SCC Family Science Night
2025-04-25 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Southeast Community College Lincoln, 8800 O St., Lincoln, NE, 68520, United States
Spring into Science and celebrate Earth Day at a FREE event for families on Friday, April 25 at Southeast Community College Lincoln.
Come have fun with friends and family and learn about Science with exciting activities, great prizes and enjoy free food too!

2025 Northeast Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Plant Fair and Market Vendors
2025-04-26 09:00 - 15:00 | Northeast Community College Agriculture Complex, 2301 E Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE, 68701, United States
Held at Northeast Community College, Chuck Pohlman Ag Complex is the 2025 Northeast Extension Master Gardener Plant Fair and Market Vendors.
Educational speakers will be present Friday and Saturday with proceeds from the fair helping to support educational speakers and horticulture scholarships to Northeast Community College.

Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects®
2025-04-26 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-27 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-28 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-29 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108
BUILD a great garden adventure during Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects®: Made with LEGO® Bricks all month long at Lauritzen Gardens. This exhibit celebrates the beauty of nature but also emphasizes the delicate connections that exist between all living things. Marvel at 18 larger-than-life sculptures built from more than 275,000 LEGO® bricks, including a majestic monarch butterfly, a hovering hummingbird, a sly fox, and more! Ignite your imagination, make your own brick-built creations, and leave with a deeper appreciation for the relationships and connections that sustain our ecosystems.

Skeletons on the Screen: Dr. Katie East
2025-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Willa Cather Branch, 905 S. 44th St., Omaha, NE, 68105, United States
Join Dr. Katie East for an entertaining look into forensic anthropology on the screen to learn what forensic anthropologists actually do. Compare television, movies and real life. It may be entertaining when pop culture gets forensic anthropology wrong, but the consequences are more real than you think.
This is a free event for teens aged 13-19.

Incredible Edible Landfill
2025-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Downtown Branch, 1401 Jones St., Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Have you ever wondered what happens once you throw something into the trash can? How important is recycling? Join the Omaha Public Library as they explore these issues in a fun (and tasty) way! Participants will use pudding, candy, cookies, cereal, and other tasty treats to create an edible landfill.
This program contains allergens such as wheat, milk, eggs, soy and tree nuts. However, the treat can be made without all the ingredients for children that still want to participate.
This is a free event for children ages 7-12. Registration is required and opens April 1. Please call 402-444-4828 to register.
Parents/caregivers must remain in the building with their child(ren) for the duration of the program.

Nebraska Science Festival Star Party
2025-04-26 21:00 | Branched Oak Observatory, 14300 NW 98th St., Raymond, NE, 68428, United States
In collaboration with NE SciFest, we are pleased to host the Nebraska Science Festival Star Party! This event is for all lovers of space science and astronomy. On Saturday, April 26th, Branched Oak Observatory will open its doors and train its telescopes to the skies between the hours of 9PM and Midnight. Explore the wonders of the night sky through a variety of telescopes. See the Beehive Open Cluster, the Hercules Globular Cluster, the Cigar Galaxy, the Crab Nebula and so much more!
Note: Night sky observing is dependent on local weather conditions.

Admission: $10 Adults, $5 for children 5 to 15. Always FREE to local astronomers setting up their own telesocpe and sharing views with the public.
No Registration
Open to Everyone
Arrive Anytime Between the Times Given
Stay for the Entire Event or As Long As You Want
No Park Permit Required

The Sounds of Science: Hearing Music Through Art and Science
2025-04-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Site-1 Brewing, 2566 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE, 68131, United States
Stop out to Site-1 Brewing on April 29 at 7pm to learn about “The Sounds of Science: Hearing Music Through Art and Science.”
Moderated by Dr. Allison Coffin, Associate Professor at Creighton University, panelists Dr. Chris Strecker, Director of the Technology Core and Spatial Hearing and Auditory Neuroscience Lab and Dr. A. Barron Breland, Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs & Dean of the Graduate School at Creighton University, will lead a discussion on how we perceive sound and hearing from the arts and science perspectives.

