Events

Calling all witches and wizards! Think you have what it takes to participate in this Wizarding Adventure? Come solve puzzles and clues to unlock a prize box before time runs out in this escape room based on the best-selling "Harry Potter" book series. There will be three escape rooms, at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. for participants ages 8-12. Try to escape over summer break! Registration is required

Through hands-on experiments and fun, interactive stories, we get kids excited about the science that’s all around us as we celebrate the scientists who color our world with art! In the event of inclement weather this program will be moved to the CB Library.

Join a Fontenelle Forest Raptor Educator as they talk about birds of prey, including an owl, hawk, and a falcon. This program will take place outside, weather permitting. If not outside, it will take place in the Youth Department outside the Play-and-Learn Center.

Join OPL as we welcome Taylor Adams, head puppeteer for Opera Omaha’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Taylor will educate young patrons about puppetry and encourage them through the creative process of making their own puppets. All supplies are free and included. Registration is required

Bennington Library Community Partners

Become a Jedi (or a Sith) by designing your very own lightsaber! Use colorful materials and a flashlight to bring your galactic weapon to life! Registration is required for this event.

Join OPL as we welcome staff from Papio Natural Resources District. They will teach us all about turtles! Did you know Nebraska is home to 9 species of turtles? With the help of a few animal educators, we will learn all about what makes a turtle, a turtle!

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.

Kick off your summer with Kids FunFare — a lively, family-friendly event happening every Thursday morning in June at Regency Shopping Center!

Stop by and cool off with a refreshing dose of creativity! We've got all the supplies and plenty of inspiration for kids to make and take home something awesome. All they need to bring is their unique personality!

Join for a night of fun! Featuring topics like hairstyling, dress-up, and tea party etiquette.

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.

Just how do instruments make sound? In this storytime with the Omaha Symphony’s education team, we’ll explore pitch and vibration in this interactive program centered around Mary and her Little Lamb (and Llama!). Designed for students ages 3-7, all ages are welcome in this musical adventure.

Drop in and explore a variety of outdoor art, including water squirter painting, fiber art, chiseling on a group sculpture, and much more. They will be using paint so wear your messy clothes!

Take me out to the ballgame!!!  The College World Series are in town and what better way to celebrate than with a DIY Baseball Playdoh Craft!!  This is a FREE, al ages event!! First come, first serve, while supplies last!!

All Ages. This 45-minute family-friendly sow will showcase magic, juggling, storytelling, clowning and audience interaction.

Explore the science in art in this mystery science show called “Adventure of the Missing Color”. No library card or registration required. Please sit with your child.

Join this summer for some stargazing at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park! Powerful telescopes will be set up at the park’s golf shack for a glimpse of the night sky spectaculars. The event is free to the public, but you will need a valid Nebraska park entry permit for your vehicle. Stargazing will begin at dusk. Remember to bring your camp chairs or blankets! Telescopes will be provided.

Come explore different service vehicles from your community. From fire trucks to police cars, there will be a variety of "trucks" for all. This will be held at Papillion Landing, north of the Field House.

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 Canopies in Gene Leahy Mall for this artistic experience.

It’s your time to shine! Join OPL and instructors with Pear Tree Performing Arts studio to explore culture through the power of oral tradition, folktales, and drama. Participants engage in a variety of arts-based lessons and learn about the world, diversity, different cultures, values, virtues, and morals through tales passed down from generations. This is a free event for kids, ages 6-12. Registration is required

Enjoy a fun evening with family friendly activities including guided nature hikes, games, crafts, archery, and s’mores! Stay until dusk to see all the lightning bugs come out! Bring your own jar to decorate and catch/release these amazing insects. RSVP starting May 19th by clicking the button below!

Visit the 11th Street Promenade to see a magic show featuring cards, rings, ropes, silks, and even an escape. It's the Tricks of the Trade performed by Old Market Magician, Ryan Chandler. From The CW's "Fool Us" to the "Penn & Teller: Try This At Home" magic special, Ryan is known for his unique street style which often combines magic and elements of music. You can find out more about Ryan and his show at Old Market Magician.

Navigate like a true adventurer! Discover the science of magnetism and direction by creating your very own compass.

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!

Join for 30 minutes of fun with professional dancers from the American Midwest Ballet! We’ll hear a story, watch a dance, and learn some moves of our very own! In the event of inclement weather, this program will move to CB Library Meeting Room A.

All Ages. Donna Trout Clown Demonstration.

Missing any socks? You just might find the culprit at our store! Author Lisa Smith and illustrator Cherri Yost will be here to read and sign their book The Sneaky Sock Gremlin. Don't miss out!

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.

Ready for a thrill ride? In this hands-on Design It class, students will plan, build, and test their own paper roller coasters! Using strips of paper, cardboard, and marbles, we’ll explore physics concepts like gravity, momentum, and kinetic energy while getting creative with loops, drops, and turns. It’s a fun and fast-paced engineering challenge where imagination meets motion! Registration is required for this event.

Jeff Quinn's all-new magic show needs YOU! Get your friends and family together and join Jeff Quinn's Summer Reading Show. This is a free event for all ages.

Join on Tuesday evening, June 24, at E.T. Mahoney State Park’s James Family Conservatory and Nature Center to learn all about irises! The Sass Memorial Iris Garden on the grounds of Mahoney State Park displays and preserves over 300 iris cultivars. Learn to appreciate irises in a new way after discovering the rare and award-winning flowers of the collection. Join the Greater Omaha and Lincoln Iris Societies for an educational program and garden tour.

Ages 0 - 8. Meet at Southwind Park for some messy art activities! Wear clothes you can get dirty.

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!

