Events

Join at Cup & Cone in Bennington for an Out & About Storytime!

Every Wednesday, Monarch Agents will have the opportunity to participate in fun activities, including outdoor fun, arts and crafts, science experiments, detective work, and more library fun! Please arrive at least 5 minutes early before your first mission to receive your mission log. For those in 1st - 6th grade.

Can you find Aquila in the night sky? What about Hercules? Or Lyra? Forget the Big Dipper and head out to Neale Woods to enjoy some September constellations during a night of stargazing! 

Join an outdoor educator from Schramm Education Center to learn about common birds you can see in your backyard. We'll play and learn about birds through sensory exploration, a story, outdoor bird watching, and a craft. Great for ages 2-6.

Are you worn out after a busy work week? Do you need a "pick me up" to kickstart your weekend? Grab your friends, coworkers, or significant other and come wind down during our Sunset Hike! This hike will explore the prairie and woodland habitats of Neale Woods. Trails range from easy to moderate difficulty.

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.

They're turning our store into a science lab! Their friend Dr. Oxygen will be there with incredible hands-on, minds-on activities that are sure to get kids thrilled about science. Everyone's sure to go home with a higher IQ and a heightened sense of wonder!

This interactive experience explores the fascinating world of natural pigments. Using anthocyanin, a special pigment found in red cabbage, you’ll experiment with acids and bases to create a vibrant spectrum of colors. Through simple chemical reactions, watch as your paints shift from bright pink to deep blue and even green! Discover the science behind pH indicators, explore the chemistry of everyday ingredients, and unleash your creativity with nature’s own color-changing palette.

Nebraska Wildlife Rehab will visit the library to talk about the bats native to Nebraska. This presentation includes an overview of basic bat biology, addresses myths and biases about bats, and introduces the a myriad of ways they benefit humans

What if a squirrel had to save its forest, a penguin became an explorer, or a stray dog solved a mystery? Using fun prompts and imaginative exercises, students will craft an original story starring an animal hero and learn how to make readers cheer for their furry, feathered, or scaly main character. This is a free event for children ages 8-12. Registration is required

Join for a family-friendly murder mystery at Arbor Lodge Mansion. After a voyage filled with pillaging and plundering, the Jaded Jewel – Arbor Lodge Mansion turned pirate ship – is docked in a cove near Port Royal. 

Journey through a series of thoughtfully designed sensory spaces, each offering a unique invitation to engage. Find grounding in The Commons, move freely in The Motion Room, wander through the responsive beauty of The Light Forest, retreat into the quiet comfort of The Cocoon, dive into imaginative worlds in the Aquarium, and leave your mark in The Workshop Room, where the environment evolves through collective creativity.

Come explore all things icky, sticky, and vile and discover the fascinating science behind everything YUCK! During this family-friendly theme day, the Luminarium is showcasing a museum full of the gross, gunky, and gruesome. Playful experiments invite you to embrace the spirit of a scientist and investigate why so many things make us go “Yuck!”

See fine European cars and motorcycles on display. Imagine models of Jaguar, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Ducati, BMW, Ferrari, Pantera, Alfa Romeo, Austin Healey and others surrounded by the beauty of the fall garden. Admission to the event is included with paid garden admission and is FREE for garden members.

This free, family-friendly event lets kids (and adults) of all ages bring their Tonka truck dreams to life. The Big Dig gives children the chance to get hands-on with real construction equipment-operating machines like lull lifts, scissor lifts, excavators, and more.

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 Kindermusik with Overton Music Studios!

Every Wednesday, Monarch Agents will have the opportunity to participate in fun activities, including outdoor fun, arts and crafts, science experiments, detective work, and more library fun! Please arrive at least 5 minutes early before your first mission to receive your mission log. For those in 1st - 6th grade.

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.