DEC 7 - Two Shows
2024-12-07 | Hastings Museum
40th Anniversary Film!
Gremlins (PG) 1 hr 46 mins
Don’t miss this fantasy, comedy, scary, Christmas film! The story follows young Billy Peltzer, who receives a strange creature as a pet, which then spawns other creatures that transform into aggressive imp-like monsters that wreak havoc on Billy’s town on Christmas Eve. (See!?! It’s TOTALLY a Christmas film!)
Two Shows on DEC 7
Saturday at 2 & 7:15 pm
Tickets: $5.50
PSST: Howie Mandel provides the voice of Gizmo! Who knew?

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Wildlife in Winter
2024-12-08 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Hastings Museum
FREE with Museum Membership or paid museum admission that day.
Register by Noon, Friday, Dec. 6
Dress for the weather, we’ll likely be going outside!

Wildlife in Winter: Where do the animals go when the weather turns cold? Do they stay, do they leave, do they sleep? In this program we will explore and learn about animal adaptations that help them survive in a harsh winter climate. We’ll discuss black squirrels; barred owls and Eastern and Western Screech owls; House Finches; polar bears; snowshoe hare; caribou; and lynx!

Wild Wonders is a nature-based family program that takes place every other month. Each program centers around a hands-on nature topic. This is a great opportunity for ages 5 and up, as well as adults, to learn and explore the natural world around us! Join us for activities, hikes, presenters and opportunities to get outside and enjoy the world around us.

Capacity: 40 people

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FREE film!
2024-12-14 | Hastings Museum
Rated (PG) | Runtime: 1 hour 25 minutes
The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of aggravation comes during Christmastime when his neighbors in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all.
This film is FREE to Members
FREE to those with tickets that day’s Holiday Fun event
FREE to all others who have paid Museum Admission that day
The morning of Dec. 14, we’ll also host our annual Holiday Fun event. That events sells out almost every year. Get your tickets today if you are interested in attending. The theme of that event is: Green & Grinch(y): Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-Noon. Play games, create art, and get free photo ops with Santa AND the grinchy guy. Also included is free admission to a film on our super screen. We’re even including some science stations. This event sells out almost every year. Make plans today to join us!

Holiday Fun: DEC 14
2024-12-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Hastings Museum
Theme: Green and Grinch(y)
Hey families, don’t miss our Holiday Fun event, Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-Noon. Play games, create art, and get free photo ops with Santa AND the grinchy guy! Also included is free admission to a film on our super screen. We’re even including some science stations! This event sells out almost every year. Make plans today to join us!

Members: $4
Non Members: Children $11, Adult (13-59) $13, Senior (60+) $12

This event includes all-day Museum admission & the holiday film: The Grinch (PG) 2018, 1h 30min, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch
.

Tickets are required for our Holiday Fun event. Simply call (402) 461-2399 or purchase online. Tickets are not needed for the holiday film on this day. The film will be first come, first seated! Showtime will be announced soon.

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FREE Film!
2024-12-24 | Hastings Museum
Join us on Christmas Eve: See White Christmas on the super screen and celebrate the film’s 80th anniversary! The music and costumes are amazing. This classic film stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.
This film is FREE to Members
And FREE to Non-Members who have paid Museum Admission on the day of the showings. We hope you can join us!
White Christmas (1954) (PG) | 1 hr 50 mins
Two Shows on DEC 24
Tuesday, Dec 24 at 11 am & 1:30 pm

FREE Event in Theatre
2025-01-12 13:00 - 13:45 | Hastings Museum
Where: Here at the Museum
When: Sunday, JAN 12, 1-1:45 p.m.
New photos from the James Webb Space Telescope! Kirk Rosberg, the Museum’s Planetarium Coordinator, will take us through new images from the telescope projected on on our super screen. Don’t miss it! First come, first seated. No tickets needed. No RSVP required. FREE! Join us! (And help us spread the word!)

