by Emily Eilers
Lincoln, Neb. —East Campus Discovery Days and Farmers Market is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 8, July 13 and Aug. 10. This fun, family-friendly event will take place on the East Campus Mall.
East Campus Discovery Days is an opportunity for community members to visit East Campus and learn about the research, teaching and extension work that takes place across the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This event also provides science and agricultural literacy activities for youth.
“It’s a free opportunity for kids and families to learn in a safe and comfortable environment,” said Jordan Slagle, the event manager for East Campus Discovery Days.
In addition to learning activities, this event will have a variety of vendors selling goods including fresh flowers, coffee, baked goods, hand-made jewelry, bath products and much more, as well as food trucks and live music. Kids can practice their roping skills at the Rodeo Club booth, and visitors can support several UNL students who have launched businesses as part of UNL’s Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program. Other event highlights include produce grown locally by Tribal Extension and a race car built by the Husker Racing Baja Society of Engineers that will be on display.
While the activities and vendors will be at East Campus Mall, participants are encouraged to explore the rest of East Campus and check out the Backyard Farmer Garden, Dairy Store, Maxwell Arboretum and other East Campus attractions.
Event coordinators are hoping to get more departments involved and have invited City Campus to join in on the East Campus fun.
Currently, there are 50-plus booths registered for East Campus Discovery Days. Vendor applications for July and August are still being accepted. Vendors can go to the Join Us page on discoverydays.unl.edu to get registered.
Each of the three dates will have the staple activities and vendors, but there will be some booths that rotate activities or departments that rotate the group representing them. The 2024 BugFest hosted by the Department of Entomology will coincide with the East Campus Discovery Days August date.
The event is rain or shine and should not be impacted by the current construction of the Legacy Meadow on East Campus.
For more information including full lists of vendors, activities, food trucks and entertainers, please visit discoverydays.unl.edu.