Events for all ages and interests are planned in Nebraska’s state parks during September.
Make sure to purchase a vehicle park entry permit to enter the state parks and then enjoy the fun.
Get one at Outdoor Nebraska.gov or at state
park entrances.
The events:
Mystery at the Mansion, Arbor Lodge Mansion, old-fashioned whodunit from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 6. Solve clues, look for evidence and break the case while mingling. Visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov to purchase tickets.Living History Weekend at Fort Atkinson SHP Sept. 6-7. Travel 200 years back in time and experience history on the Great Plains. Ongoing demonstrations featuring military and civilian life of the 1820s will occur throughout the park. Enjoy stargazing Sept. 12 at Mahoney SP. Telescopes will be provided so visitors may get a glimpse at the night sky beginning at dusk. Meet behind the park’s golf shack for this free event from 9-11:30 p.m.Discover biodiversity at Chadron State Park in a bioblitz Sept. 12-13. Visit the calendar event entry at
Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov
for a schedule.Moonshell Storytelling Festival Sept. 13 at Mahoney State Park. This year’s storytellers are Kim Weitkamp, Jeff Doyle, Carolina Quiroga and Darrin Crow. The event, free with a park permit, is presented by Nebraska StoryArts. Workshops will be held at Peter Kiewit Lodge for $40 each or $70 for two. Register by emailing [email protected] or calling 402-312-4749.American Military Timeline at Fort Hartsuff SHP Sept.13. Join the Fremont Pathfinders, Friends of Fort Hartsuff and others from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for demonstrations and displays on the history of the American military from the Revolutionary War through the present. In addition to park admission, there is a charge of $5 for adults and $1 for children.Collect acorns to grow oaks at Schramm Park SRA Sept. 16. Join Nebraska Game and Parks staff in collecting acorns to grow into oak trees to be planted in the forest next year. Help with trail maintenance, brush piling and forest floor cleanup along the Hackberry and Red Cedar trails. Meet at the park shelter next to Pond A at 9 a.m. Visit the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.Visit the Platte River Art Show Sept. 26-28 at Mahoney State Park. Artists will display work at the Peter Kiewit Lodge.Birds, Bagels and Birdability at Wildcat Hills on Sept. 27, an event designed with accessibility in mind. Watch the birds from indoors or go on a half-mile guided hike. Hosted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Birdablity of Nebraska and Nebraska Game and Parks. For more information, call Amanda at 308-436-3777. Monster Jam headed to Omaha
Experience Monster Jam live during a day of family fun in Omaha Nov. 29 and 30.
Massive Monster Jam trucks and world champion drivers take over CHI Health Center for a weekend packed with high-flying action and jaw-dropping stunts.
The drivers tear up on the dirt as they battle for the Event Championship in three competitions: Racing, 2 Wheel Skills and Freestyle.
Tickets are now available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the venue box office.
Comedian headlines Kim Foundation event
This September, comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes will be the featured artist at A Night Out, The Kim Foundation’s annual fundraising event that offers a look at mental health through arts and culture.
A Night Out, previously called A Time for Hope & Healing, is a celebration of art, awareness and impact on Sept. 4 that features local and national artists who work in various mediums.
The event invites attendees to explore the realities of mental health, challenge common misconceptions and reflect on how we care for ourselves and others, all while honoring the stories and successes of The Kim Foundation, which works to increase awareness around mental health and suicide prevention in Nebraska.
Johnson-Reyes has six comedy specials streaming on various platforms. Her most recent special, “Say I Won’t,” debuted on YouTube in May 2023 with over 7.8 million views and counting.
During the event, Johnson-Reyes will perform a comedy set followed by a Q&A. A Night Out will also feature work by five local artists.
“Anjelah Johnson-Reyes’ talent for sparking joy through comedy, paired with her authenticity in sharing life’s ups and downs, makes her the perfect speaker for our annual event,” said Molly Verble, executive director of The Kim Foundation. “We look forward to this special night of centering mental health through the lens of art and culture.”
The Sept. 4 event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Astro at 8302 Centre Drive in LaVista. Purchase tickets and learn more at thekimfoundation.org/event/a-night-out.
Brew Haha is moving to Heartwood Preserve
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha has announced that its 19th Annual Brew Haha will move to a brand-new scenic location — Heartwood Park, 301 S. 145th St., located within Heartwood Preserve.
Event proceeds support Habitat Omaha’s efforts to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope throughout the Omaha metro.
The event, which features 70 top-notch local breweries and eateries, will be from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 5. It will also include a new signature beer by B5 Brewing in Benson, which will be available for sampling.
The Shenanigans will provide musical entertainment.
