There is so much  fun going on this fall at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. There is something for everyone from the “The Science Behind Pixar“, to “Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits” to Hallowteen and much more (see below). Some of it for free and the rest very affordable.  Get out and enjoy the museum with the entire family, a date, a friend or just immerse yourself in all there is to do.  

 

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS

The Science Behind Pixar

Opens Oct. 11 • dmns.org/pixar • special timed ticket required

Everybody has a favorite Pixar film, but what it takes to make one is a mystery to most fans. The lively new exhibition “The Science Behind Pixar” presents an immersive opportunity to explore the science, technology, engineering, art and math concepts used at Pixar Animation Studios every day to bring their beloved films and characters to life. Each section in the exhibition focuses on a step in the filmmaking process, giving guests of all ages an unparalleled view of the production pipeline and concepts used by the artists and computer scientists at Pixar every day. You will enjoy more than 50 interactive elements, hear first-hand from the studio’s production teams in special video stories, and even come face-to-face with re-creations of your favorite Pixar characters, including Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode, and WALL•E!

 

Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits

Open through April 12 • dmns.org/extremesports • included with Museum admission

Do you really know what it takes? The exhibition “Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits” goes into the minds and bodies of extreme athletes to explore the psychology of their motivations and the science behind some of the riskier sports, such as wingsuit flying, ice and rock climbing, parkour, free diving, and much more. You will be inspired to learn about your own personal limits through fun challenges with your friends and family. Try a course developed by Ninja Nation, discover what it’s like to pilot a wingsuit, traverse kid-sized climbing walls for everyone, step into the Immersion Room and see what it feels like to ride a mountain bike and a whitewater kayak, get to know the stories of extreme athletes from Colorado and much more!

 

VR ARCADE

Now open • daily, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. • dmns.org/vrarcade • special ticket required, purchase onsite only

Come on in, jump on board, and have some fun in “VR Arcade”! This “pop-up” experience uses virtual reality (VR) technology that lets you explore wherever your curiosity leads. Featuring six bays for individuals and a four-person Virtual Reality Transporter ride. Some age and height restrictions apply. Birdly, a virtual full-body flight experience, is now available in the VR Arcade.

 

OCTOBER

Hallowteen

Grades 9–12 only: Oct. 20 • 7–9 p.m. • free

Teens take over the Museum at this totally free, uniquely teen night. Check out frightening creatures, both dead and alive, fun activities, and freaky food. Costumes welcomed!

 

 

Digital Earth: Extreme Environments

Oct. 8 • 7 p.m. • Gates Planetarium • $8 member, $10 nonmember

Climb to the peaks of Everest and traverse the hottest desert with space science curator Dr. Ka Chun Yu and geologist Dr. Bob Raynolds. With immersive satellite images projected onto the planetarium’s full dome, you’ll be transported to some of Earth’s most extreme environments, no passports or specialized gear required.

 

SCFD Community Free Day

Oct. 14 • 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. • FREE

Enjoy your Museum favorites, special family-friendly activities, and free admission to the temporary exhibition “Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits” and discounted admission to “The Science Behind Pixar.”

 

The Raptors of North America: A Live Falcon Demonstration

Oct. 15 • 7 p.m. • Wildlife Halls • $12 member, $15 nonmember • Ages 21 + • cash bar • book sale

Enjoy a live falcon demonstration in the Museum’s wildlife halls with Anne Price, curator at the Raptor Education Foundation and an avid falconer since age 16. Price will feature her new publication “The Raptors of North America: A Coloring Book of Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Owls.” The book has activities, coloring exercises and short essays describing a variety of raptors, and is illustrated by Donald Malick. After the demonstration, René O’Connell, image archivist, will detail the Museum’s collection of Malick’s artwork and his time as a field artist in Botswana. A reception with a display of Malick’s paintings and a chance to color in Botswana Hall follows the program.

 

Science Lounge: Bloodsuckers

Oct. 17 • 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. • $13 member, $15 nonmember

Enjoy a mind-expanding experience with cocktails and entertainment the third Thursday of the month. For ages 21 and up. This month, vampires, bats and parasites galore! Beware of all things that bite during this night dedicated to creatures that feast on blood. Costumes encouraged.

 

Barn Swallows and Biodiversity

Oct. 22 • 7 p.m. • Ricketson Auditorium • $12 Museum, Bird Conservancy, or Audubon member, $15 nonmember

Barn swallows are one of the most widely distributed vertebrates on Earth. With six different subspecies, these birds provide an exciting opportunity to study environmental adaptation, including to the built environment of our own species. Dr. Rebecca Safran, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, will share insights from her group’s work on barn swallows along the Front Range and around the world. These investigations show how behaviors related to migratory and mate selection shape population boundaries, leading to more understanding of the origin and breakdown of biodiversity. Presented in partnership with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies with promotional support from Denver Audubon and Audubon Rockies.

 

Living History: A Concert in the Hall

Oct. 24 • 7 p.m. • $27 member, $33 nonmember • Ages 21 + • cash bar • purchase tickets from Groupmuse; info at dmns.org

Enjoy a unique evening inside beautiful Botswana Hall. Living History is a first-of-its-kind event, in partnership with Groupmuse, that will explore how human and natural history are constantly reshaped. Begin with a performance of a chamber piece by 18th-century composer Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a virtuoso of African descent who was a contemporary (and rival) of Mozart. Chevalier’s story and music will be introduced with a special performance by Stephen Brackett of the Flobots. During intermission, explore the wildlife halls and see zoology specimens and cultural artifacts from Africa. Then experience a reading of a new, in-development musical by award-winning writer and polymath Brenton Weyi, an inaugural fellow in the Denver Center Playwrights’ Group. With a talented cast and musical ensemble, Weyi will present Act I of “My Country, My Country,” based on the true story of Congolese independence during the Cold War.

