Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday at the Exploratorium
Take advantage of a premium Members-only benefit and have your child’s birthday celebration among the hundreds of hands-on exhibits at the Exploratorium.
Our exciting birthday parties are exclusively offered to children and grandchildren of current Exploratorium Members. Parties are available on Saturdays and Sundays, September through May, at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.
We recommend booking your party at least 6 weeks in advance; spaces fill up quickly! Our Lead Coordinator will contact you about a week before your party to help you choose your party colors and the best activity for your child.
Please note: the Tactile Dome is not part of the birthday party program. If you are interested in reserving the Tactile Dome for a party, please call for reservations at (415) 561-0362.
To book your basic or hands-on activity party, please call the Reservations line at (415) 561-0362, or e-mail us at birthdayparty@exploratorium.edu
Basic Parties:
Up to 20 people (both children and adults): $225
Celebrate in our party room for up to 1½ hours with food and cake. A birthday party coordinator will help you with set-up, serving, and clean-up. Then, you’re free to stay and play anywhere in our museum for as long as you like!
This option is for up to twenty people (including the birthday family, all guests, and adult chaperones), and costs $225. Additional guests can be added at the group rate of $8/child and $10/adult. Maximum room occupancy is 38 people.
It’s the perfect party to add to a Tactile Dome group reservation. To reserve the Tactile Dome, call (415) 561-0362. We recommend reserving the Tactile Dome at least 60 days in advance; we fill up fast.
Activity Parties:
Up to 10 children: $275
Up to 20 children: $350
(Includes 8 adult chaperones)
Celebrate your child’s special day with thirty minutes of exciting hands-on activities led by our enthusiastic birthday party coordinators, and enjoy your food and cake in our party room, for a total of 1½ hours in the room. Our Coordinators will help you serve food and clean up.
Before or after your party, you and your guests are free to play anywhere in our museum for as long as you like! (Note: The museum closes at 5 p.m.)
Gak (Ages 4+)
Discover an amazing slime, and experiment as you try to decide if it’s a liquid or a solid!
Marbling (Ages 5+)
Use water-based coloring and shaving cream to make beautiful marbled art that you can take home!
Marshmallow Structures (Ages 7+)
See how stable a structure you can make using only toothpicks and marshmallows. Find out what shapes architects use to make buildings strong!
Shrink Art (Ages 7+)
Learn about scale and polymer chains as you make incredible shrinking plastic artwork to take home!
Flight (Ages 8+)
Learn how to make spinning helicopters, blimps, and paper airplanes, then see how your spinning creations react to one of our most famous exhibits!
Up to eight adults (including the birthday family) are welcome to join the party as chaperones. Additional adult tickets are $10 each. Maximum room occupancy is 38 people.
Activity Parties also include tablecloths, plates, forks, napkins, and cups in the two-color combination of your choice—plus an Exploratorium T-shirt for the birthday girl or boy.
Terms and Rules
Prior to the Party
The party fee is due when you book your party. Cancellations must be made 3 weeks prior to your booking to receive a full refund. A 50% refund will be granted if you cancel the party 2–3 weeks prior to your party date. No refunds are given for parties cancelled less than two weeks in advance.
At the Exploratorium
You are welcome to arrive 30 minutes in advance of your party to decorate the party room. Decorations for your party may include banners, signs, streamers, centerpieces, and tablecloths. Unfortunately, helium-filled balloons, glitter, confetti, and piñatas are not allowed.
Please check in at Admissions when you arrive for your party. The birthday party coordinator will meet you in the Admissions area by the museum lobby and show you to the party room.
Before or after the party, you and your guests are welcome to stay in the museum and interact with our exhibits.
Since the party rooms are used as classrooms, we ask that they be left in the same condition you found them. We cannot store party supplies.
Food may be delivered to the museum for your party, but all food deliveries must be accepted and paid for at the Front Desk by an adult from your group. The museum staff is not permitted to handle your money or accept food deliveries. Food and drink must stay in the party room; they are not allowed on the museum floor. Smoking and alcohol are not permitted anywhere in the museum. Refrigerators are not available for storage.
Birthday parties are an exclusive benefit available only to current Members of the Exploratorium.
Members receive free admission every day, along with many other benefits!
Purchase a Membership online.
Find out more.
Directions to the Museum (recording):
(415) 561-0399
