Events

Join OPL for a Mario Kart tournament at Millard Branch. We will be playing the game on Nintendo Switch. This is a free program for ages 8-12. Registration is required

Discover the magic of mirrors and light in this colorful Make It session! Kids will create their own handheld kaleidoscopes using reflective surfaces, vibrant beads, and craft materials. As they build and decorate, they'll learn how light and symmetry work together to create ever-changing patterns. It's a creative, hands-on way to explore optics and bring home a mesmerizing toy of their own design! Registration is required for this event.

Bring your favorite stuffed animal friend to a pajama storytime! After storytime, your stuffie friend will stay at the library for a sleepover with the librarians, where we’ll take pictures of them doing all sorts of fun activities. This program is for kids ages 0-7, but older siblings are welcome too.

Join for Community Fishing Night at Kramer Lake! 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.

Enjoy a special storytime with officers from the Papillion Police Department.

Wildlife Encounters and their animal ambassadors will join us at the park for an exciting, interactive, educational program all about animals adaptations, history, geography, and cool facts about each animal. In the event of inclement weather, this program will move to CB Library Meeting Room B.

Bennington Library Community Partners

Laughing Matters is a show full of juggling, mime, hat tricks, stories, magic, and other nonsense featuring Jay and Leslie from Kansas. This show is free and appropriate for all ages!

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

Laughing Matters is a show full of juggling, mime, hat tricks, stories, magic, and other nonsense featuring Jay and Leslie from Kansas. This show is free and appropriate for all ages! Registration is required

All ages and ability levels are welcome at OPL’s Tabletop Time At the Library where we’ll be playing popular, modern board games like Catan, Ticket to Ride, Splendor, King of Tokyo and more! Come hang out with friends or family, learn a new game, or enjoy a group favorite at the library.

Join children’s book illustrator, Chloe Burgett, as she shares what it's like drawing pictures for children's books. Chloe will present about her job, read her book, answer questions, and lead a draw-along activity. This is a free event event for all ages. Registration is required

Come cool off at our Watermelon Festival, held right here on one of the largest watermelon farms in the Midwest! We grow over 6 varieties of watermelon (plus cantaloupe!)—and during this special event, you can eat as much as you want. 

Join American Midwest Ballet at the Performance Pavilion in Gene Leahy Mall for a free dance class. This class is open to all ages and led by a company dancer, and focuses on learning new steps and discovering the joy of dance.

Come face to face with some of the amazing critters you can find in the forest and learn all about why they are so neat!  In the event of inclement weather, this program will be moved to the Library.

Participants will learn how animals use slime in nature and weird slime facts and will be invited to create a slime monster, blow slime bubbles or cut dripping slime with scissors. All supplies included. Children of all ages are welcome. Parents and/or caregivers are required to stay and help their children with this program.

Who's ready for a POOL PARTY?!🏊‍♀️🏖 Dive in to a splash of deliciousness as we craft our very own yummy crispie treats, then gather around for a story time while we snack on our Beach Bear🐻irresistible snacks!!😋 This is a FREE all ages event! First come, first serve, while supplies last!! We recommend coming as early as 10 am (open) to reserve your spot!

For a touch of holiday cheer at a beautiful park, bring the family to Indian Cave State Park on July 25-26, 2025 for the 12th Annual Campfire Christmas in July!

Celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy with us this Saturday, July 26th at the Bellevue Berry Farm! Join for music, carnival games, comfort food, vendors, entertainment, and more at the first annual Western Days.

On July 26, the topic will be critter clues! Be a wildlife detective. Uncover critter clues left behind in the wild as you observe tracks, fur, scat and more. The event will be held at the pavilion east of the Caboose Park.

In this class students will learn the basic movements and isolations so well as, posture and some basic styling associated with popular Egyptian and Turkish style belly dancing. You will learn fundamental muscle control and fluidity while toning those core tummy muscles. It will encourage good posture, improve flexibility and it is a great low impact exercise activity as well. Great for beginners but, all are welcome to participate. This class will be located at the 8th Street Plaza in Heartland of America Park.

Rotating schedule of free instructor-lead wellness classes sure to get you moving. This Week’s Activity: TBD

Celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy with us this Saturday, July 26th at the Bellevue Berry Farm! Join for music, carnival games, comfort food, vendors, entertainment, and more at the first annual Western Days.

For a touch of holiday cheer at a beautiful park, bring the family to Indian Cave State Park on July 25-26, 2025 for the 12th Annual Campfire Christmas in July!

Get ready for a day of mouthwatering BBQ, ice-cold smashable Nebraska Craft Brews, and the 11th Annual Ribstock BBQ Festival, partnered with the Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild’s 3rd Annual LagerFest! 100% of proceeds go directly to support these two local non-profits.

In celebration of National Moth Week (July 19-27), educators from UNL Extension and Nebraska Game and Parks will lead a moth lighting bioblitz at Schramm Park State Recreation Area. Bring a flashlight, search for moths at the light trap, and learn about moths and other nocturnal insects in Nebraska. We will use the iNaturalist app to document the species we encounter and collect data about nocturnal insects in the park. Data collected during this event will contribute to the Biodiversity in Nebraska State Parks initiative.

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! This is a FREE all ages event! First come first serve while supplies last! We recommend coming as early as 11 AM (open) to reserve your spot as space fill very quickly!!