The William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College is set to ignite imaginations this week with two highly anticipated planetarium shows: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure and Niyah and the Multiverse. These interactive experiences are scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 26, 2025.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
Families with young children can look forward to a magical exploration of the night sky alongside beloved Sesame Street™ characters. In this vibrant show, Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend Hu Hu Zhu from China invite children on an imaginary trip to the Moon. The adventure highlights the differences between the Moon and the Earth, teaches viewers how to spot the Big Dipper and North Star from their own backyards, and encourages a sense of global connection through the shared wonder of the night sky. The show was coproduced by the Adler Planetarium, Sesame Workshop, the Beijing Planetarium, and Liberty Science Center, and is brought to Parkland College through a grant from the PNC Foundation.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure takes place indoors at the Staerkel Planetarium from 10 to 11 a.m. on both June 24 and 26. Visitors may drop off guests at the circle drive outside the planetarium and are asked to park in the M1 parking lot.

Niyah and the Multiverse
Later in the day, audiences are invited to embark on a visually stunning Afrofuturist journey with Niyah and the Multiverse. The show follows Niyah, an imaginative Chicago preteen, as she explores the concept of parallel universes and ponders her place in the cosmos. Through the lens of Afrofuturism, the program blends science, storytelling, and culture, encouraging viewers to dream up their own theories about the multiverse and consider what shape their “shadow matter” might take. Produced by the Adler Planetarium and licensed with the support of the Friends of the Staerkel Planetarium, this show is designed to inspire curiosity and self-discovery in audiences of all ages.

Niyah and the Multiverse will be shown from 2 to 3 p.m. on June 24 and 26. The same drop-off and parking arrangements apply.

These shows are part of Staerkel Planetarium’s diverse Summer 2025 lineup, which features programs for all ages, including sensory-friendly experiences and live-narrated tours of the night sky. Tickets for all shows are $12, and more information about the summer schedule, special events, and educational opportunities can be found on the planetarium’s website.