Nebraska Science Festival

Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair Project Expo
2026-04-12 10:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Celebrate STEM research conducted by area middle school and high school students! Kiewit Luminarium and Lauritzen Gardens will display some of the award-winning project boards from the 47th annual Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair that was held March 27. Included with admission to each location.

About MSEF:
Founded in 1980, the Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair (MSEF) is open to all Douglas, Sarpy and Washington County students in grades 6-12. Each March, MSEF provides students an opportunity to display their research projects and have their projects judged by area college instructors and practicing professionals in the project’s field. MSEF is affiliated with the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences. MSEF is organized by the Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair, Inc., a non-profit organization made up of educators, business people, engineers, and scientists. Further information about MSEF is at msefomaha.com.

Wings Over the Platte
2026-04-12 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-13 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-14 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-15 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-16 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-17 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
2026-04-12 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-13 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-14 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-15 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-16 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-17 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.

Science Sunday
2026-04-12 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)

The Science Club at Yates Illuminates
2026-04-12 14:00 - 17:00 | Yates Illuminates, 3260 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE, 68131, United States
The Science Club is back at Yates Illuminates!

Free and open to youth ages 4–16, this is a space to explore, build, experiment, and learn together. Sessions take place on select Sundays this spring, with a couple of special Saturday dates added in.

If you have a young inventor at home, you can have them join by emailing Marie Helene at mhandre@yatesilluminates.org with subject (Science Club sign up), names of parents/guardians, plus names and ages of youths participating.

April Dates
4/5 (confirm when signing up)
4/12
4/25

North Platte Hatchery
2026-04-13 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-14 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-15 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-16 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-17 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.

Hidden Figures - SOLD OUT
2026-04-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey St., Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Join NE SciFest and NASA Nebraska Space Grant for a free showing of “Hidden Figures.”
The film recounts the true story of the African-American mathematics genius, Katherine Johnson, and her two fellow colleagues, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who helped NASA win the Space Race. Using their mathematical calculations, John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth.
Doors open at 6:30pm, movie begins at 7pm.
For free tickets email your name and ticket quantity to nescifest@gmail.com.

Wise & Wild at Mahoney State Park
2026-04-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, 28500 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE, 68003, United States
Nature enthusiasts ages 18+ are invited to attend the Wise & Wild program on select Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at Eugene T. Mahoney’s newly renovated James Family Conservatory and Nature Center.
This program is designed for adults who love the outdoors and want to enjoy time in the parks. We will share a variety of nature-related topics with activities indoors and out. Join us on your own or bring along friends of any age. Free program.
April 14 – Bird Mist-Netting: Observe the process of mist-netting, a tool used to catch and band birds for research. Get up close and learn about local bird species.

Nerd Nite Omaha
2026-04-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Saro Cider Lounge, 1012 S 10th St., Omaha, NE, 68108, United States
Nerd Nite is grounded in this super nerdy, highly engaging, fun approach to learning. We’re looking forward to more engagement, learning, and connection over the topics our speakers nerd out about!

Join us! Be there and be square.

There are two awesome talks lined up for the April event:

-Presentation #1: War! Huh! What is it good for? ADVANCING MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY by Emily Speck
-Presentation #2: Successful Rain Gardens by Rocky Keehn

Owls & Old Fashioneds
2026-04-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Mercury, 329 S 16th St #3, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Do you love Owls? Do you love Old Fashioneds? Have you ever thought it would be fun to drink old fashioneds and talk about owls? Well, this is the event for you!

Join Fontenelle Forest as they bring some very special feathered guests to talk all things owls. Come see these glorious creatures up close and personal – just please no touching.
While learning and looking at owls, Mercury will provide three old fashioned samples, with one featuring bourbon aged with that oak from the forest. Samplers cost $15.
Tickets are required.

LEGOS at the Library
2026-04-16 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.

Bio & Beers
2026-04-16 16:30 - 19:00 | Pint Nine Brewing Company, 10411 Portal Rd #104, LaVista, NE, 68128, United States
Join Bio Nebraska for a Bio & Beers Happy Hour event in La Vista.

Connect with professionals from across Nebraska’s bioscience industry at Pine Nine Brewing Company.
FREE for Bio Nebraska members and $25 non-members. Registration deadline is Monday, April 6, 2026.

Kennedy STEAM Night
2026-04-16 17:30 - 19:00 | Howard Kennedy Elementary Schoool, 2906 N 30th St., Omaha, NE, 68111, United States
Kennedy Elementary School is hosting a STEAM Night on Thursday, April 16, from 5:30-7pm featuring Robotics, Urban Gardening, Water Science, NASA Nebraska stations and more!
Come and enjoy awesome opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. Food, Fun and Family time for ALL.

Sharp-tailed grouse viewing at Niobrara State Park
2026-04-17 16:00 - 2026-04-19 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.

Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
2026-04-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant, 5600 10th St., Omaha, NE, 68137, United States
Come visit the Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant for a tour with Conservation Nebraska on April 17th from 6-8pm! The tour will provide an overview of the plant and highlight water conservation efforts.
There are no age requirements, but adults should accompany small children. People attending the tour are required to wear closed-toed shoes. Since the majority of the tour requires walking outdoors, please dress for all weather conditions.
Viewing most of the treatment process requires walking up stairs, some of which are difficult for those afraid of heights.
Please refer to the map in the comments section for parking instructions: If the front gate is closed upon arrival, please press the button on the call box (green circle on map) and staff will open the gate (red line). Then park in any available spot in the upper parking lot (orange rectangle). Enter through the double doors of the front office and let the secretary on duty know you are here for a tour.
Registration required.

The Fred G. Dale Planetarium
2026-04-17 19:00 - 20:00 | 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.
