Events

Welcome to Mission: Astronaut, a hands-on experience where visitors learn about space exploration, the technology that makes it possible, how it benefits life on Earth, and more through astronaut training challenges. Each section presents interactive tasks that require an astronaut’s mindset to solve and focus on engineering, physics, teamwork, and fun!

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!

Sharpies are one of the simplest yet versatile tools you can use to create. In this workshop, you will learn different drawing and hand lettering techniques to turn a blank space into something extraordinary. This workshop will include different types of paper and a wide selection of sharpie markers to design an abstract piece with.
This event is free and open to the public, supplies will be provided! Visit the Canopies at Gene Leahy Mall.

Ages 0-12. Stop by the library after school to make a May Day basket! Leave it on the doorstep of someone you care about on your way home.

This craft recommended for ages 0 to 6. Your little one will love the brightly colored flower that you can help them make. While supplies last. Stop by between 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. for this activity.

May the 4th be with you!! Come join us as we read to you "Goodnight Darth Vader" followed by a pool noodle Light Saber craft. The kids will have a blast trying to keep their Storm Trooper balloons a float with their DIY Light Sabers! It's a FREE event!

Join OPL for a super adventure featuring superheroes and villains in honor of Free Comic Book Day! Come enjoy fun crafts and hands-on activities inspired by your favorite superheroes! Costumes are encouraged but not required.
Don’t forget to pick up a free comic book while supplies last!

Learn to draw on location with pen, water brush & watercolor pencils. No skill required, we cherish all individual styles - children and adults! Storytelling of our surroundings, the drawings are a record of time & place. Urban Sketching is a fun and social way to connect with other sketchers of all ages and abilities; no wonder it has become a global movement! Visit the Canopies at Gene Leahy Mall.

Join OPL at The Joslyn for storytime, featuring stories, creative movement, music and exploration of a piece of art. Storytime is geared toward preschoolers, but all ages are welcome. This Storytime is part of The Joslyn's monthly Art-tastic Saturdays.

Over / Under is a series of free outdoor community weaving sessions held at nontraditional arts sites in Omaha, Nebraska, using found, foraged, and repurposed materials. Visit the Picnic Terrace in Heartland of America Park to begin your weaving journey!

Join OPL as we celebrate children around the world for DIA. We’ll take a look at the children and the culture of Japan with kamishibai, Japanese paper theater. This traditional method of Japanese storytelling combines beautiful illustrations with dramatic narration. A representative of the Japan Outreach Initiative will present kamishibai, answer questions, and tell us a little about children in Japan. Registration Required

Join OPL for a genealogy program laser focused on superheroes. Learn more about the family history of some of your favorite superheroes, discover your superhero name, identify your superhero persona, and gain skills to start your own genealogy research. Celebrate Free Comic Book Day with us and don't forget to grab your free comic book while supplies last. Registration is required and opens April 15. All materials are free and provided while supplies last.

Get ready for a WILD night! While parents enjoy a well-deserved date night, kids ages 5 - 12 years old will discover fun new ways to appreciate wildlife. Hosted by trained educators, each unique program includes pizza, snacks, animal experience, movie time, engaging and educational activities and more!

Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. Explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking and writing in each storytime! Children of all ages are welcome; storytimes will be tailored for the age of the children present. At this storytime, we will learn about fire safety with a local firefighter and even see a fire truck!

Get fit with fun as the Amazing Athletes guide you through a variety of active activities. Then, nurture your muscles and your mind with a healthy snack and a fun craft activity!

Meet Ms. Rachel at the La Vista Community Center for Pre-K Play! She visits them once a month for a special activity. In May they will be having a balloon party. This activity is only for toddlers ages 0 to 4.

Join OPL at the Gene Leahy Mall for storytime! Storytime is geared toward preschoolers, but all ages are welcome to join in the fun. Rain or shine, we'll be there! They will be under the big white pavilion.

A hilarious group of Big Canvas improvisers brings short-form improv for the whole family to the Blackstone district every 2nd Friday. Each show is a new adventure you don’t want to miss!