 

Tricks and Treats! Family Overnight • Grades K–8 with adult

Oct. 25 – 26 • member: $65 adult, $55 child/junior • nonmember: $80 adult, $70 child/junior

Spend a memorable night experiencing the magic of the Museum with your whole family! Check out the spooky science all around us and learn about things that go BUMP in the night. Get all dressed up to go trick or treating in the Museum before finding your “resting place” in our world-famous diorama halls. Enjoy a hot breakfast the next morning before heading home.

 

NOVEMBER

 

Buzz! Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers

Nov. 4 • 7 p.m. • Ricketson Auditorium • $12 member, $15 nonmember • book sale & signing

Most of us crave new experiences and sensations. Whether it’s our attraction to the hottest new burger place or the latest gadget, newness tugs at us. But what about those who can’t seem to get enough?  They jump out of planes, climb skyscrapers and eat anything. They don’t have a death wish but seemingly a need for an adrenaline rush, no matter what. Join Dr. Ken Carter, author of the new book “Buzz! Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies,” as he explores the lifestyle, psychology and neuroscience behind personalities that seek high sensations. Carter is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Oxford College of Emory University.

 

The History and Future of Wolf Recovery

Nov. 6 • 7 p.m. • Ricketson Auditorium • $12 member, $15 nonmember

Government-supported wolf eradication programs began in the United States as early as 1630 because the animals’ existence conflicted with the agricultural interests of an expanding nation. These efforts continued for years, until both gray and red wolves were nearly exterminated. Mike Phillips, director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, led both the Red Wolf Recovery Program and the project to return gray wolves to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Phillips will examine the past, present and future of wolf recovery, particularly in western Colorado, which has become the keystone for these efforts.

 

Pixar Party

Nov. 8 • 7 – 10 p.m. • $40 member, $50 nonmember • Ages 21 + • Cash bar

Get animated for an adults-only night to celebrate the science and technology behind some of your favorite Pixar films. Dress up as your favorite Pixar character and play with 50 interactive elements in the temporary exhibition “The Science Behind Pixar.” A live band will cover classic tunes from Disney and Pixar. Ticket includes one drink and appetizers. Costumes encouraged.

 

Turtle Odyssey 3D

Nov. 12 • 7 p.m. • Phipps IMAX Theater • $12 Museum or TNC member, $15 nonmember

Dive into the remarkable world of sea turtles during this special screening of “Turtle Odyssey 3D.” Follow Bunji the green sea turtle from a hatchling into adulthood as she swims thousands of miles, meets incredible creatures and has some wild encounters. After the film, Chris Prague, senior conservation ecologist for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), will discuss turtle ecology and TNC’s wildlife conservation efforts in Colorado. Coffee and dessert follow. Presented in partnership with TNC of Colorado.

 

SCFD Community Free Day

Nov. 17 • 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. • FREE

Enjoy your Museum favorites, special family-friendly activities and free admission to the temporary exhibition “Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits” and discounted admission to “The Science Behind Pixar.”

 

Science Lounge: Exoplanets and Extraterrestrials

Nov. 21 • 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. • $13 member, $15 nonmember

Enjoy a mind-expanding experience with cocktails and entertainment the third Thursday of the month. For ages 21 and up. This month, are we alone? The search is on for the Goldilocks planets, where conditions are not too cold and not too hot but just right to sustain life. Create an alien and explore the night sky through telescopes.

 

Teen Movie Night • Grades 6–12

Nov. 25 • 7 – 9:30 p.m. • free

This Thanksgiving break, take a night away from the family and head to the Museum for a free movie! Teens choose the movie by vote during the Hallowteen events in October.

 

PHIPPS IMAX 3D THEATER

For tickets and schedules, visit dmns.org/imax.

 

Apollo 11: First Steps Edition

Now showing      

Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing with “Apollo 11: First Steps Edition,” a special IMAX version of Todd Douglas Miller’s thrilling documentary, showcasing the real-life moments of the famed mission. Using never-before-seen footage and a newly discovered trove of audio recordings, the filmmakers reconstructed the Apollo 11 story in astonishing detail. Presented in 2D.

 

Superpower Dogs 3D

Now showing

Best friend, indeed. You will be awed by the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most amazing dogs. Meet the superhero canines: Halo, a rookie puppy training to join one of the most elite disaster response teams in America: Henry, an avalanche rescue expert in the Canadian Rockies; Reef, a Newfoundland lifeguard with the Italian coast guard; Ricochet, a California surf legend helping people with special needs; and Tipper and Tony, the bloodhound brothers, leading the fight to save endangered species in Africa.

 

Turtle Odyssey 3D

Now showing

For 100 million years, sea turtles have traversed our planet’s waters, surviving mass extinctions and playing a critical role in maintaining healthy marine food webs. In the new IMAX film “Turtle Odyssey 3D,” you will swim alongside an Australian green sea turtle named Bunji as she takes an incredible journey across thousands of miles of open ocean. From hatchling to adulthood, Bunji has some really wild encounters with playful sea lions, tiny sea horses, and vibrant clown fish.

 

Hollywood Films in IMAX

Some of your Hollywood favorites are coming to Phipps IMAX Theater! Previously released cinematic features are included in the IMAX lineup on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Check dmns.org/imax for tickets and the full schedule.

 

Please note: The Museum will be open until 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28.

 

About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region’s leading resource for informal science education. Our mission is to be a catalyst and ignite the community’s passion for nature and science. The Museum offers a wide variety of engaging exhibitions, programs, activities, and scientific research to inspire public appreciation and understanding of the wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. Information: dmns.org or 303.370.6000. Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.