Cocktails with the Curators
2025-01-23 19:00 - 22:00 | Hastings Museum
Doors & Cash Bar open at 6p | Stations start at 7p
Enjoy drinks, snacks, and fun stories about our collection and exhibits. Meet our curators and get their behind-the-scenes secrets! Tickets to this 21+ event are just $15 plus tax for Members. Tickets for all others are $20. That includes admission and snacks. A cash bar will be available. Here’s a preview of what the evening will hold:

Station 1: Get an inside look at how we clean our dioramas!
Station 2: Enter an attempted-murder mystery story from the late 1800s in downtown Hastings.
Intermission, enjoy our newest Tactile Exhibit & load up on snacks.
Station 3: See artifacts from an Ingleside dentist and hear his story. (Let’s just say dental tools improved over the years.)
Station 4: Learn how museums decide when, where, and why they’ll part with items. Sometimes animal specimens are just no longer useful to our collection, and occasionally we have to make room for new stuff. Learn the rules! (There are SO MANY rules)

Don’t miss this ALL NEW Cocktails with the Curators. Admission and snacks included. Cash bar is available. Get your tickets today!

This event has limited attendance, so no more than 20 people are with each curator at a time.
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Dirty Things Tours: 6 & 8 pm
2025-02-13 18:00 - 18:45 | Hastings Museum
Dirty Things Tours
Has it been awhile since you’ve been out for a night of fun? Don’t answer that. There’s no need to air your dirty laundry here. These 45-minute tours cover a variety of topics that are all dirty in one way or another. Sometimes dirty means grimy or gross, other times dirty means … well, you know (wink wink).
We will talk dirty, tell dirty jokes, and *gasp* even say a dirty word. But don’t worry, nothing racier than an R-rated movie. These tours are for those who are at least 18 years old. We’ve done all the dirty work to arrange a great night out.

If you’ve had fun on one of these tours before, join us again! Our 2025 Dirty Things Tour features ALL NEW topics! Don’t give us that dirty look: these tours are perfect for Valentine’s Day–or a Galentine’s celebration. We encourage you to pre-purchase tickets. Walk-ins welcome only if space allows. For a good time call (402) 461-2399.

Space is limited, register today!
45-Minute TOUR TICKETS:
Members $5 | Non-Members $10 +tax
Get TicketsThursday, FEB 13 – 6p or 8p
Friday, FEB 14 – 6p or 8p
Saturday, FEB 15 – 4p or 6p

Dirty Things Tours: 6 & 8 pm
2025-02-14 18:00 - 18:45, 2025-02-15 16:00 - 16:45 | Hastings Museum
Dirty Things Tours
Has it been awhile since you’ve been out for a night of fun? Don’t answer that. There’s no need to air your dirty laundry here. These 45-minute tours cover a variety of topics that are all dirty in one way or another. Sometimes dirty means grimy or gross, other times dirty means … well, you know (wink wink).
We will talk dirty, tell dirty jokes, and *gasp* even say a dirty word. But don’t worry, nothing racier than an R-rated movie. These tours are for those who are at least 18 years old. We’ve done all the dirty work to arrange a great night out.

If you’ve had fun on one of these tours before, join us again! Our 2025 Dirty Things Tour features ALL NEW topics! Don’t give us that dirty look: these tours are perfect for Valentine’s Day–or a Galentine’s celebration. We encourage you to pre-purchase tickets. Walk-ins welcome only if space allows. For a good time call (402) 461-2399.

