Nebraska Science Festival

Wings Over the Platte
2026-04-19 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-20 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-21 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-22 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-23 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-24 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-25 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-26 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) and 3 more dates | 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.

Science Sunday
2026-04-19 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Omaha RiverFront, 1001 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Join the Nebraska Science Festival for Science Sunday from 1-2pm in April at the Omaha RiverFront by the slides. This is a free family friendly hour for you to learn about nature, astronomy, chemistry, medicine and more with hands-on science activities (while supplies last).
Science Sunday Activities:

April 12 – Pi Bracelet Making

April 19 – Constellation Making

April 26 – Seed balls (please note we will be moving to the Lewis & Clark Landing for the Earth Day celebration on this day)

Spring Wildflower Walk
2026-04-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N., Bellevue, NE, 68005, United States
Embrace the natural beauty of the Forest at Fontenelle Forest’s Spring Wildflower Walk. Their Naturalist Educator will lead you on a hike to discover some spring wildflowers such as Spring Beauties, Bloodroot, and Dutchman’s Breeches. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a first-time explorer of spring wildflowers, this program offers an opportunity to witness the fleeting beauty of spring.

This program is $10 for members and $25 for non-members (price includes daily admission). Pre-registration is required. Members must sign in to receive discount.

North Platte Hatchery
2026-04-20 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-21 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-22 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-23 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-24 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-27 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-28 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-29 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.

Genealogy Quest
2026-04-21 14:00 - 15:00 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
If you love digging into your ancestral past, this is the study hall for you! Use the Kearney Public Library‘s resources to help you in your quest. This class won’t teach you what to do, but volunteers from the Buffalo County Historical Society and library staff will be there to give assistance when needed. So, if you enjoy delving into your ancestry but haven’t been finding time to work on it — come search with us!
This study hall is a partnership between the library and Buffalo County Historical Society, and meets in the Maker Space.

Talon Talk: Birds of Prey
2026-04-21 17:30 - 18:30 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
Join Nature’s Educators to meet and learn about 4 different birds of prey at the Kearney Public Library! Find out what they eat, where they live, special adaptations, and even have the chance to see one in flight. Be sure to bring your camera and inquiring mind!
Please be mindful that movement and noise agitates the raptors. Attending this program requires the patron to sit still for one hour. Because of this, the presentation is geared for ages 8 and older.
Bookings for this event open on March 1 at 9:00 AM at the Kearney Library (in person or via phone).

Senior Design Showcase
2026-04-24 13:00 - 16:00 | UNL Kiewit Hall, 1700 Vine St., Lincoln, NE, 68588, United States
The UNL College of Engineering’s annual Senior Design Showcase, Nebraska’s premier undergraduate engineering student design event, is scheduled for Friday, April 24 in Kiewit Hall on UNL’s City Campus.
This event highlights new and innovative projects from teams of graduating seniors from across the college. Their projects reflect real-world professional challenges, environments and, in some cases, collaborations with industry clients to develop products and devices that could have immediate impact.
The showcase is free and open to the public.

The Fred G. Dale Planetarium
2026-04-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Fred G. Dale Planetarium, Gulliver Dr., Wayne, NE, 68787, United States
Doors open 20 minutes prior to the start of a show. Planetarium shows generally include a tour of the current night sky, a view of the constellations, and a full-dome video. All shows last about 45 minutes.
April Shows:
Friday, April 3
7 p.m. Planetarium show – Living Worlds
Whether earthly or alien, all life leaves a trace. Journey through space and time to discover how life makes Earth livable, where it could be found elsewhere in the cosmos, and what new technologies we might use to find it. Along the way, you’ll learn how light and color can help us spot other living worlds even from vast distances – and develop a new appreciation for the one-of-a-kind planet right beneath our feet. Narrated by Daveed Diggs.
Saturday, April 4
1 p.m. Planetarium show – STARS
Friday, April 10
7 p.m. Planetarium show – Liquidverse
Liquidverse invites you into an audiovisual symphony exploring the micro- and macro-scale of the universe. Contemplate the vastness of our galaxy, the tininess of microorganisms, and the kinship of all life in the universe through vibrant, abstract visuals and the sonic power of an orchestra, enveloping you in sound.
Saturday, April 11
1 p.m. Planetarium show – Edge of Darkness
Edge of Darkness features amazing scenes of places never before seen gathered by key space missions, culminating with groundbreaking discoveries in 2015. It features a spectacular flight though the great cliffs on comet 67P, a close look at the fascinating bright “lights” on Ceres, and the first ever close-ups of dwarf binary planet Pluto/Charon and its moons. Narrated by Hayley Atwell.
Friday, April 17 – Earth Day Celebration
7 p.m. Planetarium show – Dynamic Earth
8 p.m. Planetarium show – Living Worlds
Dynamic Earth explores the inner workings of Earth’s great life support system: the global climate. With visualizations based on satellite monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the Sun into the interlocking systems that shape our climate: the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. Audiences will ride along on swirling ocean and wind currents, dive into the heart of a monster hurricane, come face-to-face with sharks and gigantic whales, and fly into roiling volcanoes. Narrated by Liam Neeson.
Saturday, April 18 – Earth Day Celebration
1 p.m. Planetarium show – Living Worlds
2 p.m. Planetarium show – Dynamic Earth
Friday, April 24
7 p.m. Planetarium show – Edge of Darkness
Saturday, April 25
1 p.m. Planetarium show – Tales of a Time Traveler
In Tales of a Time Traveler, you will discover that time is not so easily defined. Time is illusive, impossible to hold. It can’t be owned. It can’t be stopped. Time travel surrounds you – from the biological clock in your brain and the changing shadows on a sundial, to the history of life on Earth. Then the story expands to the lives of stars, the time scale of the Big Bang, and the distortion of time by gravity. Narrated by David Tennant.

Earth Day Omaha 2026
2026-04-25 11:00 - 16:00 | Elmwood Park, 6232 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE, 68106
A celebration of our planet and a commitment to sustainability, Earth Day Omaha brings together community members, organizations, and businesses to showcase their dedication to the environment.

With a variety of educational exhibits, interactive activities, and informative presentations, attendees will learn about the importance of reducing waste, conserving energy, and preserving our natural resources. From local food trucks to environmental demos, Earth Day Omaha 2026 promises to be a fun-filled day for the whole family!

Earth Day at The RiverFront
2026-04-26 12:00 - 15:00 | The RiverFront, 900 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Earth Day at The RiverFront will be a fun, Earth-friendly day of festivities along the Missouri River. Please join us along the RiverFront Promenade and at the Riverfront Plaza in Lewis and Clark Landing for information booths, sustainability activities, terra cotta pot painting, giveaways, a clothing drive, and live music. and more.
Science Sunday will move locations, from the slides to the plaza, to participate from 1-2pm in this event.

Butterfly Royalty of Nebraska Prairies: Monarchs and Regal Fritillaries
2026-04-29 18:30 - 20:00 | UNO’s Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, 6400 South, University Drive North, Omaha, NE, United States
Join Conservation Nebraska for an engaging presentation on monarchs and regal fritillaries — two butterfly species of great conservation interest that are vital to ecosystem services like pollination.

Joined by Dr. Ted Burk, Creighton University Professor of Biology, who will share insights into the biology and population trends of these butterflies. He’ll also discuss findings from more than 25 years of surveys tracking their populations and flower visitation patterns across Eastern Nebraska’s tallgrass prairies. Attend in person at UNO’s Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (Room 230) or virtually via Zoom. In‑person attendees may park in Lot E.
