Heartwood Omaha

Winterland Ice Skating at Heartwood Preserve
2026-02-01 12:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Heartwood Park, 301 S 145th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68154, United States
Back for its second year, Winterland transforms Heartwood Preserve into a free community skating experience, courtesy of Applied Underwriters. Enjoy free skating, rentals, and skate aids, plus festive surprise events all season long—from themed skate nights to visits with Santa.
👉 Registration is open to the public on October 10th. Sign-up for your 90-minute session here: winterlandatheartwood.simpletix.com

2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships
2026-02-13 - 2026-02-15
Heartwood Preserve and Nebraska Snow Sculpting are proud to present the 2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships, held at Heartwood Park in Omaha. Teams from across Nebraska will compete for the title of Nebraska State Champion and the opportunity to represent the state at the 2027 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition.

If you are interested in competing, please review the information below carefully and complete the Team Application.
Application

Waiver

General Information for Sculptors

Participants

Teams may consist of up to three members (two-member teams are acceptable).
All participants must be 18 years of age or older.
Residency requirements:

Three-member teams: The team captain and at least one additional sculptor must be Nebraska residents.
Two-member teams: The team captain must be a Nebraska resident.

Amateur and professional sculptors are welcome.
Sculptors may participate on only one team.
There is no entry fee.
Proof of residency is required (copy of a driver’s license, recent utility bill, or property tax bill).

Snow Sculpting Rules

Only snow, ice, and water sourced on-site may be used.
No colorants, armatures, or mixed media are permitted.
No direct advertising may be incorporated into sculptures.
Hand tools only; power tools are not allowed.
Sculptors must provide their own tools and assume all associated risk.
A ladder and water bucket will be provided at each site.
Professional sculptor demonstrations will take place before and during the event to support both amateur and professional participants.

Snow Blocks

Each team will be assigned (by lottery) one snow block measuring 4’ x 4’ x 8’.
Finished sculptures may not exceed 10 feet in diameter; height is unlimited.
Sculptures must be fully finished on all sides.
Snow quality cannot be guaranteed; additional snow may be available on-site.

Postponement or Cancellation
In the event that weather conditions are not conducive to snow block preparation or sculpting, the event may be postponed or canceled. As an alternative, organizers may elect to provide ice blocks in place of snow.

Judging Criteria
Sculptures will be evaluated by the sculptors themselves using the following criteria:

Creativity (50 points): Originality of concept and artistic expression
Technique (30 points): Skillful use of materials and quality of execution
Message (20 points): Visual impact and clarity of theme

Awards

1st Place: Nebraska State Champion Trophy
2nd Place: Second Place Trophy
3rd Place: Third Place Trophy

A People’s Choice Award will also be selected by public vote.
The first-place team will be invited to represent Nebraska at the 2027 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. If the first-place team is unable to compete, the opportunity may be extended to the second- or third-place team.

Application & Jury Process
The Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships is a sanctioned event that provides Nebraska sculptors the opportunity to advance from state-level competition to the national stage. To ensure a high standard of artistic quality, teams are selected through an application and jury process.
Applicants are encouraged to submit thorough and detailed materials. Final judging will be conducted by the sculptors at the conclusion of the competition.

Sculpture Subject Matter

Sculptures must be family-friendly and non-political.
Original artwork is strongly encouraged.
Interpretations of well-known works are allowed; however, reproduction of copyrighted material is prohibited.
Advertising may not be incorporated into designs.
Sculptors are encouraged to use the vertical form to create impactful, emotionally engaging work.
As a reminder, Valentine’s Day/Love themes are in keeping with the dates of the event.

Event Location
Heartwood Preserve Park
301 South 145th Street
Omaha, NE 68154

Entry Process

Required Materials

Completed team application
Signed Release/Waiver Form for each team member
One conceptual illustration of the proposed sculpture

Illustrations must:

Accurately represent the sculpture concept in two dimensions
Be at least 5” x 5” in size
Be rendered in ink only (no pencil, shading, or color)

Illustrations will not be returned.
If submitting electronically, scan illustrations at 150 dpi or higher and submit as JPG, PNG, or PDF files.

