After a long day of education and networking sessions, oftentimes the attendees of corporate meetings want an opportunity to relax and unwind. These pre- or post-meeting events can often be what attendees remember for years after the trip has ended. Choosing the right entertainment for your event can make or break how attendees view its success.
From music that can make your attendees dance the night away to magicians who will knock their socks off, here are some of the best local entertainment options for your next meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, or Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Omaha
Omaha is Nebraska’s largest city and has a variety of entertainment options for planners to choose from that can add that extra bit of flair to an upcoming event.
One of the groups recommended by Mattie Scheeter, regional director of sales for Visit Omaha, is a local cover band called High Heel. The band has been in existence for over 19 years and specializes in classic rock music. The band has played at a variety of special events in the Omaha area and is available for corporate events.
Scheeter says the CVB recently worked with the band for an event held at the Durham Museum, a former Union Station for the Pacific Railroad that has since been transformed into a museum with a variety of event spaces. Visit Omaha contracted High Heel for a 1920s-themed event at the museum, and was very happy with how adaptable the band was with the theme of the event.
Another entertainment option in Omaha is Joe Cole’s Comedy Magic, a local magician who can perform for groups between 50 and 700 attendees. Cole is an award-winning magician and seasoned performer, winning the title of “Best Close-Up Magician” in 2001 and “Most Original Act” the following year in New Orleans and New York, respectively.
Cole can perform a 30-minute close-up magic show that is great for private parties and special events, or a 45-minute stage show for groups between 50 and 700 attendees. The show combines a mix of comedy, audience participation and even live animals into an amazing night of magic.
Other notable entertainment options in Omaha include the Acappella Omaha Chorus of Sweet Adelines, International, a women’s four-part harmony chorus; Actors Etc. Limited, which can host customized entertainment options like murder mysteries and game shows; and Allen the Balloon Man, performing balloon art, comical magic, puppetry and more.
[Related: 5 Must-Try Restaurants to Visit When Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska]
Offsite Entertainment Options
For those looking to take their event attendees somewhere exciting during their visit to Omaha, there are a variety of options. The Omaha Storm Chasers are a minor league baseball team that primarily plays at Werner Park, a 6,354-seat stadium that provides an outdoor venue for corporate meetings or events that can accommodate groups between 20 and 2,000 attendees. Groups headed to Omaha can enjoy discounted tickets, in-game recognition and other add-ons that can make your night out to the ballgame one to remember.
Another option is Alpacas of the Heartland, a 13-acre ranch located in the hills of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, just north of Omaha. The ranch provides opportunities for small groups to visit the 20 alpacas being cared for by ranch’s owner and operator, Sheri Jacoby, who can be contacted for availability of tours by appointment.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is another great option for groups visiting the city. The zoo consistently leads conservation efforts and is a world leader in the fields of molecular genetics, reproductive physiology, nutrition, plant micro propagation and conservation medicine. The zoo and aquarium has a variety of exhibits and animals including sable antelope, lions, tigers, cheetahs, snow leopards, elephants, white rhinos and more. The zoo can also be rented out for private events.
[Related: Nebraska Teambuilding Activities That Bring Groups Together]
Your Guide to Omaha Meetings
For those who haven’t considered Omaha for an upcoming meeting or event, here’s some information about new developments in the region.
The CVB put together a “Meeting Planner Guide” that includes a breakdown of its $8 billion development plan, which will enhance and modernize Omaha’s downtown convention district, riverfront and more. These new developments include new hotel builds and projects like the $306 million streetcar set to open in 2027 and new $200 million Capitol District located directly across from the downtown convention center.
The guide also has a ton of other useful information for planners, including fast facts about the destination such as the number of hotel rooms and convention space and points of interest in the destination like the Joslyn Art Museum, Lauritzen Gardens and Hot Shops Art Center.
The guide also has information on offsite activities, F&B and the services Visit Omaha provides to planners, such as connecting planners to local suppliers and the general Omaha community, photos and other social media assets to help promote your event and tour itineraries for groups of all sizes.
Click here to download the guide.
[Related: Omaha and Council Bluffs Growing Community-Friendly Spaces]
Council Bluffs
Across the Missouri River on the Iowa border, Council Bluffs offers a variety of offsite entertainment options for groups.
For groups that are looking for live music, look no further than Stir Concert Cove, which was named one of the top 100 amphitheater venues in the world by Pollstar magazine. The amphitheater has a capacity of around 4,000 and hosts a wide range of concerts throughout the warmer months, from well-known headliners to up-and-coming talent. The amphitheater is located on the property of Harrah’s Council Bluffs Hotel & Casino, which can provide groups access to over 70,000 square feet of additional meeting and event space.
Another opportunity for groups wanting to experience live music in Council Bluffs is Whiskey Roadhouse at Horseshoe Casino. The indoor live music venue blends the atmospheres of a bar, nightclub and concert venue, offering a full bar menu featuring signature drinks and cocktails. The venue hosts everything from high-energy bands to pub trivia and is the perfect spot for groups seeking an intimate live music experience.
Council Bluffs is also home to the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, a 95,000-square-foot, multi-use facility in the heart of the city’s Historic Haymarket District that serves as a creative hub for artists and performers. Visitors to the center may be treated to art galleries, live music, pop-up restaurants or other surprises that blend culinary art, visual art and entertainment. The center is also home to several nonprofit arts organizations such as the American Midwest Ballet, Chanticleer Community Theater and the Kanesville Symphony Orchestra that perform in the center’s 280-seat theater.
