Free Things to Do in Lincoln in August

During this time of year, there are plenty of free activities that UNL students can take advantage of. Lincoln offers free attractions, activities and events for Huskers – everything from concerts to sporting events and everything in between. All information has been taken from the corresponding websites.

1.  Pioneers Park is a great place for people to explore the natural environment of Nebraska. The environmental education center and wildlife sanctuary has over 650 acres of tallgrass prairie, woodlands, wetlands and a stream. The park is open 362 days a year. Admission is free, but donations are suggested.
2. Holmes Lake is a 112 acre lake located on Antelope Creek. Fishing, hiking, biking, picnicking and golfing are popular activities at this location. The Hyde Memorial Observatory can also be found here. It is open to the public every Saturday night until 11 pm through September and 10 pm through March. You can view the night sky through three of the observatory’s telescopes.
3. Party in the Parks is a new community art and entertainment series that features live music, visual arts, food vendors and kids' activities. The upcoming date is September 28^th, from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
   
4. The Haymarket Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday from 8:00 am to 12 pm until October 12^th. Live entertainment can be found on stage in Iron Horse Park with street musicians on every corner. The market itself has a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, meat, baked goods, plants, arts, crafts and much more.
5. The Fallbrook Farmer’s Market is a great place for live music, family friendly events, and handcrafted and artisanal products. Fresh, seasonal produce, farm-raised meats and eggs, farmstead cheeses, breads, pastries and much more are sold at every market. Its hours of operations are every Thursday from 4:30 pm to 8pm.
6. Students and Rec Center members are offered one free climb at the UNL Climbing Wall per semester. All essential equipment, including seat harness, belay device and climbing rope is provided by the Rec. A staff member will be ready and available to assist anyone at the wall.
7. Some Husker athletic events are free for students, including baseball, women’s basketball, soccer, gymnastics, track and field and more. Students have to present their N Card at the gate and admission is free.
8. UNL’s Botanical Gardens are a wonderful place to take a stroll and admire the many different types of flora. The gardens can be found in multiple places on both City Campus and East Campus. On City Campus, they are located by the Cather, Love, Andrews, Burnett, Donaldson and Sheldon buildings. East campus houses The Earl G. Maxwell Arboretum.
   
   
9. The Sheldon Art Museum houses the Sheldon Art Association collection founded in 1888 and the University of Nebraska collection, initiated in 1929. Together they comprise more than 12,000 works of art in all media. The Sculpture Garden has more than 30 monumental sculptures which are exhibited all year. The Sheldon's exhibition program comprises approximately 20 exhibitions per year and focuses on American art in all media. Admission is free. The museum hours are as follows: Tuesdays from 10 am to 8 pm, Wednesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm.
10. Morrill Hall features exhibits on natural history, prehistoric reconstructions of mammals, reptiles and dinosaurs as well as the world-famous Elephant Hall, where visitors see the world's largest articulated fossil mammoth among the premier collection of fossil elephants. Admission is free for UNL students, faculty and staff. The hours Monday through Saturday are 9:30 am-4:30 pm, Thursdays are 9:30 am-8:00 pm and Sundays are 1:30 pm-4:30 pm.
11. The Mueller Planetarium is a part of Morrill Hall, but offers its own unique exhibits and shows. For almost fifty years, the planetarium has educated audiences with exciting fulldome multi-media presentations exploring the latest discoveries in astronomy. The operating hours are the same as Morrill Hall.
    
    
    
12. Sunken Gardens features an annual floral display that consists of over 30,000 individual annual plants which are redesigned to a different theme each year. It is the only Nebraska garden listed in the “300 Best Gardens to Visit in the United States and Canada” by National Geographic Guide to Public Gardens.
13. It’s important for any Husker fan to visit Memorial Stadium. The self-guided tour takes fans into the Stadium, with limited field access, at Gate 24 (when no teams are practicing) and around the stadium. Tours can be taken seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.
14. International Quilt Museum offers visitors a one-of-a-kind look at historical and contemporary quilts and quiltmaking traditions. The museum’s hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm. Admission is free for UNL students, faculty and staff.
15. The Pinnacle Bank Arena is having a Husker Watch Party during the Nebraska vs. Wyoming football game. You can watch the Huskers take their opponents on the arena’s Panasonic high definition center scoreboard with video on all sides in the main arena. Admission is free and there will be food and favorite beverages for sale.