Celebrate World Collage Day with us! Join in and get inspired by four different collage mini workshops led by Omaha-based artists. Each activity will not only encourage you to use your hands to create something new, but will also invite you to examine your own family and explore local history. 

Over / Under is a series of free outdoor community weaving sessions held at nontraditional arts sites in Omaha, Nebraska, using found, foraged, and repurposed materials. Visit the Picnic Terrace in Heartland of America Park to begin your weaving journey!

Join OPL as we celebrate children around the world for DIA. We’ll take a look at the children and the culture of Japan with kamishibai, Japanese paper theater. This traditional method of Japanese storytelling combines beautiful illustrations with dramatic narration. A representative of the Japan Outreach Initiative will present kamishibai, answer questions, and tell us a little about children in Japan.

Hair up!!  Are you ready to let your creativity run wild? Make your own sand art bottle that looks like a troll! Let's make colorful and quirky masterpieces together!   It's a FREE all ages event. First come, first serve while supplies last

In this family-friendly presentation we will learn about the resources Nebraska Wildlife Rehab provides to our local wildlife, how it pertains to individual patients such as Gretna's own Cake Bandit Opossum, and what we can all do as a network to aid our nature neighbors. While no opossums will be present, there will be chocolate cake.

Let's dig into the joy of gardening! Miss Tina will start with some fun garden-themed stories before guiding little ones through an exciting craft activity. Young minds are sure to grow and bloom!

Bennington Library Out and About Storytime at Lake Cunningham Entrance #1

In order for curious minds to bloom, it is essential to plant a love of reading at a young age. Join OPL at Lauritzen Gardens for stories that celebrate gardens, plants, insects and more, and discover the joys of nature, movement, music, and literature. Storytime is geared for preschoolers, but all ages are welcome. Lauritzen Gardens will offer free admission to families who attend this storytime.

Get ready to craft, explore, and survive in a whole new way!! Join for a block-busting sensory bottle event that will transport you into a pixelated world of sensory!! Explore the textures of creeper-green rice, Magnetic Brick Blocks, bouncy rubber game controllers, Steve's mining ax, and much more!! Can you spy with your little eye 5 cool objects from the game?!

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!

Visit a state park for Free Fishing and Park Entry Day on May 17th! Enjoy a Saturday of fishing or state park activities without the need to purchase a fishing or park entry permit for the day.

The Bob Bruner Memorial Fishing Derby at Fremont Lakes SRA for fun, food and fishing! Local radio stations, volunteers and civic groups will be on hand to provide food, prizes, as well as loaner fishing tackle, bait and instruction.

Learn about nature and enjoy a view of the Canyon Ponds in this unique educational facility. Our naturalists will have activities set out for guests to enjoy. Round Rafts are the perfect water craft for floating around in a pond. Layers of rock can tell a story about geological events of the past. Discover and learn about fossils of the outcrop that date back to 350 million years ago!

The event, is open to the public and free to attend. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and take part in the scheduled activities. “It’s an opportunity for students, families, and the community to come together, have fun, and connect over the things they love.” The event will include Trivia Panel, Raffle and Prize Drawings, Craft Activities, Vendors, Photo Opportunities, Combat Demonstration, Marial Arts Weapons Demonstration, Painting Workshop, Cosplayers, and more.
The event will also feature special guests, including Ghostbusters of Nebraska, Star Wars 501 Legion, Brutus and more. Guests will be available for photos and meet-and-greets during the event. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance to secure priority entry. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. The event is free, and attendees should review the BU Library Comic Con rules and regulations.

Over / Under is a series of free outdoor community weaving sessions held at nontraditional arts sites in Omaha, Nebraska, using found, foraged, and repurposed materials. Visit the Picnic Terrace in Heartland of America Park to begin your weaving journey!

