Nebraska Science Festival

North Platte Hatchery
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 (America/Chicago) | 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.

Wings Over the Platte
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, 2026-04-27 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
2026-04-23 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-24 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-25 10:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-26 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-27 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.

Homeschool Hikes at Schramm
2026-04-23 13:00 - 14:30 | Schramm Education Center, 21502 West Highway 31, Gretna, NE, 68028, United States
Homeschool Hikes is a monthly nature exploration program hosted by the Schramm Education Center geared towards homeschool families. Each month, families can join a naturalist for a guided hike on the Schramm Park State Recreation Area hiking trails. During the program, participants will ask questions, draw, observe, and make discoveries in nature. Participants will have the opportunity to observe local phenomena, plants, and animals while exploring concepts such as patterns, cause and effect, and structure and function.
The cost to participate is $5 per person per program (adult and children are same price). This includes admission to the Schramm Education Center after the program. Schramm Family Pass members participate free. This program is recommended for ages 5 and up. Please register in advance so we can estimate attendance numbers: https://arcg.is/1HO45W0 .
Participants should dress in season-appropriate layers and wear closed-toed shoes that can get dirty. Hats and water bottles are recommended. The day of the program, come to the Schramm Education Center and check in and pay at the front desk upon arrival.

City Nature Challenge Lincoln-Lancaster
2026-04-24 - 2026-04-30 | Lancaster County, Lincoln, NE, United States
There is nature all around us! Knowing what species are in our city and where they are helps us study and protect them. The ONLY way to do that is by all of us – scientists, land managers, and the community – working together to find and document the nature in our area.
By participating in the City Nature Challenge, not only do you learn more about your local nature, but you can also make your community a better place – for you and other species.
If you live in Lincoln-Lancaster County, you can join cities from around the world in documenting the wildlife that calls our urban environments home during the annual City Nature Challenge!
Make observations to iNaturalist- April 24th-27th
Help us ID observations on iNaturalist- April 28th-May 13th

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.

2026 Maiben Lecture
2026-04-24 16:00 - 17:00 | UNL East Campus Union, 1705 Arbor Drive, Lincoln, NE, 68503, United States
For 136 years, the Nebraska Academy of Sciences has hosted an annual meeting designed to bring the scientific community across the state together to ‘share their science’.
In conjunction with the meeting, Dr. Deborah Bathke, a research associate professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, climate scientist, and Nebraska’s state climatologist, will deliver the annual Maiben Lecture titled, “Shifting Extremes: Understanding Nebraska’s Changing Climate and Preparing for What Lies Ahead,” at 4 p.m.
The lecture free and open to the public.

Sharp-tailed grouse viewing at Niobrara State Park
2026-04-24 16:00 - 2026-04-26 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.

2026 Northeast Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Plant Fair and Market Vendors
2026-04-24 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-25 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 2026 Northeast Extension Master Gardener Plant Fair and Market Vendors, back for its 32nd year!
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.
Plus, stop by the Ask the Master Gardener booth, where a master gardener will answer all your questions!

SCC Family Science Night
2026-04-24 17:30 - 20:00 | Southeast Community College Lincoln, 8800 O St., Lincoln, NE, 68520, United States
Come celebrate Earth Day at SCC Family Science Night featuring exciting activities, great prizes, and free food.

Featuring activities such as:

Telescope viewing;
Robots;
Solar System Model;
Conservation of angular movement;
Science of fermentation;
Bio-industrial Manufacturing model station; and more!

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.

Lincoln Earth Day
2026-04-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Drive, Lincoln, NE, 68508, United States
The Lincoln Earth Day Celebration is an annual celebration in Lincoln, Nebraska. The exciting community event has approximately 2,500 attendees annually and their Coalition wants you to join in the fun. There will be dozens of booths that all promote, educate, and celebrate environmental stewardship, green education, and sustainable living.
Grab your friends, families and coworkers and join us for this year’s environmental education and family fun!

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!

The Science Club at Yates Illuminates
2026-04-25 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

Anatomy of a Moment: Capturing Truth in Court & Medicine
2026-04-25 18:30 - 20:00 | KANEKO, 1111 Jones Street, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Before the opening of his upcoming KANEKO exhibition Gestures, join Peter Millett, a Seattle-based sculptor and courtroom illustrator, and Dr. James Vargo, a Children’s Nebraska craniofacial surgeon and medical illustrator, for a compelling, unscripted conversation about the challenges of rendering truth under pressure and recording the human experience.
While one works in operating rooms and the other in high-stakes legal environments, both are tasked with translating fleeting, complex realities into images that inform, persuade, and endure. This program examines how artists capture and reconstruct critical moments, exploring the questions of accuracy, interpretation, and ethics that underlie every creative decision.
Anatomy of a Moment invites audiences to reconsider what it means to “document reality,” and how artists in medicine and law shape our understanding of truth in moments that cannot be replayed.
$15 General Admission
$10 Members and Students
Reserve your spot today.

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.

Science Sunday
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)
