Events

Visit participating locations and vote for your favorite Reuben dish! Voting will be open from January 10th-January 24th!

Add your creativity to the library—or your own bookshelf! In this all-ages workshop, participants will decorate clear, acrylic bookends using paint, stickers, and more. You can choose to take your finished bookend home or donate it to the library. This is a free event for all ages.

Tea 101 is an interactive session led by staff from The Tea Smith. It is ideal for people who are new to tea or want to learn more about the history, legend, tastes and benefits of the world's most popular prepared beverage. Limited samples of tea will be provided. This is a free event for Adults 19+. Registration is required.

Join us as we travel around the globe exploring music and dance! This session will feature the story "Ten Oni Drummers" by Matthew Gollub, a delightful tale about silly ogres from Japan. We'll sing, dance, drum, and more! After storytime, children will be able to explore the props and instruments featured with representatives from Circle Theatre.

Fun crafts at The Learning Express.  Penguin on Ice Sensory Bin

A hilarious group of Big Canvas improvisers brings short-form improv for the whole family to the Blackstone district every 3rd Friday. Each show is a new adventure you don’t want to miss!

Looking to explore the seasons with your little learner? Join us for our new program learning what happens in the forest as the seasons change – Little Learners: Seasonal Science! We’ll discuss what animals do as the seasons change, and explore science stations focused on winter, spring, or fall. Join us on a hike looking for snowflakes, spring shoots, or falling leaves, and make your own seasonal craft to take home!  

Stop by and meet some real snow fairies! They're usually too busy this time of year covering our windshields and walkways with frost and ice, but they've carved some time out of their hectic schedules to fill our store with enchantment. Plus, we'll have a wintery craft for kids to make and take home! This weekend's forecast: a 100% chance of fun!

Do you have what it takes to rise as a true Warrior? Team up with your Clan, crack codes, and solve tricky puzzles before time runs out! Unlock the prize box and prove your strength in this thrilling escape room inspired by the bestselling "Warriors" series by Erin Hunter. For participants ages 13-18.

Join OPL for a Mario Kart tournament at the Downtown Branch. We will be playing the game on the Nintendo Switch 2. This is a free program for ages 11-13. Registration is required.

Join on the 3rd Saturday of each month as our quick-witted performers play a variety of improv games, each with a musical twist. They'll take your wildest suggestions and transform them into hilarious, one-of-a-kind songs right before your eyes. Whether it's a rap about a clumsy superhero or a love ballad for a talking dog, each moment is as unpredictable as it is uproarious.

Calling all explorers and adventurers! Our friend Miss Tina is going to take us on an expedition to the far north - all from the comfort of our store! There will be stories about arctic wildlife, guided yoga, plus an exciting craft activity to make and take home. It's all the fun of the Arctic without the sub-zero temps!

Join us as we travel around the globe exploring music and dance! This session will feature the story "Ten Oni Drummers" by Matthew Gollub, a delightful tale about silly ogres from Japan. We'll sing, dance, drum, and more! After storytime, children will be able to explore the props and instruments featured with representatives from Circle Theatre.

Fun crafts at The Learning Express.  Tonie Swap & Storytime

Enter the world of Goosebumps with this program full of spooky fun inspired by R.L. Stine’s bestselling books! Kids will enjoy creepy crafts, ghoulish games, and interactive stations that bring the eerie excitement of the series to life. Perfect for brave readers and thrill-seekers alike! This is a free event for children ages 8-12.

Tea 101 is an interactive session led by staff from The Tea Smith. It is ideal for people who are new to tea or want to learn more about the history, legend, tastes and benefits of the world's most popular prepared beverage. Limited samples of tea will be provided. This is a free event for Adults 19+. Registration is required.

Bundle up and join Keep Omaha Beautiful educators for a wintery exploration of nature’s hidden magic! We’ll begin by reading "Jayden’s Impossible Garden," a heartwarming story about a boy who finds beauty and nature in unexpected places—even in the middle of a city. After our story, we’ll head outside on a short winter nature walk to observe animal tracks, bare branches, dried seed pods, and other signs of life that often go unnoticed in the colder months. Back inside, we’ll share our discoveries and create a collaborative mural that captures the quiet beauty of Omaha’s winter landscape.

Pout Pout Fish will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Fun crafts at The Learning Express.  Winter Wishes Box

Explore the science of our amazing universe through hands-on activities!  Kids in Grades K-5 are invited to drop in anytime.  No library card or registration required. Note: This event takes place at the Main Library, 736 South St.

