Events

Ages 0 - 8. Have a monstrously good time with the colorful monsters at the library! There will be crafts, activities, and more!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Let's celebrate National Donut Day!!  Join for a fun craft that is good enought to eat!! decorate your very own delicious donut while you hear the story "If You Give a Dog a Donut" It's a FREE all ages event.  First come first serve while supplies last! We recommend coming as early as 10am(open) to reserve your spot.

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

every First Friday of the month in the Benson Creative District for a night filled with art, live music, food, and community! From 5 PM to 2 AM, experience a variety of gallery openings, art exhibitions, local vendors, and live performances at venues across Maple Street and beyond!

This fun and energetic dance class combines elements of ballet and hip-hop. Join MCC at the 8th Street Plaza in Heartland of America Park to learn this exciting dance style and perfect your moves! Some dance experience is required.

Bluey will make a special appearance, as well as an interactive experience with Wildlife Encounters who will bring animals such as a baby kangaroo, an alligator and even an armadillo! We will have face painters and much more!

Bring the entire family to Arrowhead Park for a morning of fishing fun in the sun on Saturday, June 7th at 10:00 a.m. This event is held in conjunction with Iowa's FREE fishing weekend, which means a license is not required for Iowa residents. All other IDNR fishing regulations apply. A $3 per vehicle entry fee or Pottawattamie Conservation membership is required to participate

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

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.

Blast off into summer fun at our Summer Passport Kickoff Event, designed for adventurous kids ages 6–12—and best of all, it’s completely FREE! This is your first chance to pick up a Do Space Summer Passport, your guide to a summer packed with tech, creativity, and hands-on challenges. The first 300 kids will also get a free drawstring bag and water bottle to start their journey in style!

Through movement, yoga poses, breathing exercises, games, mindful activities, and guided sensory relaxation techniques, discover fun and engaging ways to enjoy the outdoors for all ages!

Get ready for an exciting night of hard-hitting action as No Coast Roller Derby presents a thrilling Home Doubleheader! Join for two action-packed games featuring some of the best roller derby teams around.

Create your own working flashlight using simple materials! This hands-on activity is a fun way to explore how light works—and it’s perfect for nighttime adventures or reading under the covers.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Dive into a hot springs bath with Capybaras with this Slime workshop sure to please any Capybara enthusiast! This is a FREE, all ages activity! First come, first serve, while supplies last! (we recommend comin as early as 10am to reserve a spot!) 

Ages 0 - 12.  Sand Art

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

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.

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.

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

Join for Community Fishing Night at Towl 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.

Bennington Library Community Partners

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Come celebrate HUMP DAY and take a selfie with a camel from our program partners at Scatter Joy Acres! Grab a bite to eat from the 13th Street Food Truck Lane!

Join for a wildly good time! On Wednesday, June 11, Wildlife Encounters will take over the library with plenty of fuzzy, scaly, and crawly friends. This event is free to attend and open to everyone. Yes, adults, that means you can come too!

Join us for a free community dance class with a cast member from MJ the Musical! This hit Broadway musical tells the story of Michael Jackson’s rise to stardom and fame. People of all skill levels age 12 and up are welcome! Register!!

Come and help us celebrate playtime with playtime! They'll have piles of toys set out and ready for kids to enjoy freely, from baby toys to building toys to crafty, creative toys. Plus, every kid will get a FREE orange Simpl Dimpl! Come on, let's play!

Star Party Hosted by Bennington Public Library & The Omaha Astronomical Society

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

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.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

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!

How much do you know about the animal kingdom? Can you tell the difference between a monkey and an ape? What farm animal is more dangerous than sharks? Join OPL and educators from Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium for this gameshow-style program.

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 7-14. Registration is required

Join Omaha Street Percussion for a workshop designed to give young patrons an opportunity to drum, while at the same time learn the importance of teamwork. Participants will be challenged to multi-task by using skills such as counting, listening, and watching for instruction and guidance in order to accomplish the ultimate goal, which is to perform as a whole group!

Ages 0 - 12.  Chalk Paint at Southwind Park

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.

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.

Join time traveler Professor Brock Branabas for an immersive and entertaining adventure where we’ll learn to tame and protect ourselves from fierce dragons! In the event of inclement weather, this program will move to CB Library Meeting Room B.

Oh no! We're stuck in the past! Or is this the future? Work together to find hidden relics from each era and fix the T.I.M.E machine before that hungry dinosaur eats you for dinner. Do you have what it takes? Registration is required 

Drop in anytime to meet a variety of awesome mascots, take photos, and play some games. No library card or registration required.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

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

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

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.

What wisdom could your ancestors offer us today? Make 5”x 5” collages to be displayed in spaces that people will encounter in their everyday lives. Share a message intended to provoke, reveal, or call attention to a historical or current issue, event, or system.

This workshop is writers who love to dream big, think outside the box, and have fun while learning. You’ll leave with exciting new ideas and maybe even the start of your next masterpiece. No matter your experience level, this class will help you grow your storytelling superpowers—and have a blast while doing it. Game on! This is a free program for ages 10-13. Registration is required 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Join a Teaching Artist from the Nebraska Writers Collective as they lead a writer’s workshop. Participants will workshop their own work and participate in a prompted writing activity. This is a free event for kids aged 8-12. All supplies are included. Registration is required 

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.

So..You wanna train a Dragon?? Why not start with slime?! The Dragons are BACK!! It's time to get our hands gooey with custom Dragon Slime Jars!! Channel your inner Hiccup and mix up a batch inspired by your favorite dragons-whether it's Toothless Night Fury Black or Light Fury Shimmer! This is a FREE, all ages event! First come, first serve, while supplies last!

Join for Celebrate Your Shine, a fun and inclusive dance party designed especially for individuals with special needs and their families and/or caregivers! This afternoon event offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the dance floor and explore the bar in a welcoming, low-pressure environment, free from large crowds. Come dance, celebrate, and shine together in a space where everyone is valued and included!

While we may not want to think about needing these skills, the fact is that we all do. Come to this all-ages self-defense class taught by Sanders ATA in order to get a basis in self-defense for all.  Free and open to the public. Hosted at Cochran Park. Registration not required. 

Young minds are going to burst with excitement! Stop by and be amazed as our friend Mrs. M. shows us a variety of fun tricks and fascinating experiments with bubbles. It's an adventure in science that'll seem just like magic!

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

Ages 12 - 17. Bring your own shirt/item. ONE per person. While supplies last.

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