Space is limited, register today!
45-Minute TOUR TICKETS:
Members $5 | Non-Members $10 +tax
Get TicketsThursday, FEB 13 – 6p or 8p
Friday, FEB 14 – 6p or 8p
Saturday, FEB 15 – 6p 0r 8p

Astral Adventures Family Program
2025-03-01 09:30 - 12:00 | Hastings Museum
Where: Here at the Museum
When: Saturday, March 1, 9:30-Noon
Tickets: Members $4 | Non-Members $4 + Museum Admission
Embark on a journey through space as we delve into the adventures of space through hands-on activities. Students will learn about the James Webb Space Telescope and what it is doing in space. Use your creative minds to create a rocket, planet and galaxy. Perfect for curious minds, this class will expose students to the mysteries of Space adventure and help them understand our amazing universe.
Join us for an amazing day at the museum and an unforgettable adventure among the stars!
NOTE: If your child has any dietary restrictions, please let us know beforehand, as food will be served. Also, please be advised, we will do our best to contain the mess, we will be working with materials that may not wash out of clothing well.

Tickets On Sale Now!
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Art After Dark: Paint with Beer
2025-03-08 18:00 - 21:00 | Hastings Museum
Unleash your inner artist with a creative twist! Explore the fusion of art and beer in this fun and unique class where participants paint using beer as their medium. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast or just curious, you’ll savor this one-of-a-kind experience that blends craft and creativity. Tickets to this 21+ event are $15 for Members. Tickets for non-members $20. First Street Brewing will provide a cash bar.

The guest instructor for this program will be Christine Brown, Director of Learning and Engagement at the Museum of Nebraska Art.

Space is limited. Get your tickets today!
Here is an example of painting with beer:
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Observe the Moon
2025-03-11 20:30 - 21:45 | Brickyard Park
Observe the Moon
with the Museum’s telescope
Join the Museum at Brickyard Park to observe the nearly full Moon starting at 8:30 pm. Planetarium Coordinator Kirk Rosberg will be on hand to answer your astronomy questions. Bring a lawn chair if you plan to stay the whole time. Members of the public are welcome to also bring binoculars.
This event is weather/clouds permitting! If it is too cloudy, the event will not be rescheduled.

Live Sky Tonight
2025-03-25 20:45 - 21:30 | Brickyard Park
Live Sky Tonight
at Brickyard Park
Join the Museum at Brickyard Park to observe the night sky starting at 8:45 pm. Learn the constellations and bright stars under the actual night sky. We will have a green laser pointer with us so everyone can see exactly what star or constellation is being discussed. Planetarium Coordinator Kirk Rosberg will be on hand to answer your astronomy questions. Bring a lawn chair if you plan to stay the whole time.
This event is weather/clouds permitting! If it is too cloudy, the event will not be rescheduled.

Adams County Morning Cruise
2025-03-29 08:30 - 12:00 | Hastings Museum
On the road again! East Adams County Bus Tour
MORNING: Adams County Cruise
8:30 a.m. – Noon

AFTERNOON: Adams County Cruise
1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Join us March 29 (same tour offered twice this day!)
Members: $35; Non-Members: $50
Hop on our bus for a 3 1/2-hour tour around “east side” of Adams County. Let our tour guides bring history to life in a fun way with trivia and light-hearted reenactments. We’ll stop at historic landmarks, villages past and present, and little places you’ve probably never heard of. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages, but alcohol is not allowed.*

The tour starts and ends at the Hastings Museum. Unfortunately, the bus is not wheelchair accessible. We will be getting on and off the bus at various locations, some of which will be gravel and other uneven surfaces. Don’t worry, there will be a bathroom stop along the way (we’ve got small bladders too). And if you are looking at the graphic and wondering: YES! We’ll be riding on a school bus! We’re rolling old school!

*Please Note: Unlike our tour of Southwest Adams County which debuted in 2023, this tour is NOT on a party bus and will not allow alcohol. The good news? It is no longer a 21+ tour. While the beverages and tour stops are different, the tour itself will have the same fun vibe! We thank you for your understanding.
Get Your TicketsHighlights of this ALL NEW TOUR include:

Antioch School
Blue Valley Cemetery
First Homesteads in the County
Ingleside
Pauline
Towns you’ve never heard of!

