Events

Curiosity Crew is a dedicated STEM educational and experimentation time for kids of all ages (2-11). Each month we’ll have a Curiosity Crew theme that guides our learning and activities! Families are welcome to drop in, learn something new, and complete an experiment or activity as a group! June Theme: Dinos! Celebrate our summer reading theme and learn about types of dinosaurs and how their fossils were made.  Space is limited. Registration is encouraged.

Join OPL at “Once Upon a Time at the Castle,” a storytime and wildlife adventure in the enchanted gardens. Storytime will feature stories, creative movement, music and more. After storytime, learn about the real creatures we read about through live wildlife interactions and activities. This month we will learn about snakes.

Get ready for a roaring good time! In this hands-on musical experience inspired by Dinosaurumpus!, kids become the musicians as they explore the many ways percussion instruments make sound—shaking, scraping, and striking along with the story. Guided by a staff member from the Omaha Symphony, young participants will stomp, chomp, and make music together while discovering how rhythm brings this dino-filled tale to life.

Curiosity Crew is a one-hour, hands-on STEM program for children ages 2-5 that blends play, exploration, and early learning! Stop by to learn about a topic and complete an activity!  June Theme: Dinos! Celebrate our summer reading theme and learn about types of dinosaurs and how their fossils were made. Space is limited. Registration is encouraged.

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.

All Ages. Keep track of your summer fun by starting a journal. Journals available while supplies last.

Discover the fascinating process of fossilization! Join us to explore the layers that entombed the dinosaurs and construct an edible model of their burial. This is a free event for children. Registration is required.

Every Thursday join in the Curiosity Lab, as we explore science with hands-on activities and experiments. *Participants should be prepared to get messy*

Get to know the new OPL Do Space in our Skills Class! Each session will focus on learning a new skill, machine, or software. This session will focus on the intermediate 3D modeling skills. Participants will be able to ask detailed questions and design more complex items for print. 

Learn how to block in a scene with watercolor wash, then pop the details with pen work on top. Breathe in, observe your surroundings, find expansion and growth all around you. Learn how to create distance with color, find magic in the patterns of nature. We will be working with pens, liquid watercolor, watercolor pencils, water-based pastels and water brushes. Meet at the Arrival Plaza next to the Discovery Playground!

Everyone is invited to this block party for bounce houses, bubbles, fire trucks, face painting, games, food trucks, free dessert, and more!  All ages invited. No library card or registration required.  Drop in anytime! NOTE: This event takes place at the Gretna Crossing Park West Shelter.  Please dress for the weather.  Rain location is Gretna United Methodist Church, 11457 S. 204th St.  Activities may be more limited.

With Special Guests Nat and Alex Wolff.

Make plans to bring the whole family and join our family for a fun event!  Kids of all ages are welcome to see, climb & explore vehicle displays. Free Hotdogs and Chips

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 you will create a racecar. Registration is required

All activities are free and open to the public, from 11am to 2pm! Native Plant Platform: make a nature bookmark, craft a monarch butterfly, take home native seeds!

Become the best babysitter you can be! Training will include a babysitting guidebook, basic first aid, and age-appropriate practices for caring for infants, preschoolers, toddlers, and school age youth. The clinic is taught by Nebraska 4-H Extension staff. This is a free program for ages 11 and up. Registration is required 

We might need a bigger boat…or at least a bigger bingo card! Bring your friends or family to celebrate Shark Week with bingo. No prior knowledge of sharks is required to enjoy the game. This is a free event for adults and children ages 5 and older. Registration is required.

Jeff Quinn is roaring into our library with "Jurassic Magic", a dinosaur-themed Summer Reading Program magic show that's fun for all ages

Bringing the Joy of Dance to the Streets! Join LTG Academy for an Open Level Hip Hop Workshop with ADG! All are welcome, no dance experience required only boldness and a love for dance! Meet at the Performance Pavilion in Gene Leahy Mall!

Get crafty and show off your art skills in this program for 9-12 year olds. This month: Planter Painting & Seed Planting. Registration is required

Fire up your tastebuds and follow your thirst! Midtown Crossing is hosting a pub-crawl-style block party where bold BBQ flavors meet ice-cold brews. Each participating establishment is serving up a signature BBQ bite paired with beer, and you get to choose the route—hit one spot or hit them all. Between bites, enjoy outdoor yard games and summertime vibes on your favorite Midtown Crossing patios. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite stop and help crown the ultimate BBQ & Brews champion.