The Omaha Farmers Market was born at the beginning of the last century, on a small lot at the corner of 11th and Jackson Streets. Until 1964, local growers sold their produce ranging from fruits and vegetables to herbs and honey. After a 30 year absence, the Omaha Farmers Market was revived in 1994 on the very corner lot where the original market has thrived so many years before. Fresh, locally grown produce, baked goods and flowers are once again available each Saturday morning from May to October.

The Omaha Farmers Market and Lively Omaha joined forces to engage, vendors, Board members and the public an Event Game Workshop on Saturday, July 19th 2003. Lively Omaha facilitators led small groups by looking, listening and walking around the public market at 11th and Jackson and then brainstorming ideas to make the event even better. The Event Game is an adaptation of the Place Game created by Lively Omaha to help public event organizers and their boards.

The results of this Event Game were distributed to the Omaha Farmers Market Board to assist them in their evaluation of this years event and to plan for the future. Vic Gutman, Omaha Farmers Market organizer said, "Lively Omaha's Event Game has provided great ideas and suggestions for enhancing and preserving one of Omaha's oldest and largest public markets"

Emerging Themes

Specific short-term and long-term improvement ideas were developed by each team at the sessions for all the areas observed. The concepts for each location are presented here.

11th Street from Howard to Jackson

Jackson Street from 10th to 11th

Interior Areas of the Market

In addition to improvement ideas, Event Game participants came up with organizations and groups that might be interested in becoming partners to help implement their suggestions.

Local Partners

For more information about Lively Omaha and the Place Game, email connie@livelyomaha.org.