Theatre and balloon art come together with this highly interactive show.  Audience volunteers will dress as (premade) balloon characters and act out a story with Patti as the narrator and the audience as the sound effects.  In the event of inclement weather this program will be moved to the CB Library.

Come watch as Dr. Oxygen brings science to life in this "hands on and minds on" show.

Bennington Library Community Partners

Join OPL at Lake Cunningham, Entrance 3, for storytime! Storytime is geared toward preschoolers, but all ages are welcome to join in the fun. Rain or shine, we'll be there! We will be in the shelter at Entrance 3 at 9600 Garvin Road.

Join at the library on Wednesday, June 25, for a magical event! Local magician and hypnotist Jeff Quinn will surely amaze you.  This event is open to all ages, so bring the whole family!

Muggles and magic users of all kinds are invited to OPL for a celebration of the characters, creatures, and world from the "Harry Potter" book series! Come discuss the books, get sorted into your House, and do crafts and activities based on this popular fandom. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. This program is for teens ages 13-18. Registration is required

Calling all witches and wizards! Think you have what it takes to participate in this Wizarding Adventure? Come solve puzzles and clues to unlock a prize box before time runs out in this escape room based on the best-selling "Harry Potter" book series. There will be three escape rooms, at 2 p.m., 2:45 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. for participants ages 8-12. Try to escape over summer break! 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. This is a free event for all ages. Registration is required 

Join for Community Fishing Night at Fontenelle Park Pond! 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.

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.

Kick off your summer with Kids FunFare — a lively, family-friendly event happening every Thursday morning in June at Regency Shopping Center!

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 children K-5th grade and their caregivers. Registration is required

Are you in your beaded bracelet era? Join OPL to make these widely popular statement pieces! Use polymer clay beads, letter beads and more to bedazzle your own bracelet or make one for a friend. This is a free event and is suggested for kids aged 6-12. Registration is required

Stop by and cool off with a refreshing dose of creativity! We've got all the supplies and plenty of inspiration for kids to make and take home something awesome. All they need to bring is their unique personality!

Join OPL as we welcome staff from Papio Natural Resources District. They will teach us all about turtles! Did you know Nebraska is home to 9 species of turtles? With the help of a few animal educators, we will learn all about what makes a turtle, a turtle!

Join OPL for a special storytime featuring the book Harry and Hot Lava by Chris Robertson! At the conclusion of storytime, children will be timed as they jump and hop their way through an obstacle course using various surfaces. Go as fast as you can, but don’t fall in because…the Floor is Lava! This is a free event for children 4+.

These free outdoor concerts will feature live performances with local artists in bite-size pieces. No fees and no tickets required.

Join for an animal experience with Under an Acre Adventures! Come meet the miniature horse Peanut, Mama Goat Mimsy and her babies, the rabbits, and chickens. Learn all about them and their care. 

Join OPL for a musical storytime with guests from the Omaha Conservatory of Music. This storytime will include a special musical story, songs with movement, and an instrument petting zoo, where participants can try out a violin, cello, glockenspiel, stirring xylophone, lollipop drum, and a shaker instrument.

On June 28, the topic will be insects! Bug-out on a hands-on adventure where explorers will catch, observe, and learn about the incredible insects that call Nebraska home. The event will be held at the pavilion east of the Caboose Park.

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

Roll on into OPL and roll up some candy sushi! We’ll explore the different types of sushi, make our own out of candy and rice krispie treats, and practice our chopstick skills in this free, interactive program for children ages 8-12. Registration is required

Compete against other teams to complete the same puzzle in the fastest amount of time. All teams will be provided with a puzzle and will have two hours to finish the challenge. The first team to complete the puzzle wins!
Space is limited, and registration is required.

Join OPL for a Super Smash Bros tournament at the Washington Branch. We will be playing the game on Nintendo Switch. This is a free program for ages 11-18. Registration is required

Celebrate International Mud Day on Sunday, June 29 at E.T. Mahoney State Park’s Outdoor Pavillion with excitement, education and mud! Make mud pies & mud art, dig in dirt and discover our slip & slide with a very muddy twist! You will get muddy! You should definitely pack a change of clothes and dress for a muddy mess. We recommend garbage bags to sit on for the ride home and bringing a water bottle. Valid park permit required for entry.

Drop in and get up close and personal with some of your favorite city trucks! In the event of inclement weather this program will be cancelled.

Join OPL as we welcome staff from Papio Natural Resources District. They will teach us all about turtles! Did you know Nebraska is home to 9 species of turtles? With the help of a few animal educators, we will learn all about what makes a turtle, a turtle!

Avast! The cast of Midwest Pirate Fest is setting to land to share booty and tell tales of pirate lore in a presentation which explores the real history of pirates.

Kids are introduced to basic computer programming by exploring codes and programs using the Ozobot! The Ozobot is a miniature robot with color sensors that allow it to follow lines and read color codes to complete commands. In this program, youth will learn and draw basic color codes, integrate color codes into storytelling, and use Ozoblockly - an online coding program to explore sequential block coding. This class is taught by 4-H School Enrichment teachers. Class size is limited, so registration is required.

Poop, vomit, slime, and even more amazing disgusting topics will be explored as we learn about some of the grossest (and coolest) animal traits. Join OPL and educators from the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium to learn about mammal digestion and discover why scientists use poop to track animal migration patterns.

Penelope has been performing magic for nearly 20 years. Join us for her hilarious family magic show—a unique experience that can’t be missed! In the event of inclement weather this program will be moved to the CB Library.

Bennington Library Community Partners

Here come the trains! Join us for a special storytime featuring a guest presenter from the Union Pacific Railroad Museum.

Get ready to battle with bots! Program Finch robots to charge, spin, and joust in a mini arena—may the best bot win! Registration is required for this event.