This year’s honorary chairs are Andy and Collette Lozier. Andy is CEO of the Lozier Corporation, while Collette is a program officer focused on housing initiatives at the Lozier Foundation. Both have worked closely with Habitat Omaha on neighborhood revitalization.
General admission is $75, which includes unlimited food and beer tastings and a souvenir glass. For tickets and more information, visit habitatomaha.org/brewhaha.
OneWorld Centers receives recognition
OneWorld Community Health Centers recently received national recognition for high quality patient care in three categories — two of which are repeat categories and one of which marks a new achievement for the organization.
Each year, the Health Resources & Services Administration awards badges to community health centers across the country for quality achievements in access, clinical quality, health outcomes and health information technology.
OneWorld was recognized for the following 2025 awards:
National Quality Leader-Heart Health Badge, for meeting targets related to preventing heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality Badge, for using technology to serve and engage patients through services like telehealth, online exchanges of clinical information with providers and collection of health-related data.Health Center Quality Leader-Gold Badge Awardees, for ranking in the top 10% of health centers nationwide for best overall clinical quality measures.
“These awards demonstrate OneWorld’s commitment to providing high quality care to all people, regardless of their ability to pay,” said OneWorld CEO Andrea Skolkin. “From our dedicated clinicians to our support staff and nursing teams, OneWorld’s employees consistently go the extra mile to ensure each patient receives the medical care and additional support they need and deserve.”
OneWorld Community Health Centers provides quality, affordable health care for 53,000 patients each year at 20 clinical locations in Omaha, Bellevue and Plattsmouth.
Omaha building sets benchmark for efficiency
The U.S. Green Building Council has announced that BranchPattern’s Omaha office is the first project in the United States to achieve platinum certification under LEED v5, the newest version of the world’s leading green building rating system.
Located at 8040 Davenport St., the Omaha office building notably features a geothermal heat pump system and energy recovery ventilator (ERV), which significantly enhances energy efficiency while maintaining optimal indoor air quality. The building achieved 45% more ventilation than ASHRAE 62.1 standards — a substantial improvement in indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
The local Omaha project is part of the inaugural class of LEED v5 early adopters, which span nine countries.
“The first LEED v5 projects are trailblazers, not only demonstrating green building leadership, but also playing a critical role in shaping today’s definition of a high-performing, resilient, healthy and sustainable building,” said Sarah Zaleski, chief products officer, USGBC.
LEED is the most widely used and globally recognized leadership certification that helps building owners clearly articulate their sustainability commitment and achievement, which is verified through rigorous third-party certification.
In studies from the U.S. General Services Administration, LEED buildings have been proven to use less energy and reduce utility costs.
Vanderheiden Run donations hit $40,000
They stood on the Fort Kearny Hike-Bike Trail, presenting an oversized check for $13,000 to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission — the total raised during the annual Tyler Vanderheiden Memorial Run in 2025.
That check brings the total raised during the run — an event aimed at raising awareness and understanding of mental health — to more than $40,000 in the past five years.
Each dollar is donated to Nebraska Game and Parks state park trails. In 2025, funds were earmarked for the Fort Kearny Hike-Bike Trail at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, a stretch of trail that is part of a 13.1-mile system connecting the recreation area to Cottonmill Park in Kearney.
“We’re honored to share the proceeds from the 2025 Tyler Vanderheiden Memorial Run to enhancing the Fort Kearny Hike-Bike Trail, a peaceful stretch near Kearney that invites people to breathe deeply, reflect quietly, and reconnect with themselves and the world around them,” said Shannon Vanderheiden, the event’s co-organizer.
This year’s donation is being used as a match to access up to $52,000 in federal Recreation Trails Program funds after a successful Game and Parks grant application in January 2025. The dollars will be used to redeck the bridge along the Fort Kearny Hike-Bile Trail, a coveted spot for sandhill crane viewers.
Event co-organizers Shannon and Tim Vanderheiden, Tyler’s parents, and Trudy Merritt, Platte River Fitness Series director, presented a check to Game and Parks on Aug. 5.
Runners from every state in the nation and every county in Nebraska participated either virtually or in-person in the May 31 race in Cody Park in North Platte. United around raising mental health awareness, participants used the hashtags #PreventSuicide and #Run4TJV when they shared their race stories, memories of Tyler and their connection to the outdoors.
Short Takes is a compilation of lightly edited press releases from various organizations. To have your information included, send it to [email protected] at least 10 days before the item needs to run. Photos are encouraged with a photo credit and caption. Include a phone number.
First STEM Awards are scheduled for November in Omaha: Short Takes Marjie Ducey Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of August 2025
