James Arthur Vineyards wine and star-gazing night (ticketed event)
2026-04-25 19:00 - 23:00, 2026-06-13 19:00 - 23:00, 2026-08-22 20:00 - 23:59 (America/Chicago) | Branched Oak Observatory, 14300 NW 98th Street, Raymond, NE, 68428, United States
Come enjoy a variety of James Arthur Vineyard wines and charcuterie. Enjoy a private tour of the BOO grounds and a night sky presentation in the classroom, followed by a tour of the night sky, weather permitting. This is a ticketed event, tickets are $35 per person. Go to www.jamesarthurvineyards.com to purchase tickets.

Cub Scout Pack 461 Overnight
2026-05-02 19:00 - 23:00
Tentative Hold for Cub Scout Overnight. Steve Jaworski is contact

Childrens Reading Circle
2026-05-03 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-06-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-09-06 13:00 - 15:00
Kids ages 3 to 8, to enjoy stories of earth and space followed by craft time, kids will be able to take home their craft when finished. Kids attending will be free of charge. General admission otherwise is $5 each person.

Mothers Day
2026-05-10 13:00 - 17:00
All Mom’s and Grandma’s enter free. Mom’s of all 2 and four legged children:) Kids and other adults $5 each.

Cars n Stars and Tacos TOO! 2026
2026-05-16 13:00 - 23:59
Rev up your engines, folks! It’s time for a cosmic collision of Cars, Stars, and Tacos – the ultimate trio of awesome! And guess what? You’re the VIP guest on this cosmic road trip.
Hop on board with your crew and join us on Saturday, May 16th for the most epic event of the season:
Cars ‘n’ Stars and Tacos Too! We’re talking mind-blowing vehicles at the car show, tantalizing food flavors courtesy of TBA, finger-lickin’ BBQ from TBA, and ice-cold refreshments from TBA.
But wait, there’s more! Dive into safe solar-viewing, snag some sweet raffle prizes, and gaze at the stars during an evening star party back at Branched Oak Observatory.
This CAR SHOW part of this event is FREE, with optional food and raffle tickets to spice things up. Get those calendars marked because this is one ride you won’t want to miss!
The Evening STAR SHOW is $10 for Adults, and $5 for Kids 5 to 15.
Got a killer set of wheels you want to flaunt? Be a part of the action as a car show participant! No matter the make, model, or age, if your ride’s got that ‘wow’ factor, we want YOU at Cars ‘n’ Stars and Tacos Too! And who knows, if your road-wonder strikes the spectator’s fancy, you might win a People’s Choice Award (complete with a cash prize).
For more information, click
Locations For the Event:
Car Show
Sam’s Club Lincoln North parking lot
4900 North 27th Street
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (check-in begins at 10 AM for participants)
Car Registration $20
View Map
Star Show
Branched Oak Observatory
14300 NW 98th Street, Raymond, NE 68428
8:00 PM – midnight. $10 for Adults, $5 for Kids.
View Map
Additional BOO Volunteers are encouraged to join if available.
Confirmed volunteers to Sam’s Club:
Confirmed volunteers to the BOO:
Volunteers: please check back here (as well as your messages) for event confirmation, cancelation, or postponement announcements.

Art Day at the BOO
2026-06-05 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-03 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-07 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-04 19:00 - 21:00
Come create your own art at the BOO.

Military Appreciation Day (active duty, veterans and families)
2026-06-20 16:00 - 23:59
All active duty, veterans and their families are invited to enjoy a day of fun and relaxation at the BOO. We will have a live band (Last Minute Band), food and beverage trucks, 501st Legion (Star Wars reenactment group), more details to follow. Free entrance for all military members.

