If you are looking for something exciting to do this weekend, you’re in luck because the Discovery Center in downtown Springfield is hosting Night at the Museum on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, from 6 to 10 p.m. Cost per ticket is $50.

Seniors Jessi Cook and Erin Michael are excited for this annual event.

“There are vendors from Springfield there so you pay the ticket price and you can have all the food and drinks you want and you can see all the fun museum stuff that’s usually just for kids,” said Michael.

While alcohol will be served at this event, you only need to be 21 to drink, not to attend. Night at the Museum is open to all adults, 18 years of age and older.

At this event, you can explore over 60,000 square feet of interactive science exhibits. Some of these exhibits include walking through the inside of a giant eyeball, digging for dinosaurs, taking home your own DNA, and riding the HighWire bike. You can also experience new science, engineering and mathematics technology such as 3D printing and virtual reality goggles.

Photo via the Discovery Center

The best part? No judgment from small children.

“Usually it’s not socially acceptable to go play with all the museum stuff because it’s for kids, so I’m excited to do that. Also, lots of drinks,” explained Michael.

Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does. All proceeds from this event will be used to help low-income families.

“I’ve never been to the Discovery Center, so I’m excited to experience it along with helping the Springfield community,” said Cook. “[The event] is to raise money for the STEM program to help get scholarships for children and families who can’t afford to enroll their kids in the program,” she explained.

Discovery Center’s STEM Education For All program, which helps low-income students afford field trip admission to the Center, has been instrumental in developing interest in STEM subjects. Their website claims that “84 percent of students showed an average increase of 23 percent between pre- and post-assessment of scientific knowledge.”

This is the third year the Discovery Center has hosted Night at the Museum. In the past, the event has attracted over 200 participants. Come to celebrate science and technology at the Discovery Center, while enjoying food and drinks from Springfield vendors, too.

Article by Delilah Gadd.