From Mummies and Martinis to School Nights Reimagined: Penn Museum Expands Weeknight Programming

From Mummies and Martinis to School Nights Reimagined: Penn Museum Expands Weeknight Programming

Sometimes, for the 9 to 5 crowd, life is just too busy for a day at the museum. That’s why this fall, the Penn Museum is hosting a variety of special events designed for after-work inspiration, socializing, and fun—including cocktail hours in the galleries, D.I.Y. nights with traditional crafting techniques, fascinating talks from renowned scholars, and more. It’s all part of the rich cultural experience awaiting visitors at the Penn Museum (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), 3260 South Street on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

Imbibing with the Ancients

Humans have been consuming alcohol for thousands of years; in fact, artifacts proving that fact are on display throughout the Penn Museum. In that spirit, visitors ages 21 and older can find a rich selection of opportunities this fall to raise a glass in the galleries, amid fascinating objects from the Museum’s international collections.

P.M. @ Penn Museum School Nights feature eclectic, engaging activities in the galleries from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on select weekday evenings. On September 13, the series kicks off with Legends of the Hidden Temple: Penn Museum Edition, a live reboot of the classic ‘90s Nickelodeon TV show. Participants join teams and embark on an adventurous series of physical and mental challenges, watching out for “temple guards” waiting to capture them along their route. Then on October 19, aTurkish Wine Tasting invites guests to explore the world of Turkish viticulture and winemaking, with a tutored tasting featuring ancient grape varieties by the Turkish Vinkara Winery; attendees can arrive early to explore ancient treasures from the Republic of Turkey on display in the Museum’s world-exclusive exhibition, The Golden Age of King Midas, between 5:00 and 6:00 pm. Tickets for P.M. @ Penn Museum events are $20 for general public, or $15 for Penn Museum members.

The Museum caters to the adult coloring crowd with Color between the Wines, an adult coloring meet-up offered the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Participants socialize and recharge with other coloring enthusiasts as they illustrate designs based on Penn Museum artifacts. Join the fun on October 5,November 2, or December 7, 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Admission is $5 and includes art supplies and access to the Museum galleries.

On select Thursdays, the Museum offers an easygoing happy hour experience with Mummies and Martinis. Visitors enjoy the backdrop of the Museum’s collections during these increasingly popular after-work cocktail hours, hosted in the majestic Egypt (Mummies) Gallery. Catch one of these events on September 29 orNovember 17, 6:00 to 7:30 pm; tickets are $9 each and include one free drink for guests ages 21+.

Crafting and Creating

A pair of D.I.Y. Craft Nights this fall offer guests the chance to tap into their creative sides, helped along by instruction from local experts in traditional crafting techniques. OnOctober 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Make, Shake, and Take: Sekere lets visitors make their own sekere (a West African percussion instrument made from a dried gourd and beads), with guidance from Omomola Iyabunmi, founder of the Women’s Sekere Ensemble.

Turkish Scarfs on December 8 invites participants to discover the deep history and unique beauty of Turkish marbling with artist and musician Richard Aldorasi. Visitors learn the historical significance of the 15th-century Turkish art of ebru, before creating their own high quality, wearable art on a silk scarf to take home.

Tickets for D.I.Y. Craft Nights are $45 per person, and include one free drink for guests ages 21+.

Digging Deeper

The Penn Museum is internationally renowned for its research and discoveries, making it a top-tier destination for experts to share their findings during scholarly talks. Topping the marquee, the Museum’s popular Great Lectures lecture series draws hundreds of viewers for engaging presentations every first Wednesday at 6:00 pm, October through June. This year’s series focuses on Great Beasts of Legend, exploring the stories behind some of history’s most powerful and intriguing mythical creatures. Tickets are just $5 per lecture ($2 for Museum members) in advance, and $10 at the door, or $40 for the full series subscription ($15 for members).

The Museum’s fall calendar also includes a rich lineup of individual evening lectures, often for minimal or no cost to attendees. These scholarly talks cover a wide array of topics—from the role of digital technology in modern archaeology, to conservation of active excavation sites, to the industry of prostitution in ancient Athens, and beyond. See the Penn Museum’s online calendar of events at penn.museum/calendar for the full list of upcoming lectures.

Browse the Penn Museum’s full calendar of events at penn.museum/calendar.