The New York Hall of Science is putting a spooky and spirited, do-it-yourself twist on Halloween and the Day of the Dead.
From October 26-27, bats, catapults, pumpkin sculpting, piñatas, papel picado, and Halloween-inspired robots are all part of the celebration. The science museum, known for its focus on hands-on learning, will remain open until 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 27 so revelers can continue the Halloween fun into the evening hours. Most activities are free with NYSCI admission, though some projects and shows require a small materials fee.
Some of the highlights include:
• Pumpkin chucking demonstrations (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) where pumpkins are thrown hundreds of feet in the air by a 10-foot catapult. Free with admission.
• Live bat encounters (Saturday), a special show featuring live bats including a big brown bat, fruit bats, and a gigantic flying fox bat. $5 plus NYSCI admission.
• Pumpkin decorating (Saturday & Sunday) and sculpting (Sunday), where kids can bring a pumpkin from home and create their own masterpiece. Free with admission.
• Papel Picado workshops (Saturday & Sunday) where you can make your own elaborately designed banner. Free with admission.
• Giant piñata decorating (Saturday). Free with admission.
• Pumpkin carving demos with experts from Maniac Pumpkin Carvers (Sunday). Free with admission.
• Dead or Alive Party (Saturday from 5 – 7 p.m.), which includes a virtual costume party, music, live interactive video projections by Glowing Pictures, and food trucks. Free with admission.
• Plus Halloween-themed robots, giant bug sculptures, and spooky fog demonstrations. Free with admission.
The New York Hall of Science is located at 47-01 111th Street in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. General admission costs $11 for adults and $8 for children ages 2-17. General admission is free to all on Fridays from 2 – 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 – 11 a.m. For more information, visit www.nysci.org.