Adams County Afternoon Cruise
2025-03-29 13:00 - 16:30 | Hastings Museum
On the road again! East Adams County Bus Tour

MORNING: Adams County Cruise
1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Join us March 29 (same tour offered twice this day!)
Members: $35; Non-Members: $50
Hop on our bus for a 3 1/2-hour tour around the “east side” of Adams County. Let our tour guides bring history to life in a fun way with trivia and light-hearted reenactments. We’ll stop at historic landmarks, villages past and present, and little places you’ve probably never heard of. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages, but alcohol is not allowed.*

The tour starts and ends at the Hastings Museum. Unfortunately, the bus is not wheelchair accessible. We will be getting on and off the bus at various locations, some of which will be gravel and other uneven surfaces. Don’t worry, there will be a bathroom stop along the way (we’ve got small bladders too). And if you are wondering, we’ll be riding on a school bus! We like rollin’ old school!

*Please Note: Unlike our tour of Southwest Adams County which debuted in 2023, this tour is NOT on a party bus and will not allow alcohol. The good news? It is no longer a 21+ tour. While the beverages and tour stops are different, the tour itself will have the same fun vibe! We thank you for your understanding.
Get Your TicketsHighlights of this ALL NEW TOUR include:

Antioch School
Blue Valley Cemetery
First Homesteads in the County
Ingleside
Pauline
Towns you’ve never heard!

The War in Vietnam with David Wells
2025-04-06 14:00 - 15:00 | Hastings Museum, P.O. Box 1286, Hastings, NE, 68902
Humanities Nebraska Speakers: The War in Vietnam with David Wells
April 6th, 2025 @ 2:00 pm | FREE Event
We are thrilled to have Humanities Nebraska back at the Hastings Museum for a special Speaker.

During The War in Vietnam with David Wells, he gives a brief history of the war, explains how we got pulled into it and how it grew from a few military advisers to over 500K American soldiers and 58K deaths. Special attention is given to the 399 Nebraskans on the ‘Wall of Remembrance’ and the 16 from this state still listed as POW/MIA.

This multi-media presentation runs about 40 minutes and includes a special display.

Humanities Nebraska Speakers- The War in Vietnam with David Wells is a FREE event.

Nature After Dark
2025-04-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Hastings Museum
When: Thursday, April 10th
When: 10:00-11:00 am AND 7:00-8:00 pm
Where: Hastings Museum
Price: Members: $5, Non-Members: $10
Join Nature’s Educators to meet real, live animal ambassadors that venture out in the night! Find out what these incredible animals eat, where they live, how they survive, and how we can help them. Bring your cameras and inquiring minds!

Nature’s Educators is a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire individuals to understand, respect, and conserve wildlife through educational programming and experiences.
Purchase tickets for either time offerings. They will be presenting from 10:00-11:00 am and 7:00-8:00 pm.
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Solar Observing- 4/19
2025-04-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Hastings Museum
FREE FUN!

Join us for an opportunity to use our specially equipped telescope and safely look at the sun. Weather permitting, you’ll see the star at the center of our solar system in rich, rewarding detail.

It will take place on the third Saturday of each month from 11:00 am-12:00 pm. No RSVP necessary. Simply check in at the front desk or meet us on our front patio!

Interested in more out of this world fun? Check out the shows in our Planetarium.

Vietnamese New Year: Celebration of Tet
2025-05-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Hastings Museum
When: Saturday, May 3rd
When: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: Hastings Museum
Price: Members: $4, Non-Members: Museum Admission + $4

3,2,1… Happy New Year! Come celebrate the Vietnamese New Years and learn about their national holiday and what it symbolizes to the people of the nation. Come learn about Zodiac animals and learn about the importance of the color red. Come experience Vietnamese culture here at the Hastings Museum.

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Solar Observing- 5/17
2025-05-17 11:00 - 12:00 | Hastings Museum

Buffalo Bill with Jeff Barnes
2025-05-18 13:30 - 14:30 | Hastings Museum, P.O. Box 1286, Hastings, NE, 68902
Humanities Nebraska Speakers: Buffalo Bill with Jeff Barnes
Sunday, May 18th @ 1:30 pm | FREE Event
We are thrilled to have Humanities Nebraska back at the Hastings Museum for a special Speaker.