Travel back to the 1920s with Murder at the Juice Joint – an old-fashioned whodunnit in the magnificent setting of the Arbor Lodge Mansion. Solve clues, look for evidence, and break the case while mingling with new friends. Participants will receive a character to portray as they arrive at Arbor Lodge Mansion. Dress as a flapper or gangster or select from our props. $30/person. Space is limited.

Pout Pout Fish will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Wear your pajamas and bring a stuffed animal! Online Registration required. 

Calling all gamers! Have a blast learning how to code while building robotic games to test your code. You will learn about sequencing commands, value and sensor inputs, and loops. This month, kids will create a GoKart. This is a free event for kids 10-12. Children under the age of 10 will not be admitted into this program. Registration is required.

The Mac & Cheese Binge celebrates a decade of deliciousness in 2026 – and you’re not going to want to miss the mac-tastic, one-day-only neighborhood-wide menu sure to satisfy your cravings. Each participating restaurant will offer $4 mac & cheese samplers, with suggested drink pairings (prices vary). Start your tasting tour anywhere you like, then visit as many restaurants as possible in any order, and cast your vote for the best mac in midtown! 

Grab your team and get ready for a puzzle showdown! Everyone gets the same puzzle, and the race is on to see who can finish first. You’ll have two hours to put the pieces together and solve a small puzzle-related mystery. Only one team will take the crown as Puzzle Champions! Space is limited, and registration is required. Please only register once for each team. Teams are required to have a minimum of 2 members and a max of 5. One member of the team must be 19+. 

Be a geologist! Be a paleontologist! Find out what these scientists have in common and the tools they use. Learn how different rocks were formed, observe some real fossils, and make your own. This is a free event for ages 6-12.

Join Naturalist Educator for a guided hike through Fontenelle Forest located at 1111 Bellevue Blvd N, Bellevue NE 68005. Come along as we explore the various flora and fauna of the Nature Center! The guided hike will last for 2 hours, traversing easy to moderate terrain; please dress accordingly. 

Come and discover what happens to molecules when they're put to the test! You'll see liquids become solids, soap become fluffy, and chip bags shrink, and you'll learn how molecules and chemical reactions make it all happen. It's the magic of the universe in action!

Add your creativity to the library—or your own bookshelf! In this all-ages workshop, participants will decorate clear, acrylic bookends using paint, stickers, and more. You can choose to take your finished bookend home or donate it to the library. This is a free event for all ages.

Pout Pout Fish will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

You will be "locked" in a meeting room with puzzles, clues (and a few hints) to see if you have the smarts to figure out how to get out of our escape room! This escape room is based on the best-selling “The Last Kids on Earth” series by Max Brallier. This is a free event for kids ages 8-12.

Pout Pout Fish will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Let's make some music! Brains will grow and smiles will shine as kids work together to make some awesome music with Miss Kerry from @kindermusikomaha!

Fun crafts at The Learning Express.  Pola Bear Slime

Pout Pout Fish will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Join us as we travel around the globe exploring music and dance! This session will feature the story "Ten Oni Drummers" by Matthew Gollub, a delightful tale about silly ogres from Japan. We'll sing, dance, drum, and more! After storytime, children will be able to explore the props and instruments featured with representatives from Circle Theatre.

Bundle up and join Keep Omaha Beautiful educators for a wintery exploration of nature’s hidden magic! We’ll begin by reading "Jayden’s Impossible Garden," a heartwarming story about a boy who finds beauty and nature in unexpected places—even in the middle of a city. After our story, we’ll head outside on a short winter nature walk to observe animal tracks, bare branches, dried seed pods, and other signs of life that often go unnoticed in the colder months. Back inside, we’ll share our discoveries and create a collaborative mural that captures the quiet beauty of Omaha’s winter landscape.

Pout Pout Fish will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Fun crafts at The Learning Express.  Winter Wonderland Sensory Bin

It's a PARTY at the Blackstone Theater with Big Canvas Comedy. The improv teams are all new and it's guaranteed to be a barrel of laughs. Over a dozen performers will be on stage for ONE NIGHT ONLY. Don't miss out. Family friendly.

Pout Pout Fish will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

The Dragon Stone has been stolen, and Griffith and the dragons need your help to get it back! Come solve puzzles and clues to unlock a prize box before time runs out in this escape room based on the best-selling Dragon Masters series by Tracey West. All are for participants ages 6-10.

Get creative with color, texture, and imagination in this hands-on collage workshop just for kids! Participants will use paper, fabric, and found materials to design their own one-of-a-kind masterpieces while learning about shape, layering, and visual storytelling. This is a free event for children ages 8-12. Registration is required and opens Nov. 15.