Enjoy the timelessness of painting “en plein air,” an inspiring way to immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors as you capture it on canvas. Supplies are provided; however you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer. Join Metropolitan Community College at the Lakeside Amphitheater at Heartland of America Park for this artistic experience.

Get ready to wiggle and giggle with Bluey!! Dance, twirl, and pop bubbles with your favorite blue pup!! Let's make memories that will have us saying 'yippie, yi, yay!' all day long. Don't miss out on this pawsome party, mate! This is a free all ages event.

Join on an expedition to the deep! Miss Jill will read a sea-themed story. Then, she'll guide little explorers through an exciting maritime craft activity. Plus, there will be mermaids, bubbles, and of course, sidewalk chalk! Stop on by and dive on in

Unleash your creativity and get ready to customize your own adorable Calico Critter Keychain! Choose your favorite critter and dazzle it up with a funky bead strand! Perfect for hanging on your purse or backpack, this cutie-pie will be your stylish sidekick everywhere you go! Join for this fun-filled event for just $10 upon arrival. Open to all ages.

Join OPL as we celebrate children around the world for DIA. We’ll take a look at the children and the culture of Japan with kamishibai, Japanese paper theater. This traditional method of Japanese storytelling combines beautiful illustrations with dramatic narration. A representative of the Japan Outreach Initiative will present kamishibai, answer questions, and tell us a little about children in Japan.

Looking for something to do with your little ones? Join us Friday May 23rd, 2025 from 10AM-1PM at Mahoney Park Shelter #1 in Lincoln (first shelter near the entrance of the park) for a fun-filled morning of outdoor exploration designed for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. There will be a nature discovery area, live animals, a wildlife habitat station, and a nature crafts station. Quality time in nature has several benefits for young children. This includes increasing creativity, problem-solving skills, plus intellectual, social and physical development. Adults benefit from more outdoor time too! So, let’s make the most of this time in our local environment.

Aloha  from Experiment 626!! Get ready to mix up some Hawaiian blue slime with mix-ins and a stitch charm!! This is a FREE, all ages event!! First come, first serve while supplies last!

Join OPL as we engage in digital storytelling through exciting STEM and coding activities with our new community partner Snapology! While children are exploring robotics, coding, and design challenges using LEGO® bricks and technology, they are learning new skills and having fun! This is a free event for kids 6-12.

Join at the La Vista Community Center for our Last Day of School Celebration. They’ll be serving up delicious root beer floats to help you celebrate the start of summer in style. It's the perfect way to unwind, have fun, and make the most of the first day of your summer break. Don’t miss out on this sweet treat!

A hilarious group of Big Canvas improvisers brings short-form improv for the whole family to the Blackstone district every 4th Friday. Each show is a new adventure you don’t want to miss!

Sofia's Play Garden Members Preview. Reserve a time slot!

Park Naturalists will teach visitors about Nebraska reptiles and amphibians with live animal ambassadors. This program is free. A valid state park vehicle permit is required for entry.

Help us celebrate slippery, slimy, wonderful worms! This special storytime will feature books and songs all about wiggly worms. At the conclusion of storytime, stay and observe real worms! If real worms make you squirm, don’t worry, worm themed crafts will be available. All supplies included. While supplies last. Registration is required

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!

Join OPL staff at different parks and places for storytime, featuring stories, creative movement, music and more. Storytime is geared toward preschoolers, but all ages are welcome. Rain or shine, we'll be there!

Join Bennington Public Library on the patio at Cup & Cone in Bennington for Out & About Storytime

While observing and painting you will learn basic water techniques such as: controlling water (wet on wet, wet on dry), blending, and how to paint from observation. Overall, visitors will have fun, unwind, and enjoy the flowers. All levels welcome, supplies are limited. Visit the Arrival Plaza at Lewis and Clark Landing for this event.

Look for the Family Fishing Trailer, where loaner rods and reels, bait and fishing instruction are available free to participants. Fishing Instructors are also available to provide helpful tips and answer questions. This is the perfect opportunity for people of all ages who have never been fishing or haven’t fished for years to learn.