HERO area
Popcorn Pop-Up is the best hour of the week - an afternoon social hour with 100s of Huskers.
It’s free and every student, staff, and faculty is welcome.
Snack on fresh-popped popcorn directly from the kettle. Join in the activity while learning about campus organizations and departments. Mingle with friends and new acquaintances.
JOIN THE CROWD
Every Thursday
3 to 4 p.m.
@ Nebraska Union's The Crib
* during the academic calendar year only. Excludes holiday breaks and the summer term, unless otherwise noted.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Always FREE popcorn.
Always FREE drinks.
and a NEW activity each week.
Enjoy fellowship, laughter, friends, and smiles.
The activity will change weekly. It might be trivia, or maybe a sport, a craft, or karaoke.
There will always be fresh popcorn, including special mix-ins.
Really, how BIG is the Pop-Up?
On average, 236 individuals check in during the 1-hour timeframe each week.
The inaugural pop-up on Feb 6, 2025 attracted 96 people. It has only grown in popularity since that day.
Attendance record: 303 individuals (achieved on Feb 5, 2026)
Get your free Pop-Up Cup
Each first-time attendee receives a FREE reusable yellow Popcorn Pop-Up Cup.
Be sustainable. Hang on to your yellow cup. Bring it to subsequent Popcorn Pop-Ups to refill with popcorn treats.
Check in with Event Pass
As you enter this event, have your individualized UNL EVENT PASS ready to be scanned.
Download your pass in less than 1 minute from your NvolveU account and save it to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
VIDEO: Downloading your EVENT PASS
Upcoming Dates + Activity Hosts
FEB 26, 2026
Calligraphy
with Kawasaki Reading Room
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MAR 5, 2026
Origami
with Husker Hub
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MAR 12, 2026
Build your own "Spring Break Survival Kit"
with Nebraska Alumni Association
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No Pop-Up on March 19 (Spring Break).
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MAR 26, 2026
with University Health Center
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APR 2, 2026
with Union Bank & Trust
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APR 9, 2026
with Campus Rec Well-being
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APR 16, 2026
with Office of Sustainability
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final pop-up of Spring Semester 2026
APR 23, 2026
with Husker Vote Coalition + ASUN's Government Liaison Committee
Golden Kernel Club
Earn your spot in the Golden Kernel Club
To recognize and honor frequent attendees.
How to become a member:
- Go to the weekly Popcorn Pop-Up.
- At the check-in table, scan your individual Event Pass to officially record your attendance.
- Attend ten (10) Popcorn Pop-Ups to become an official member. Attendance does not have to be consecutive weeks.
- Once your attendance count is verified and you become a member, you will receive an exclusive stainless steel Golden Kernel Club Cup, and your name will be added to the Golden Kernel Club's roster.
Golden Kernel Club Members
Spring 2026
Aaron De La Torre • Aditya Tadepalli • Allie Woolworth • Bailey Urkoski • Bhuwanraj Singh Parihar • Brandon Fogel • Camden Gregg • Caroline Belleque • Christopher Dulak • Colin Mahon • Edwin Salgado-Martinez • Emily Klesner Platt • Eric Einspahr • Gautam Takoo • Grace Slater • Grant Hunter • Hayden Hudson • Jacob Vollbrecht • Jaiden Coltrane • JD McCown • Jenna Wakefield • Jennifer Hellwege • Jon Shields • Jordan Ashmore • Kenzie Sheridan
Kishan Agrahari • Lisa Hilzer • Lizzie Vietz • Logan Moseley • Madison Schnacker • McKinley Morgan • Megan Becker • Nazli Ramirez • Nhi Nguyen • Nikki Sander • Olivia Paysen • Peter Trage • Porter Friskopp • Ryan Lahne • Samarpan Mohanty • Stuti Sitesh • Sunayana Malla • Tiffany Royal • Vanessa Vaught
* Bold Names are the newest members as of Feb 19, 2026.
Fall 2025
Aden Minchow • Alex Berry • Alex Lupori • Alex McMurchie • Alexis Mendez Santiago • Allie Whalen • Amorese Avila • Amy Stewart • Andie Barefield • Anthony Rubek • Ayela Ruiz • Bre Sabin • Brett Tomjack • Brooke O'Connor • Carl Mangold • Cat Dinh • Charles Morgan • Chloe Fitzgibbon • Claire Schaunaman • Clark Schulte • Cooper Morgan • Daniel Gonzalez • Danielle Elsasser • Drishti Takoo • Dylanne Hatfield
Elizabeth Buescher • Emily Drain • Emma DeShon • Emine Alp • Domonique Cudjo • Gabriel Spray • Gianna Zitella • Gideon Casimiro • Grace Clark • Izzy Lewis • Jenny Bowen • Jessie Matthes • Jesus Campos • Josie Golka • Journey McManus • Justin Brown • Kailyn Drain • Karen Wills • Kashish Nangia • Kathar Chuol • Katherine Ortiz • Kayla Woodruff • Kyla Patel • Laurel Hogan • Lauren Haring
Liberty Stuart • Logan Livers • Lulu Diaz-Aldama • Luzelena Moreno • Madaux DeLong • Madeline Condon • Madie Beasley • Makenna Zimmerman • Marcos Ortiz Ibarra • Marcus McCaskill • Mia Personelli • Molly Clark • Molly Edwards • Nancy Anderson • Natalie Hill • Nathan Ertzner • Nathan McCormick • Nick Stefanik • Nina Marie Kudlacz • Olivia Cupp-Whiteman • Oluwatobi Tevoedjre • Paige Knebel • Paula McKillip • Robert Coleman • Rosella Zaske
Sarah Frances Brown • Scott Nester • Shannon Hays • Steven Semadeni • Sydney Metzler • Teddi Humphrey • Teresa Calafiore • Titus Willems • T.J. McDowell • Tori Riggs • Travis Nguyen • Vivian Landis • Yael Nolan • Yannis Melessike • Yashvi Patel • Zoe McManaman
91 members.
13 of the 15 inaugural inductees in the Golden Kernel Club. November 13, 2025.
Questions? Connect with Karen Wills kwills2@unl.edu | 402-472-9749
Subscribe to the Popcorn Pop-Up Newsletter in Outlook
"Yellow Cup" Reuse
Every week, a dedicated portion of regular attendees return to the Pop-up with their reusable yellow cup, helping to curb the event's waste footprint.
Attendees have returned more than 180 surplus yellow cups via the recycling initiative and 169 cups have been put into recirculation.