COLUMBIA – The South Carolina State Museum is giving families a chance to experience a night at the museum from March 31 through April 1.
Guests will get to explore the entire museum, including the museum’s new blockbuster exhibit Savage Ancient Seas and a variety of exciting programs geared toward astronomy.
The event will also include special shows in the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Planetarium, the Rev. Dr. Solomon Jackson Jr. 4D Theater and a night under the stars in the Boeing Observatory as they explore constellations, planets, the moon and more.
Activities during the event include learning about the planets and the sun during an astronomy activity with real astronomers and State Museum educators.
Guests will also get to design, engineer and launch their very own rockets. The Boeing Observatory will be open late so guests can work with museum astronomers while looking through the historic 1926 Alvan Clark telescope to explore the evening sky.
Guests can explore deep space in a special live, seasonal planetarium skytour. All participants will enjoy a pizza dinner, sponsored by Little Caesars Pizza.
Saturday morning guests will enjoy a light continental breakfast followed by a special morning showing of Happy Feet: The 4D Experience. After, the Cotton Mill Exchange will be open for guests to shop for souvenirs to remember their experience at the State Museum.
Guests will need to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, any necessary medications, and an overnight bag with pajamas and toiletries. Overnight participants will get to choose their own sleeping areas upon arrival and will sleep among museum exhibits. Two floors will be reserved for women or men only and two floors will be co-ed floors reserved for families.
Friday night check-in is from 5 to 5:45 p.m. and lights-out is at 11 p.m. Saturday morning wake-up time is 6:30 a.m. and departure is at 10 a.m. Overnight education staff and security will be on hand.
Tickets are $35 per person for public and $28 per person for members. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 803-898-4999 or email Group_Visits@scmuseum.org to reserve a space.