Nebraska Science Festival

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, 2026-04-06 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-07 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-08 08:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-09 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.

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, 2026-04-04 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-06 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-07 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-08 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.

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, 2026-04-03 20:00 - 21:00 | 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).

The Fred G. Dale Planetarium
2026-04-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-04 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.

Birds of a Feather at Mahoney State Park
2026-04-07 10:00 - 11:30 | Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, 28500 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE, 68003, United States
Get ready to go birding by participating in the Birds of a Feather program at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s newly renovated James Family Conservatory and Nature Center.
This is a program is intended for elementary-aged youth and chaperones. We introduce a different birding topic each session to begin the program. When weather permits, we will head outdoors for a hike or time in the birding area. The program runs approximately 60-90 minutes.
April 7 – Feathers, Forms and Functions: Consider how the form of a bird (beak, feathers, feet) relates to the functions they do to survive and thrive in the wild.
April 21 – Raptors: Discover the differences between hawks, eagles, owls and more as soar in and study their senses, diet and adaptations.
Registration is required.

STEM: Tinker Tots
2026-04-07 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-07 18:30 - 19:30 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
Join the Kearney Public Library for a hands-on STEM program designed especially for you and your preschooler. Tinker Tots is a STEM-based learning program for children ages 2–5. Fun, playful activities will engage the mind and body as your child builds their fine motor skills and creativity.
An adult caregiver must remain with the participating child.
Please log in with your library credentials to reserve your place at this event. You may also book by phone or at your nearest library.

STEM: Build, Connect, Create
2026-04-07 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-07 18:30 - 19:30 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
Let your imagination run wild as you explore The Kearney Public Library’s collection of STEM toys. STEM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. By having fun with STEM activities, children will learn concepts and gain skills that enhance their creative and scientific thinking. These activities allow kids to explore STEM concepts in an entertaining and engaging way.

Please log in with your library credentials to reserve your place at this event. You may also book by phone or at your nearest library.
