Celebrate Reptile Month with art contest, other events
All Nebraskans are invited to celebrate October as Reptile Month by participating in the annual reptile awareness art contest.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission hosts the contest, which encourages residents to submit original artwork featuring Nebraska native reptiles from Oct. 1-31, 2026. Participants can go to the calendar entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov to upload their entries as scanned images or photos.
The participation categories are kindergarten-second grades, third-fifth grades, sixth-eighth grades, ninth-12th grades, and adults ages 18 and older.
All participants will receive reptile-themed “swag” for their submissions.
Artists can find more information and inspiration on Game and Parks’ Reptiles and Amphibians page at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Search “Reptiles and Amphibians.”
Winners will be announced during the first week of November on the Game and Parks Facebook page.
There will be other ways to celebrate Reptile Month in October. Here are some examples:
Gere Library to host Family Fun Night
Join Lincoln City Libraries and Nebraska Game and Parks for a Family Fun Night geared towards reptile awareness.
Stop by the Gere Library at 2400 S. 56th St. between 5:30 and 7 p.m. Oct. 6 to meet some live snakes, turtles and lizards. Learn about Nebraska’s native reptile species, enjoy crafts, opportunities to read to a reptile, and find fun educational giveaways.
Reptile Art Day is Oct. 19
Nebraska Game and Parks and Lincoln City Libraries will host an afternoon of reptile art on Oct. 19.
Join educators at Gere Branch Library at 2400 S. 56th St. from 1:30-3 p.m. to draw, paint or sculpt an entry for the 2026 Reptile Art Contest.
Live reptiles will be on hand for inspiration, and a variety of art supplies will be provided. Participants will be able to digitally submit their entries with help from staff and take home their finished project.
Send questions to [email protected].
Reptiles of Nebraska Family Event
It will be an evening dedicated to reptiles when Nebraska Game and Parks and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources host a family-friendly reptile fun night Oct. 22.
Come to Hardin Hall at 3310 Holdrege St. from 4:30-7 p.m. for this free event for all ages. Dennis Ferraro, UNL’s herpetologist, will have an exhibit of snakes, lizards and turtles of Nebraska.
There will be live animals, touch stations, coloring stations, turtle activities, snake activities, and many activity booths dedicated to educating Nebraskans on the importance of native reptiles.
Send questions to [email protected].