Trujillo, the Omaha restaurateur behind Javi's Tacos, Time to Rise and Shine, Frosty Mug, Helados Locos, and El Milagro, has cut ties with third-party delivery apps after racking up roughly $188,000 in fees last year. Customers can still place orders directly through his restaurants.

The Peach Cobbler Factory is coming to Omaha for the first time, landing at 2501 South 90th Street in Loveland Shopping Center near 90th & West Center Road. The dessert franchise has been around since 2013 and now spans more than 25 states, with the nearest current locations in Oklahoma.

Crisp & Green officially opened its second Omaha location this past Thursday, April 24, at 16902 Wright Plaza in the Shops of Legacy. The opening weekend included a free entrée giveaway and a wellness event on April 25. The national chain with 45+ locations also has its original Omaha spot at 225 North 80th Street.

Q: Populus deltoides is Nebraska’s state tree. What’s its common name, which comes from its white, fluffy seeds? (Hint: Elsewhere, you might call it a poplar).

(Answer below.)

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A: Cottonwood