Speaker Bios:
Dr. Chris Stecker is the Director of the Technology Core and Spatial Hearing and Auditory Neuroscience Lab. Dr. Stecker has a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science and a doctorate in cognitive psychology. His current research focuses on using behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging (functional MRI) techniques to study how the brain processes spatial information.
Dr. A. Barron Breland is Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs & Dean of the Graduate School at Creighton University where he previously served as Chair of the Department of Fine & Performing Arts. He holds degrees in Music Theory and Choral Conducting from the University of Georgia and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He has arranged, conducted, and performed broadly and across genres. He is also the Artistic Director of the Heartland Mixed Chorus.
Dr. Allison Coffin is an Associate Professor at Creighton University. Her research examines the cellular mechanisms of hearing loss from diverse toxic insults (noise, ototoxic drugs) and works to develop preventative or restorative therapies. Current research seeks to identify occult hearing (oto) toxins and develop predictive models to determine ototoxic potential early in pre-clinical drug development. She is also the co-founder and President of the Association of Science Communicators, a professional organization that seeks to increase the impact of science in society.

Wonderful Worms
2025-04-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Saddlebrook Branch, 14850 Laurel Ave., Omaha, NE, 68116, United States
Help the Omaha Public Library celebrate slippery, slimy, wonderful worms! This special storytime will feature books and songs all about wiggly worms. At the conclusion of storytime, stay and observe real worms. If real worms make you squirm, don’t worry, worm-themed crafts will be available.
All supplies included. While supplies last.

NE SciFest Social Media Trivia
2026-04-01 - 2026-04-30 | NE
Science is all around us so let’s have some virtual fun! Running every day through the festival we’re bringing back our NE SciFest Social Media Science Trivia.

Everyday we will be posting a trivia question (riddle, clue, etc.) on our social media pages related to science. All you need to do is respond with the answer.

Simply take or find a picture of the item in the clue and post it to Facebook (comments section) or Twitter (X) with the hashtag #nescifest.

NE SciFest Scavenger Hunt
2026-04-01 - 2026-04-30 | NE
Let’s go outside and hunt for science!
Download the scavenger hunt (below) and go out and search for science. Ten quests await you – no matter where you live in Nebraska. You have all month long, April 1-30, to complete these tasks. Tag us on social media or email us and share your completed hunt!
NESciFest-Scavenger-Hunt-2026

NE SciFest Ice Cream
2026-04-01 - 2026-04-30 | eCreamery Ice Cream & Gelato, 5001 Underwood Ave, Omaha, NE, 68132, United States
Available in April – until pints run out, our new NE SciFest signature ice cream flavor from eCreamery: LUNAR LEMON.
Lunar Lemon: Lemon Cake Ice Cream, White Chocolate Chips, Graham Crunch and Raspberry Swirls.
Purchase a pint for science!

North Platte Hatchery
2026-04-01 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-02 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-03 08:00 - 16:30 | The North Platte Fish Hatchery, 444 E State Farm Rd., North Platte, NE, 69101, United States
The North Platte Hatchery is open to the public and tours may be scheduled during normal working hours. Hatchery information is on display at the hatch house.
The North Platte Fish Hatchery opened in 1943. The facility utilizes the adjacent Nebraska Public Power District irrigation canal to feed 43 earthen ponds, water that ultimately is returned to the canal after being used for fish production.
The North Platte Hatchery produces a variety of coolwater and warmwater fish species including regular production of walleye, white bass, blue catfish and channel catfish. On demand, the hatchery also produces yellow perch, black and white crappie, wiper, striped bass, bluegill, muskellunge, tiger muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, sauger and saugeye. North Platte hatchery staff also makes annual collections of walleye and white bass eggs and milt from regional water bodies.
In addition to the hatchery, this property houses the Aquatic Conservation Facility where our team conducts mussel propagation research, as well as other aquatic work.
To prevent the spread of disease and reduce stress to fish, some areas of the facility may not be open to visitation. Contact the hatchery in advance to schedule a tour.

Little Saplings Nature Discovery Program
2026-04-01 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Schramm Education Center, 21502 West Highway 31, Gretna, NE, 68028, United States
Do you have a little one who loves animals, nature, and the outdoors? Are you looking for opportunities to explore the outdoors together with your children? Join us for Little Saplings, Schramm Education Center’s early childhood nature discovery program. Little Saplings, a monthly program designed for children ages 2 – 5 and their adult caregiver, will bring nature themes to life for your child through story time, sensory activities, crafts, and outdoor exploration!
The series is held on the first Wednesday of every month from 9 – 10 am and 10 – 11 am. The cost to participate is $5 per child and $5 per adult per program and includes admission to the Education Center after the program. Schramm Family Pass members participate free. A State Park Vehicle Entry Permit is not required in the Schramm Education Center parking lot. For questions about the program, please contact Jen Ruyle, Outdoor Education Specialist, at 402-332-5022 or jennifer.ruyle@nebraska.gov.

