The Franklin Institute’s Science After Hours: Fright @ Night Is Back With Live Entertainment, Creepy Crawlers, AWFUL Wrestling, and More

Philadelphia’s most curious costume party returns this fall as Science After Hours: Fright @ Night transforms The Franklin Institute into a vibrant celebration of transformation, creativity, and otherworldly fun. Designed for adults 21+, this Halloween-inspired evening invites guests to channel their alter egos, break free from fashion norms, and dive headfirst into a night of hands-on science, outrageous entertainment, and other spooky surprises.

From the moment doors open, guests are encouraged to embrace transformation in all its forms—whether that means mimicking creatures of the wild, debuting a daring fashion persona, or simply stepping into an entirely new identity for the night. Costumes aren’t just welcome—they’re practically the dress code.

Your ticket includes:

• Full access to all museum exhibits and interactive galleries

• Exclusive programming and performances

• Rooftop stargazing with panoramic city views

• A limited-edition Fright @ Night lapel pin

• Curated food and drink available for purchase from Seravezza Events

• Specialty beer debut: Haunted Haus Pumpkin Golden Stout by Wissahickon Brewing

Hold onto your wigs. The over-the-top characters of AWFUL Wrestling will bring their high-octane antics to the ring, blurring the line between performance and athleticism. The action doesn’t stop there—these larger-than-life personalities will later host a raucous round of bingo that promises laughs, chaos, and plenty of unexpected twists.

Philly’s own art rock innovators, Planette Automatic, will debut a multisensory live show in the Fels Planetarium—pairing their galactic soundscapes with immersive celestial visuals for a cosmic concert like no other.

After the show, DJ Shannon Ryley keeps the party alive with a seamless set of house beats, transforming the planetarium into a deep-space dance floor.

Brave enough to face your fears? Get up close with tarantulas, scorpions, and camouflaged critters from The Academy of Natural Sciences. Perfect for thrill-seekers and budding entomologists alike.

Students and artists from Moore College of Art & Design will display imaginative, boundary-pushing projects that explore identity, disguise, and wearable art.

Strike a pose under the glow of UV Lucas’s lights and have your look professionally captured on the Illuminated Runway. From fierce to funny, all forms of fashion are celebrated here.

Whether you’re sipping craft beer disguised as a pilsner, dancing under the stars, or brushing shoulders with a character straight out of a comic book, Fright @ Night is more than a costume party—it’s an immersive, no-holds-barred playground for adults who still love to imagine, explore, and transform.

Grab your tickets, plan your look, and get ready for a night where science meets spectacle—and anything goes.

For more information and tickets, visit fi.edu