Nestled among the trees and trails of Fontenelle Forest, stories take flight! Join OPL at Fontenelle Forest for a special storytime celebrating birds, nature, insects, and more. We’ll explore the wonders of nature through stories, songs, and movement. While this program is geared toward preschoolers, children of all ages are welcome.

Bundle up and join Keep Omaha Beautiful educators for a wintery exploration of nature’s hidden magic! We’ll begin by reading "Jayden’s Impossible Garden," a heartwarming story about a boy who finds beauty and nature in unexpected places—even in the middle of a city. After our story, we’ll head outside on a short winter nature walk to observe animal tracks, bare branches, dried seed pods, and other signs of life that often go unnoticed in the colder months. Back inside, we’ll share our discoveries and create a collaborative mural that captures the quiet beauty of Omaha’s winter landscape.

Have you ever wondered what the Forest looks like after the sun goes down? Now you can find out at our Full Moon Hikes! Come on an evening hike with us and experience the Forest under the light of the moon. This program will include an educational discussion of the nocturnal animals around the Forest and a brief talk about the lore of full moons. The guided hike will proceed after the discussion. After the hike, please join for a seasonal snack.

Free In-Store Kids Workshops. Join Us at 9 a.m. the First Saturday of Every Month. While Supplies Last.

Join instructor Alexis Espinoza-Arrubla as she leads a workshop on yoga and mindfulness for kids! This workshop offers a fun, engaging way for children and their caregivers to build body awareness, practice self-regulation skills and enhance overall well-being through practices such as yoga, mindful movement, games, relaxation techniques and arts + crafts. Limited yoga mats will be available, however, participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat or blanket.

Be a geologist! Be a paleontologist! Find out what these scientists have in common and the tools they use. Learn how different rocks were formed, observe some real fossils, and make your own. This is a free event for ages 6-12.

Grab your team and get ready for a puzzle showdown! Everyone gets the same puzzle, and the race is on to see who can finish first. You’ll have two hours to put the pieces together and solve a small puzzle-related mystery. Only one team will take the crown as Puzzle Champions! Space is limited, and registration is required. Please only register once for each team. Teams are required to have a minimum of 2 members and a max of 5. One member of the team must be 19+. 

Join us as we travel around the globe exploring music and dance! This session will feature the story "Ten Oni Drummers" by Matthew Gollub, a delightful tale about silly ogres from Japan. We'll sing, dance, drum, and more! After storytime, children will be able to explore the props and instruments featured with representatives from Circle Theatre.

Lil Rosies Teaching Artist, Chloe Hug, from The Rose Theater will be visiting to lead an interactive reading of the beloved book "Giraffes Can't Dance." Children and families will get to enjoy the story, participate in fun theater activities, and get excited as we prepare for our winter show. Don’t miss this lively evening of imagination, singing, dancing, and storytelling—all inspired by giraffes, dance, and the magic of live theater! All are welcome!

Get creative with color, texture, and imagination in this hands-on collage workshop just for kids! Participants will use paper, fabric, and found materials to design their own one-of-a-kind masterpieces while learning about shape, layering, and visual storytelling. This is a free event for children ages 8-12. Registration is required and opens Nov. 15.

Enter the world of Goosebumps with this program full of spooky fun inspired by R.L. Stine’s bestselling books! Kids will enjoy creepy crafts, ghoulish games, and interactive stations that bring the eerie excitement of the series to life. Perfect for brave readers and thrill-seekers alike! This is a free event for children ages 8-12.

Grab your team and get ready for a puzzle showdown! Everyone gets the same puzzle, and the race is on to see who can finish first. You’ll have two hours to put the pieces together and solve a small puzzle-related mystery. Only one team will take the crown as Puzzle Champions! Space is limited, and registration is required. Please only register once for each team. Teams are required to have a minimum of 2 members and a max of 5. One member of the team must be 19+. 

Join OPL for a Mario Kart tournament at A.V. Sorensen! We will be playing the game on the Nintendo Switch 2. This is a free program for ages 13-18. Registration is required.

Join the murder and mayhem for our "A Villain's Vendetta" murder mystery. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes. Prizes will be awarded at the beginning of the evening for the best and most creative attire. Additional props will be available for the mystery. Halloween-themed snacks will also be served. Space is limited. Plan to arrive at the mansion by 6:15 p.m.

Join us in the sunroom of Arbor Lodge Mansion for a special Valentine's Tea. Enjoy an assortment of teas and dainty brunch and dessert selections, along with musical entertainment and a brief history of Valentine's Day greetings. In addition to the tea, participants can explore the mansion and view the special “Love Is in the Air” exhibit, featuring displays of Morton Family weddings and vintage Valentine card collections. Teas will be at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Cost is $30 per person and includes your mansion admission and entrance to the tea.