CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College has released its summer 2026 lineup, offering a mix of shows for adults, families, and children throughout June and July.
Featured shows include “Prairie Skies,” “Solar Superstorms,” “Dawn of the Space Age,” and “Niyah and the Multiverse,” the latter two produced by the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. “Solar Superstorms” features imagery produced by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois. “Dawn of the Space Age,” which chronicles America’s role in space travel history, is being shown in part to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Children’s programming includes “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” “Solar System Safari,” “The Little Star That Could,” “Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?,” and several others.
“During the summer break, we give families more opportunities to visit us on weekday mornings and afternoons in June and July,” said Planetarium Director Erik Johnson.
Public matinée shows will be offered on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Shows will not be held May 22-23 or July 2-3. Sensory-friendly shows with reduced sound and a relaxed atmosphere are also scheduled throughout the summer for guests with autism spectrum disorder, sensory sensitivities, or young children.
More information is available at planetarium.parkland.edu or by calling 217-351-2446.