11th Annual Fall StarBQ

September 27 @ 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

The 11th Annual Fall Star-B-Q

Sponsored by ALLO Fiber of Lincoln

Branched Oak Observatory is pleased to announce our 11th Annual Fall Star-B-Q on Saturday, Sept. 27th, 2025. 5PM to 11PM.
*No Registration Required
*$5 Per Person Admission – Max $20 for Conjugal Family + Grandparents
*Arrive Anytime Between 5 and 11PM
*Stay for the Entire Event or As Long As You Want
*No Park Permit Required
*No Telescope Needed – (But are welcome to bring your own equipment!)
The Empire Strikes Back… Again!
By popular demand, the 501st Legion- Central Garrison (a Star Wars anachronism group), will be BACK for this year’s StarBQ. You will see Stormtroopers and other nefarious Star Wars characters roaming the grounds. Luckily for us, however, there will also be costumed representatives from the Rebel Legion and maybe even the Mandalorian Mercs to keep those bad guys in-check! Bring your cameras (and lightsabers) for some amazing photo opportunities. Appearing 5:00 to 7:30pm.
For the kids and young-at-heart, we will have Space-Crafts, Science Demonstrations with the UNL Society of Physics Students , a “touch a meteorite” display, and a special NASA Exhibit* in the Kunkel Family Multipurpose Center. Outside in the field we will have a play area with Blackhole (our version of Cornhole), Bolo Ladder Golf, and our Giant Moon Map. 5:00-8:00PM
In the Boller-Sivil Observatory you will find safe Solar Viewing from 5 to 7pm.
Optional dinner will be available from TBA of Lincoln, TBA and TBA between 5:00-8:00pm.
During Dinner, the Last Minute Band will be playing your favorite Classic Rock. Live music between 5:00-8:00pm
Raffle Tickets will be for sale ($5 ea.) between 5:00 and 8:30pm. The Raffle winners will be announced at 8:30pm. Amazing prizes include a ZWO Seestar S50 Telescope, and tabletop “dob” telescope, astrophotography prints, binoculars, a deluxe oil change and more! [Watch this space for additions].
Once dark, we will be viewing the night sky through our many telescopes, and through the equipment of area amateur astronomers from Lincoln and Omaha clubs. You will have the opportunity to see the Planet Saturn, The Ring Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and so much more!
The Fall StarBQ event is $5 per head, although dinner, additional raffle tickets, and gift shop items, require an optional purchase. *FREE Admission* AFTER 8:30 for the Public Star Party.
This event is made possible thanks to our primary sponsor- ALLO Fiber of Lincoln and all of our other supporting sponsors. We also wish to thank the Prairie Astronomy Club, the Omaha Astronomical Society, our own Branched Oak Observatory volunteers, the UNL Society of Physics Students, and of course the Central Garrison – 501st Legion!
Follow us closely here on Facebook for more announcements.
*The NASA exhibit is NOT part of the StarBQ admission cost, and is in fact a FREE attraction upon request on this day, and also available for viewing during our regular FREE General Public Events.

CURRENT LIST OF VOLUNTEERS / PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR STATIONS

 

– Food Truck Facil. AND Parking Lead (5-8:30PM) AND Roaming Host (5-11PM)

– Gift Shop Lead (5-11PM)

– Dinner Service (5:00-9:00PM) [See M. Anderson for set-up info]

– Raffle Sales (5:00-8:30PM) AND Evening Observing in BSO (8:30-11PM)

– Event Photography (5-11PM)

– Band Facil. AND BRSC Tours (5:00-8:30PM) AND Roaming Host (8:30-11PM)

 Classroom Activities  (5:00-8:30PM)

 Classroom Activities  (5:00-8:30PM)

 Admissions (5:00-8:30PM)

 Classroom Activities and Trash Duties (5:00-8:30PM)

– SPS Physics Demonstrations (5:00-8:30PM)

– Golf Cart Driver (5-9PM)

– Golf Cart Driver 2 (5-9PM. On call after 9PM)

– Gift Shop  (5-11PM)

– Last Minute Band  (5:00-9:00PM)

 Binoculars  (8:30-11PM) [Needs to leave at 10PM]

– SPS Physics Demonstrations (5:00-8:30PM)

– Last Minute Band  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Dinner Service (5:00-9:00PM) [See M. Anderson for set-up info]

– Roaming Host (5:30-8:30PM) AND Evening Observing on Pad (8:30-11PM)

– SPS Physics Demonstrations(5:00-8:30PM)

– Meteorite Display Docent (5:00-8:30PM) AND MPC Host (8:30-11PM)

– Evening Observing on Pad (8:30-11PM)

– SPS Physics Demonstrations (5:00-8:30PM)

– Event Information / Freebie Table (5:00-8:30PM)

–  SPS Physics Demonstrations (5:00-8:30PM)

– Dinner Service (5:00-9:00PM) [See M. Anderson for set-up info]

– Musical Entertainment (5:00-8:00PM) [See Sivill or Burhman for set-up info]

– Last Minute Band  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Costumed Astronaut (5:00-8:30PM)

 Raffle Sales (5:00-8:30PM)

– SPS Physics Demonstrations (5:00-8:30PM)

– Raffle Sales (5:00-8:30PM)

– Admissions (5:00-8:30PM)

 Gift Shop (5:00-11:00PM or whenever you need to leave)

– Admissions(5:00-8:30PM)

– SPS Physics Demonstrations (5:00-8:30PM)

– Last Minute Band  (5:00-9:00PM)

– SPS Physics Demonstrations (5:00-8:30PM)

– Event Information / Freebie Table (5:00-8:30) AND Evening Observing on Pad (8:30-11PM)

– Field Games (5:00-8:30PM)

– Field Games (5:00-8:30PM)

– 501st Legion Facil. AND SPS Facil. AND Solar Viewing in BSO (5:00-8:30PM) AND Evening Observing in ESSMO (8:30-11PM) AND Sky Tours (8:30-11PM)

 Band Facil. AND Solar Viewing in BSO (5:00-8:30PM) AND Evening Observing in BSO (8:30-11PM)

– Science Demonstrations (5:00-8:30PM) [See Sibbernsen for set-up info]

 – Event Information / Freebie Table (5:00-8:30)

– Shuttle Driver (5:00-9:00PM)

– Classroom Activities Lead (5:00-8:30PM) AND Evening Observing on Pad (8:30-11PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

 Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

 Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

– Parking  (5:00-9:00PM)

501st Legion- Guest Interaction / Photo Opportunities- (5:00-8:30PM) [Jason Ready- Lead.  See Sibbernsen for set-up info]

STATIONS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED

Evening Observing (8:30-11PM): We still have a few pads remaining for astronomers to set up their own equipment.

Giant Moon Map Facilitation (5-8:30): One experienced educator / astronomer needed.

 

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