Optional Materials

Additional drawings showing side or rear views
Photographs of clay models (recommended but not a substitute for required illustrations)
Photos of previous sculptural work (snow, sand, or other media)
Brief narrative describing the sculpture’s message or concept

Submission Deadline
All application materials must be received by midnight on January 30, 2026.
Please email applications and supporting materials to: NebraskaSnowSculpting@gmail.com
Team captains will be notified of acceptance status by February 2, 2026.

Questions
Matt Seeley, Competition Director
402-850-1117
NebraskaSnowSculpting@gmail.com

Snow Sculpting Public Viewing
2026-02-13 16:00 - 20:00
Come see the 2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships in action with public viewing of the sculptors and their creations from 4pm-8pm.

Snow Sculpting Judging and Awards
2026-02-14 10:00 - 18:00
Join us for the final day of the 2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships and help decide the People’s Choice winner.

Schedule:
10am - 8pm    Public Viewing
3pm – 5pm    People’s Choice Voting
5pm       Tools Down
6pm       Awards Ceremony

Snow Sculpting Public Viewing
2026-02-15 10:00 - 18:00
Come see the 2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships in action with public viewing of the sculptors and their creations from 10am-6pm.

Winterland Sled Weekends
2026-02-28 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-01 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-07 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-08 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-14 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-15 12:00 - 18:00
Slide into winter fun at the Winterland Sled Weekends!
The sledding hill is open 12–6 PM on select weekends, transforming the amphitheater into a snowy playground for all ages. Grab a saucer (or bring your own), take the hill, and enjoy the ultimate winter thrill—no lift ticket required!

Know before you go:
All sliders must complete a waiver in advance here: Sledding Waiver or see one of our friendly Safety Ambassadors onsite. For everyone’s safety, round saucer sleds ONLY are permitted.

Sign Digital Waiver

Omaha Eggstravaganza
2026-03-28 12:00 - 15:00
Join us for the Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt!
Heartwood Preserve and Collective Church are joining together to transform Heartwood Park into a vibrant and colorful community gathering spot for the 5th annual Omaha Eggstravaganza, set for noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.
This free, family-friendly event will bring the community together as 30,000 treat-filled eggs are scattered for children ages 12 and under to hunt. Egg hunts begin at 1 p.m. and will be staggered by age. Each child will also receive a raffle ticket at check-in for a chance to win prizes.
Beyond the egg hunts, Heartwood Preserve’s expansive park will be buzzing with excitement with bounce houses, face painting, balloon artists and exploring a fire truck and police car. There will be plenty of green space and activities for families to explore, connect and celebrate together. Food trucks also will be on-site with options available for purchase.
Collective Church has partnered with Omaha nonprofit, Release Inc., which will have an informational tent at the event. Release Inc. provides support and resources to countless foster families and youth across the metro.
Information can also be found at the Omaha Eggstravaganza Facebook Event Facebook Omaha Eggstravaganza or follow Heartwood Preserve on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Schedule:
12 p.m. – Event check-in and activities begin
1:00 p.m. – Pink egg hunt for children 3 years and under (Field 2)
1:20 p.m. – White egg hunt for children ages 10-12 (Field 1)
1:50 p.m. – Gray egg hunt for children with special needs (Field 2)
2:10 p.m. – Blue egg hunt for children ages 7-9 (Field 1)
2:40 p.m. – Yellow egg hunt for children ages 4-6 (Field 2)

Conservation Day at Heartwood Preserve
2026-04-25 12:00 - 16:00
Conservation Day at Heartwood Preserve—a fun, family-friendly event focused on sustainability and simple ways everyone can help protect our planet.
Stop by informational booths to learn practical tips on living more sustainably and how even small actions can make a big impact. Guests can also pot and take home their own vegetable plant, perfect for starting a garden at home. Bring along your old electronics for our free e-waste recycling station, and help keep harmful materials out of landfills.
Plus, enjoy additional activities and fun surprises throughout the afternoon!
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Bring your friends, family, and curiosity, and spend the afternoon learning how we can all make a difference—together.
