All events included with admission to Discovery Center unless otherwise noted. General admission: $7 adults; $7 children ages 2-17; free to Members and children under 2.
All events included with general admission to Discovery Center unless otherwise noted. General admission: $7/adults; $7 children ages 2–17; Free to children under age 2 and Museum members.
Sunday, September 12; 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Rustle up those grandkids and head down to Discovery Center for an afternoon of fun. Grandparents receive ½ off admission today as well as $5.00 off a Grandparent membership. We’ll have door prizes, a scavenger hunt and special crafts in our Art Studio.
Saturday–Sunday, October 2–3; 10 am to 5 pm with special activities from 1-4 pm each day.
Explore why your body makes stinky, oozy, crusty gunk at Grossology: The Impolite Science of the Human Body at Discovery Center and Burpee Museum’s shared exhibit hall. Based on the best-selling book Grossology, this exhibit tells you the good, the bad, and the downright ugly about runny noses, body odor, and other unmentionables. Explore why your snot acts as an air filter, a smell sensor and a mucus producer. Play the pinball game “Gas Attack.” Take a ride on the GI slide, and discover the other mysterious ways your body does what it needs to keep you healthy. Grossology will be in Rockford through January 2, 2011.
General Public: $5/person + Museum admission
Members of either Museum: $3/person
Groups of 10 or more with advance reservation: $4/person
Combo tickets: $15/person (Discovery Center + Burpee + Grossology)
Saturday, October 23; 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Come in costume for a non-scary night of Halloween fun at both Discovery Center and Burpee Museum. Create crafts, make your own slime, boogie under black light, and more. Grab your flashlight and explore Burpee in the dark. Also joining the fun are Rockford Art Museum, Rockford Dance Company, and a host of famous deceased scientists who will be on hand to amaze you with “dead” science demonstrations. This event is skele-tons of fun for the whole family! $4 Members; $8 Public. Note: Grossology exhibition is not open during this event.
Saturday, October 30; 7:00 p.m.–9:00 a.m. the next morning
Be ready for fun as we open up Discovery Center, Burpee Museum, and Grossology for a fabulous family overnight field trip. Get these award-winning museums all to yourself as you explore each exhibit area. Hop into your PJs, bed down after a movie, and wake up to a pancake breakfast and more museum fun. Fees include admission to all galleries, a patch from each museum, evening snack, and breakfast. Fees: $36 per person. One adult required for every 3 children. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Register with your full payment by phone: 815-972-2842. Space is limited.
Sunday, November 7; 1–4 p.m.
Calling all jack-o-lanterns! Dead pumpkins become parking lot projectiles when flung from our giant trebuchet! Bring your used pumpkin, create your own catapult, and learn how to lob. Discovery Center Museum teams up with Rockford Art Museum for a smashing good time.
Sunday, November 14; 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Mark your calendars for this family fundraising event sponsored by the Discovery Center Auxiliary. Enjoy a delicious brunch and catch up with your Hogwarts friends. Take part in magical activities straight from the Hogwarts School of Wizardry. Costumes are encouraged and Muggles are welcome!
Cost: $20 children; $25 adults
Friday, November 19; 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Grownups (21 and older) this is YOUR time to play! Come experience Discovery Center without any kids. Get some holiday shopping done with 20% off all gift shop purchases. Complimentary gift wrapping. Spend some time under the stars in our planetarium. Food for purchase. Cash bar. Cost: $7 non-members, free for members.
Saturday, November 20; presentations at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Riverview Room at Burpee Museum.
Sylvia Branzei, science teacher and author of the popular Grossology books, will be on hand to fill you in on oozing gross stuff and amaze you with a potpourri of grossness during two 30-minute interactive presentations. You can even have her autograph your book.
11:00 a.m.–Oozing Gross Stuff. Learn about the science of snot and other oozy, body stuff. Demonstrations include how to make fake blood and wounds.
2:00 p.m.–A Potpourri of Grossness. Explore the many facets of the disgusting world of human bodies. Demonstrations include how to make fake poo and edible fake barf.
Cost: Includes admission to Grossology and either Museum. $3 Members; $12 Public
Friday and Saturday, November 26–27; 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 28; 12:00–3:30 p.m. Join us for liquid nitrogen science demos and frosty arts and crafts. Included with Discovery Center admission.
Monday, December 20–Thursday, December 30; 11:30–3:30 p.m.
Explore the shapes of the season with hands-on crafts, puzzles, and fun art projects. Included with Discovery Center admission.
Friday, December 31; 12:30–4:30 p.m.
Crafts, games, music and art come together as we to count down to midnight—somewhere in the world! Ring in the New Year with music from Kantorei, the singing boys of Rockford, dances with Rockford Dance Company and party hats, confetti, favors and more with the Rockford Art Museum. Included with Discovery Center admission.
Sunday, January 2, 2011; 12:00–5:00 p.m.
Join in the festivities as we celebrate the last day of Grossology. Use a timer to rate your burps, manufacture monstrous scabs, and check out guts from the inside out. All activities included with Grossology admission, $12 public/ $3 members.