July is a very exciting month for the Buffalo Museum of Science! Not only are they getting a new exhibit that promises to be great fun for the whole family, but they are also hosting two events: Bubblefest and A Night At The Museum.
The new exhibit is called Explorasaurus and will run from July 12 through August 31. Its main concept is to teach about paleontology, fossils, and the Ice Age in WNY. For the past 23 years there has been an ongoing Ice Age dig by the Museum at the Hiscock Site in nearby Genesee County. The Hiscock Site has yielded thousands of fossils and artifacts from this region from 10,000-12,000 years ago. Paleontologist/Illustrator Research Associate William Parsons works on the Hiscock Site as well as an ongoing dinosaur research in Montana. The site in Montana has discovered previously unknown species.
Explorasaurus takes a look at both of these sites and compares them. It will feature a full-scale representation of both sites that guests can explore. There will be plenty of hands-on activity stations meant for any age to show the skills and traits needed to be either a paleontologist or an archaeologist. It will also teach about fossils, what we learns from fossils, and more. The exhibit will feature dinosaurs and Ice Age specimens from the Museum’s collection, some of which have never been on display before.
That’s as good a reason as any to check out the Museum, but if you’re looking to go and check out their permanent exhibits, you can do so cheaply until July 11 before Explorasaurus opens. General Admission will only be $2 to non-members as they transition from the prior exhibit to the new one. Their next two events will be held while Explorasaurs is in operation, meaning if you go to either event, you will have the opportunity to check out Explorasaurus too.
A Night At The Museum gives parents and children the chance to sleep overnight inside of the museum. You have to register before July 3rd if you want to attend and the event is held from July 19 till July 20, 5:30 PM till 9:30 AM. Guests come into the museum and the doors are closed and they enter a Museum Mystery. They have to embark on a scavenger hunt throughout the museum, completing science activities and various tasks to complete clues.
Once the clues are gathered, everyone has to work together to solve the mystery. After that, there will be a pizza party before the guests can choose to go to the Museum Dance Party, crafts, or a movie. At the end of the evening, guests curl up in their sleeping bags and fall asleep right next to the Museum’s exhibits of mummies, dinosaur skeletons, and fossils. In the morning before they leave there will be a light breakfast. You can get registration form here.
Though that event might not be for you if you do not have children, one that everyone can enjoy comes up the following weekend on July 26. That Saturday will mark the fourth annual Bubblefest, an all-day celebration of the science and fun of bubbles. It runs from 10 AM till 4 PM and this year features BubbleMania, a one-man show by Casey Carle, a bubble master performer, BubbleOlogy author, and Cirque du Soleil consultant.
There will be a lot of other fun activities and people to meet, including The Bubble Guy from Allen Street. Susan Rozler of Mama Earth’s Kitchen Entertainment and Dave Ruch, a musician and family entertainer will also perform at the event. The Robotics Teams from F.I.R.S.T. will also be on hand at Bubblefest.
All of those people are exciting and will no doubt be a lot of fun, but the main event is definitely all of the bubbles. There will be bubble tents where people can experiment with body bubbles, giant bubble tubes, bubble shapes, and bubble technology. One tent will even have a bubble foam shower to try out. There will be a bubble contraption contest, bubbling sun solar observing with the Buffalo Astronomical Association, a bubble art room, and a tiny bubbles program for ages infant – 7.
With so many events going on in July, you may just want to snag a membership!
For information on any of these events, you can always call the Buffalo Museum of Science at 896-5200.
Explorasaurus
July 12 – August 31
Regular Admission
More Info
A Night At The Museum
July 19-20, 5:30 PM till 9:30 AM
Pre-register by July 3
Ages Families with children 6 yrs of age and over
Members: $45, 1 child + 1 adult
Non-Members: $50, 1 child + 1 adult
$20 for each additional person
More Info
Bubblefest
July 26 10 AM till 4 PM
$8 adults, $7 senior citizens, $6 students and kids over age 3
Members have Free Admission but pay $1 for bubble bracelet
More Info