William F. Cody was born, raised, and died elsewhere but it was in Nebraska where he made his home and where the celebrity and legend of Buffalo Bill was born.
What happened in the Cornhusker State to create a man who was arguably the world’s first “superstar”? Author Jeff Barnes tells the story of Cody in Nebraska, from his days as an Indian scout, as a hunting guide to the rich and famous, as the creator of “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West,” and his enduring legacy in the state, nation, and world today.

Wild Wonders: Woolly Animals
2025-06-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Hastings Museum
When: Saturday, June 7th
When: 2:00-4:00 pm
Where: Hastings Museum
Price: Members: $4, Non-Members: Museum Admission + $4

Wild Wonders is a nature-based family program that takes place every other month. Each program centers around a hands-on nature topic. This is a great opportunity for ages 5 and up, as well as adults, to learn and explore the natural world around us!

Do you know what materials your clothes are made out of? What do you wear during winter? What about animals? Have you ever been curious what animals do during the extreme heat and cold? Join us on June 7th as we explore the world of wooly animals and how their fur protects them from the elements.
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WWII in Hastings Bus Tour
2025-06-20 08:30 - 10:30 | Hastings Museum
When: June 20th
When: Tour starts 8:30 a.m.
Where: Tour begins and ends at the Hastings Museum
Price: $35 +tax for Museum Members | $50 +tax for Non-Members
Join us for a 2-hour bus tour that highlights the Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD), downtown Hastings, and key housing districts. The tour ticket also includes all-day admission to the Museum, and Theatre admission to D-Day: Normandy 1944, narrated by Tom Brokaw (trailer below). Get a sense of what it was like to live in Hastings during one of its boom periods. The city’s population nearly doubled between 1942 and 1943. Where did they live and work? Come find out!

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Solar Observing- 6/21
2025-06-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Hastings Museum

WWII in Hastings Bus Tour
2025-06-22 13:30 - 15:30 | Hastings Museum
When: June 22, Sunday
When: Tour starts 1:30 p.m.
Where: Tour begins and ends at the Hastings Museum
Price: $35 +tax for Museum Members | $50 +tax for Non-Members
Join us for a 2-hour bus tour that highlights the Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD), downtown Hastings, and key housing districts. The tour ticket also includes all-day admission to the Museum, and Theatre admission to D-Day: Normandy 1944, narrated by Tom Brokaw (trailer below). Get a sense of what it was like to live in Hastings during one of its boom periods. The city’s population nearly doubled between 1942 and 1943. Where did they live and work? Come find out!

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Art After Dark: Clay Sculptures
2025-06-28 18:00 - 21:00 | Hastings Museum
When: Saturday, June 28th
When: 6:00-9:00 pm
Where: Hastings Museum
Price: Members: $15, Non-Members: $20

Join us as clay artist Nancy Fairbanks teaches you how to create a human figure sculpture out of stoneware clay, using your hands and basic tools.
Nancy will discuss proportions of the human figure, as well as how emotion and movement can make for the most interesting art pieces. She will encourage you, the artist, to include your own personality and attitude to create a clay masterpiece.

This event is 21+ with a cash bar.

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Solar Observing- 7/19
2025-07-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Hastings Museum

Flatwater Forum: Breaking the Silence on Intimate Partner Violence in Nebraska
2025-07-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Hastings Museum
Join the Flatwater Free Press and panelists:

Jo Bair, Executive Director of enCourage Advocacy Center
Dr. Laura Logan, Sociology Professor at Hastings College
Amber Harper, Network Service Coordinator at the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
Raul Arcos Hawkins, Executive Director of the Multicultural Coalition

for this powerful and FREE forum at the Hastings Museum, July 24, 2025, from 7-8:30 PM.

Click the link below to RSVP today!

RSVP HERE