Silent Book Club
2026-06-26 19:30 - 23:00, 2026-07-17 19:30 - 23:00, 2026-08-21 19:30 - 23:00, 2026-09-18 19:30 - 23:00
Open to the General Public – FREE ADMISSION
Join us for another session of our popular Silent Book Club!
Bring your book (or ebook or audiobook w/earbuds) and read quietly for an hour. Or grab a book from our wonderful astronomy library! No pressure, no book assignments, no book report…a stress-free opportunity to read under the evening sky. We will have coffee and water on hand, but feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks. You are also encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and pillow.
After our silent reading time and optional discussion, our staff will take you on a tour of the facility and once dark, observe beautiful objects in the night sky through our various telescopes. Even if the skies are cloudy, you can enjoy our exhibits and astronomy videos in the Multipurpose Center. Dress warm for the outside observing.
7:30 – 8:00 pm – Gather, chat, grab a pastry, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea (we’re ok with BYOB too!)
8:00 – 9:00 pm – Quiet reading of your choice
9:00 – 9:30 pm – Discuss (or not) as the spirit moves you
9:30 – 11:00 pm – Enjoy a tour of the observatory, and weather permitting, view night sky objects with our collection of telescopes
There is no cost for this event. Donations to the observatory are encouraged and appreciated.
Please note, our Silent Book Club events can only offer limited observing opportunities. Join us for our monthly public “Star Party” events for more opportunities through more telescopes.
Confirmed Volunteers: Carol Wells

250th US Anniversary Celebration
2026-07-04 17:00 - 23:59
No fireworks. An enjoyable and quieter alternative for you, your family and your leashed pets. Enjoy the summer evening underneath the starry skies and see natures fireworks, the fireworks nebula. Bring your own food for a picnic (no grills). Yard games, space crafts, chalk art, safe solar viewing and top it off with a tour of the night sky. Holiday special, admission $5 each, or $20 for families of 4 or more.

Nebraska Star Party Merritt Reservoir (July 12th thru 17th)
2026-07-12 08:00 - 17:00
Join us if you can at the Merritt Reservoir Nebraska Star Party south of Valentine, Nebraska. For more details, go to https://nebraskastarparty.org

Kanaga Kare Field Trip
2026-07-21 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-22 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-23 13:00 - 16:00

2nd Annual First Responders Day
2026-07-25 17:00 - 23:59
Open to all first responders: Police, Fire, Rescue, ER Doctors and Nurses, Active duty and retired. Come and be recognized for your efforts in keeping our community safe. First responders and their immediate families enter free, general public $5 each or $20 for each family of 4 or more. Enjoy our food and beverage trucks, yard games, space crafts and raffle items, and check out our gift shop.

Friends of the BOO Star Party (by invitation only)
2026-08-01 20:00 - 23:59
A special THANK YOU to all of our special supporters by invitation only if you support with a monthly gift of $25 or more each month. We will have non-alcoholic refreshments and snacks, (BYOB), special tour of the grounds and the night sky. Meet with co-founders, Matt Anderson and Michael Sibbernsen.

Private Star Party
2026-08-08 18:30 - 22:00
Private star party, for 26 people. Guests will bring pizza, James Arthur Vineyard will provide wine which will be self served, BOO will provide snacks (Lemonade, cookies, cheese, etc). Will begin evening with programming for adults and children, and then stargazing after dark.

1st Annual Astrocon at the BOO(like a comic-con, but cooler)
2026-08-15 17:00 - 23:59
Come to the Branched Oak Observatory’s first annual Astrocon and have fun as we explore the past that looked to the future. Come dressed in your favorite space gear/character and mingle with like minded individuals, We will have multiple vendors, book authors and other fun engagement activities.

1st Annual Astrocon at the BOO (like a comic-con, but cooler)
2026-08-15 17:00 - 23:59
Come to the 1st annual Astrocon at the BOO. Come in your favorite space-themed gear or character and mingle with like minded people. We will have multiple food and beverage venders, book authors, space crafts and other classroom activities as we honor the past by looking at the future.

International Observe the Moon Night
2026-09-19 20:00 - 23:59
Come to the Branched Oak Observatory and view our closest celestial partner. Come see the moon as you have never seen it before thru a wide variety of telescopes, and take our own pictures. Free admission for all.

12th Annual Fall StarBQ
2026-09-26 17:00 - 23:59
Branched Oak Observatory is pleased to announce our 12th Annual Fall Star-B-Q on Saturday, Sept. 26th, 2026. 5PM to midnight.
*$10 Per Adult and $5 for kids 5-12 Admission – $20 for immediate families of 4 or more
*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 Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q of Lincoln, and other options TBA 5:00-9:00pm.
During Dinner, the Last Minute Band will be playing your favorite Classic Rock. Live music between 5:00-9:00pm
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!
Dinner, 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.
