Lauritzen Gardens Holiday Poinsettia Show and Bright Nights

Every holiday season Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha's botanical garden near the Missouri River, turns its floral display hall and conservatory into a holiday show built around red, white and pink poinsettias. The centerpiece is a towering poinsettia tree about 20 feet tall, and model garden trains wind through the displays, which makes the show a favorite with kids and grandparents alike.

After dark the garden runs Bright Nights, a separate timed-ticket evening event that adds lights, outdoor displays and seasonal treats. In 2025 the theme leaned Nordic, with a forest of wooden trees made from reclaimed pallets, the children's play garden lit for the first time, fire pits in a Family Chill Zone, and visits from Santa.

The daytime poinsettia show is included with regular garden admission, while Bright Nights requires its own ticket and runs roughly 4 to 9 p.m. on chosen nights from Thanksgiving weekend into early January. It is a calm, indoor-heavy outing that works well on a cold afternoon, and the gardens sit just south of downtown, a few minutes from the Henry Doorly Zoo.

Highlights

• Conservatory and display hall full of poinsettias
• A poinsettia tree about 20 feet tall
• Model garden trains running through the displays
• Bright Nights evening light event with fire pits and Santa visits
• Close to downtown and the zoo

Tips for going

• Bright Nights uses timed tickets and popular slots sell out; buy in advance, which is also cheaper than at the door.
• Buy only from Lauritzen Gardens directly. The garden has warned about third-party ticket scams.
• Daytime tickets do not include Bright Nights. The garden closes in the late afternoon on Bright Nights evenings to reset.
• Weekends near Christmas are the busiest and priciest Bright Nights dates; weeknights in early December are cheaper.
• Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.