Upcoming Events at Hands On! Discovery Center

October 5 – November 7, 2021 @ Hands On Discovery Center

GRAY, Tenn. — In an effort to keep visitors safe, masks are required indoors while visiting Hands On! Discovery Center. Tickets may be purchased at https://visithandson.org/tickets. To read about our play & wellness guidelines visit https://visithandson.org/play-wellness-guidelines/

New Activities and Programs for October

Weekdays in October — Discovery Cart Activities

Stop by our Discovery Cart to explore something new each week. All activities are self-guided.All cart program components and materials must remain on site unless otherwise noted.Each cart activity may contain small parts not suitable for children 3 and under.

Oct. 5-8 — Straw Rockets for World Space Week (Yours to keep!)

Oct. 12-15 — Micro-fossil picking through sediment from Aurora, NC for National Fossil Day

Oct. 19-22 — Cubelets Robotic Coding Blocks

Oct. 26-29 — K’nex

Tuesday, Oct. 5 — Sunday, Oct. 17 — Space Explorers Discovery Lab Program

To Hands On! Discovery Center and beyond, for World Space Week!Try your hand at the Deep Impact Simulation challenge. Then, design and build a simple model spacecraft and complete a series of tests to ensure you are ready for launch. Can your spacecraft withstand the vibration of launch, or the spin of navigating through space? (*This program may contain allergens such as wheat, corn, and traces of nuts.)Discovery Lab programs announced periodically throughout each day.

Tuesday, Oct. 5 — Sunday, Oct. 31 – Oct. Art Studio Programs

Join us for Pablo Picasso-inspired cubism drawings, Frida Khalo inspired collages, and crayon resist watercolor leaf paintings. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided.Facilitated programs announced periodically throughout each day.

Tuesday, Oct. 19 — Sunday, Nov. 7 — Atomic Glow Putty Discovery Lab Program

We are stirring up something gloppy, goopy, and spooky in the lab for National Chemistry Week and Halloween.Learn about the perplexing properties of polymers and make your own atomic glowing silly putty to take home.Discovery Lab programs announced periodically throughout each day.

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 4- 6 p.m. — Fossil & Artifact ID Night

You don’t have to be a paleontologist to find fossils. Identifying them is a different story. Bring any kind of rock, fossil, artifact, or mineral to Fossil & Artifact ID Night, and scientists from the Gray Fossil Site and Museum will provide space for the study of these finds. There will be an archaeology, paleontology, and geology expert on site. The event is free and open to the public but does not include admission to exhibits.

Additional Programming

Tesla Experience Shows

Enjoy an electrifying, Guinness record-holding experience that honors Nikola Tesla.Watch in amazement as the world’s most powerful, musical, bi-polar Tesla coil turns 240 volts of electricity into 200,000 volts.For your safety, masks areREQUIRED during Tesla shows. Seating is limited.

Shows are offered at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., & 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $2 per person with general admission.

Paleo Tours

Learn more on an up-close tour of the Gray Fossil Site, home to an incredible paleontological operation. See what the paleontology staff has been working on in the excavation pits, in the fossil preparation lab and collections room.

Tours are offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., & 4 p.m. Tickets are $2 per person with general admission.

Operating Hours During October

Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Closed Monday

About Hands On! Discovery Center

Hands On! Discovery Center is an all-ages science center that offers a guest experience that includes fun, interactive programs and immersive, STEM-based exhibits for the whole family as well as exhibits and information about the Gray Fossil Site, an active fossil dig site dating back 5-million years.

Category: Youth and Family

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