Wings Over the Platte
2026-04-01 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-02 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-03 09:00 - 17:00 | Stuhr Museum, 3133 West Highway 34, Grand Island, NE, 68801
Flowing across the heart of the Great Plains, the Platte River has long been a source of life, movement, and inspiration. Wings Over the Platte celebrates the landscapes, waterways, and wildlife that define this region through the vision of artists connected to the Platte River Valley.
From sweeping prairie horizons and ever-changing skies to intimate studies of plants, animals, and waterways, this juried exhibition captures the spirit of a place where nature and people have been intertwined for generations. Artwork in painting, photography, sculpture, and more invites visitors to experience the river not just as scenery, but as a living force that shapes Nebraska’s land, history, and community. Many works will also be available for purchase, offering a chance to take home a piece of the river’s story.
Join The Stuhr Museum in honoring the connection between art and nature, and the timeless role the Platte River plays in shaping both.

Discovery Days at The Hall of History
2026-04-01 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-02 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-03 10:00 - 16:30 | Boys Town Hall of History, 14057 Flanagan Blvd., Boys Town, NE, 68010, United States
Visit The Hall of History Museum at Boys Town, and explore their science stations.
Make your own comic books, design your own superhero outfit, learn about pottery, make a molding of a butterfly or dinosaur – to take home, and take a peek into microscopes and guess how much your brain weighs. Plus, don’t forget to stop by their “Brain Games” wall.

Free admission. The Hall of History is open Monday through Saturday from 10am until 4:30pm and on Sundays from 11am until 4pm.

On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts
2026-04-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Norfolk Public Library, 309 N 5th St., Norfolk, NE, 68701, United States
Join the Norfolk Public Library for an exhilarating journey through the history of US women astronauts with Valerie Neal, emerita curator from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and expert on human spaceflight.
Register for the live-stream event and submit questions for the author at https://libraryc.org/norfolknelibrary/145424.

LEGOS at the Library
2026-04-02 15:45 - 16:45 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
Join The City of Kearney Public Library for some brick-snapping fun! Come design and build your own creations. The library will provide the LEGOS, you just need to bring your imagination along. No registration is required for this event.

Sharp-tailed grouse viewing at Niobrara State Park
2026-04-03 16:00 - 2026-04-05 11:00 | Niobrara State Park, 89261 522 Ave, Niobrara, NE, 68760-6087, United States
Experience the natural wonder of the sharp-tailed grouse mating dance from a grouse viewing blind at Niobrara State Park! This sunrise ritual is an ancient and glorious display from one of Nebraska’s most famous grassland birds.
Reservations
Reserve the viewing blind (free of charge) any time between March 1 and May 1, with peak viewing between March 7 and April 20. The large trailer blind can hold up to 12 guests (up to 10 comfortably). In addition, there are two small pop-up blinds available upon request for those with bigger cameras and camera stands that won’t fit in the trailer blind. Blinds are first come, first serve by reservation only. Book your spots by calling the park office at 402-857-3373.
A 2026 state park vehicle permit is required for park entry.

How Do Astronomers Learn About Things That Are So Far Away?
2026-04-03 19:00 - 20:00 | The UNK Planetarium, 2401 11th Ave, Kearney, NE, 68849, United States
The University of Nebraska Kearney Planetarium is offering a free show to the public! Astronomers use large telescopes to study the Universe. However, space is so vast that even with the largest telescopes, planets, stars, and even galaxies can appear just as dots. Come learn about some of the techniques that astronomers use to learn so much from such small points of light in the sky.
Free tickets will be available to reserve at 8:00 AM CT on Friday 3/27.
Shows are recommended for engaged grade school students through adults. Shows are strongly discouraged for ages 2 and under. Please be prepared to turn off phones and smartwatches, remove lighted shoes, etc., so that all participants may enjoy the show in its intended dark, quiet environment. Please arrive 5 minutes before your show, or ticket reservations may be released to allow for walk-in attendees.
In conjunction with the show, the UNK Astronomy Club will provide telescope observing, outside of Bruner Hall, at 9:00 PM (weather permitting).
