Spooktacular Science Day at The Franklin Institute

Spooktacular Science Day takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and is free with general admission.

Guests can explore a full day of Halloween-themed science programming, including live demonstrations, hands-on activities, seasonal shows, and a trick-or-treat experience throughout the museum.

• Trick-or-Treat: Visit themed doors throughout the museum to meet witches, mummies, and other frightful friends while collecting sweet treats. Bring your own bag!
• Squid Dissection: What has large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles? Take a closer look at these deep-sea creatures and discover the real science behind some legendary sea monsters.
• Costume Parade: Show off your Halloween spirit and join fellow guests for a festive parade down the Atrium ramp. All ages welcome.
• That’s Gross! Live Science Show: Explore, test, and dive deep into some of the grossest facts about the human body in this live science show. 11 am and 2 pm, PECO Demonstration Theater.
• How NOT to Carve a Pumpkin Show: Pumpkin carving gets messy in this live science demonstration exploring the chemistry and physics behind an over-the-top Halloween experiment. 1 pm, PECO Demonstration Theater.
• The Electricity Show: It’s alive! Explore the powerful forces that bring light and energy to the world around us, from lightning storms to glowing bulbs and all the shocking science in between. 12 pm and 3 pm, PECO Demonstration Theater.
• Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty Slime Drop: Watch different types of slime take the plunge and discover how chemistry affects viscosity, then explore hands-on slime demonstrations and activities.
• Hands-On Play: Shrinky Dinks, Pepper’s Ghost illusions, and electrifying Jacob’s Ladder demonstrations – oh my! Hands-on play with the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania.