Welcome to π Day!

21st Annual Pi Day
 Saturday, March 14, 2009
1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Throughout Museum

Pi Day Procession starts at 1:50 p.m.
To participate, please gather in the McBean Theater at 1:30 p.m.

Welcome to 21st celebration of Pi Day, an international "geek" holiday founded at the Exploratorium. Mathematical pi (π) and puns thereof are the toasts of the day. Go forth and immerse yourself in the quirky, ritualistic festivities and antics, lovingly prepared, from scratch, by Exploratorium staff and collaborators. Check out the Pi Day menu below for all the delectable activities.

Be sure to parade in the Pi Day procession, lead by the Prince of Pi, Larry Shaw! We'll gather in the McBean Theater at 1:30 p.m. to kick it off.

Pi Day Schedule

1 p.m.
Pi Day Webcast

We feel it's important to spread the word of Pi, so we're having a webcast that will be viewable worldwide to evangelize our irrationality! Learn about Pi and meet its founder, Larry Shaw. Find out what's so special about this irrational number! Featuring Exploratorium staff Lori Lambertson and Ron Hipschman.

1:30 p.m.
Pi Procession procession gathers at the McBean Theater.
Everyone will be assigned a digit of pi and take their place in th emarch to the Pi Shrine

1:50 p.m.
Pi Procession leaves for Skylight / Pi Shrine
 Parade in an infinite stream of Pi numerals, chanting the Pi Day song to the Pi Shrine on top of our round classroom.

1:59 p.m.
Pi Procession arrives at Pi Shrine
 Circumambulate the Pi Shrine 3.14 times while singing Happy Birthday to Albert Einstein. Voila, you're initiated!

2:15 p.m.
Pie Serving! (Near the McBean Theater)
 Have a slice of sweet pie on us ---- while quantities last.

2:30 p.m.
Pizza Pie Dough Tossing
 Learn how to use centrifugal forces to spin pizza dough with the experts!

Afternoon Activities

Pi Day in a Virtual World - Learning Commons
 The Exploratorium has a museum in the virtual world of Second Life, called the 'Splo.

Come to a Pi Day, mixed-reality event. We'll bring you images of Pi exhibits from Second Life, and you'll get to play with real-life versions.

Cutting Pi & Pi String Beading - Skylight Area
 Join our High School Explainers and volunteers for a personal, hands-on Pi experience.





What is Pi?

Pi is a number, starting with 3.1415926535… ad infinitum. It's the number you get when you divide the circumference of a circle by its diameter, and it can't be expressed as a fraction. It goes on forever.

Did you know?

This year's Pi Day is also Albert Einstein's 130th birthday. Happy Birthday, Al!