Calendar of Events

Make your family’s annual flu vaccinations a fun event at The Discovery! Flu vaccines will be available at low or no-cost for children and adults who qualify. Flu vaccines will be administered by Washoe County Health District on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. If you have health insurance, Medicaid, or Nevada Checkup, please have your insurance card with you. All children who get a flu shot, and one adult per family, will be given free admission…

Put your crafting skills to the test when you visit The Shop to create a Halloween themed felt monster! Using a variety of materials and a simple sewing technique, you can create a cute and cuddly Halloween ghost, ghoul or goblin to keep. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.  

Head to The Discovery for a hauntingly good time at the 9th annual Halloween Trick or Treat. Visit the museum in costume and trick-or-treat from gallery to gallery. There’ll be spooky decorations and delicious treats for all of the friendly or scary ghosts, ghouls and goblins who dare to attend. Note: For the safety of all visitors, costumes with weapons of any kind are not allowed. Teal Pumpkin Project The Discovery’s annual Halloween Trick or Treat event takes part in…

Put your crafting skills to the test when you visit The Shop to create a Halloween themed felt monster! Using a variety of materials and a simple sewing technique, you can create a cute and cuddly Halloween ghost, ghoul or goblin to keep. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.  

Put your crafting skills to the test when you visit The Shop to create a Halloween themed felt monster! Using a variety of materials and a simple sewing technique, you can create a cute and cuddly Halloween ghost, ghoul or goblin to keep. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.  

The season of trembling leaves is upon us. Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials to create a tree sculpture with leaves to move with the power of kinetic energy. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Join us for the 8th annual Chemistry of the Cocktail — The Discovery’s premier fundraising event. Come as a flapper, gangster, silent film star, or come as you are and explore 1920s-style libations, enjoy delectable fare from local culinary purveyors, and provide support for the museum’s mission in our community. Proceeds from this event support The Discovery’s efforts to offer enriching educational programs and host engaging exhibitions focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math. Classic Cocktails Sample expertly crafted…

Traverse the Moon’s surface with a lunar lander you design and build in The Shop. Using a variety of materials and a motor and counterweight, create a motorized contraption that will move on its own as if conducting an automated lunar mission. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Combine a mason jar with a variety of fall-inspired elements to create a luminaire that will provide a warm glow on chilly fall evenings with the help of a battery powered tealight. Join us for these educator-led, 45 minute workshops in The Shop. Space in each session is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…

Approximately 13 times each century, Mercury passes between the Earth and the Sun aligned so that the disc of the planet can be seen through a telescope crossing the Sun. On November 11, 2019 in Reno, the Sun will rise with the transit already in progress. Join our friends from Tahoe Star Tours to view the transit through computerized Celestron telescopes. The next transit visible from Reno won’t happen until 2049! Note: The viewing will take place outside The Discovery. The…

Combine a mason jar with a variety of fall-inspired elements to create a luminaire that will provide a warm glow on chilly fall evenings with the help of a battery powered tealight. Join us for these educator-led, 45 minute workshops in The Shop. Space in each session is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…

Harness the power of the wind when you visit The Shop to design and build your own sail car. Using a variety of materials, you can create a vehicle that uses a sail to catch the wind and race to its destination. What you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this…

Join scientists from Nevada Division of Water Resources to explore research and planning related to floodplain modeling and stormwater management. View a floodplain model demonstration, check out a flash flood virtual reality simulation, play a video game called Flood Fighter: Nevada, and learn more about stormwater pollution & flooding.

As part of the 6th annual SPELLBINDERS Festival of Magic, Education Renaissance of Nevada Initiative (ERNI) brings Karl Koppertop to The Discovery. Koppertop performs internationally and has appeared on The Pete Holmes Show and his ideas have been featured on America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller’s “Fool Us.” Experience the wonder of a live performance and watch as your children take a break from technology and react to real-life brain bending close-up miracles. Note: Seating for this special performance…

Join Visiting Artists Rachael and Debbie Lambin of My Thousand Words book sculptures to learn how to create intricate, holiday inspired book sculptures that will get you into the spirit of the season. Just bring your imagination and creativity. All materials needed for this projected will be provided. About Rachael & Debbie Lambin Art is a family affair with the Lambins. They’re a family who loves art, creativity, and to evoke emotions through the use of books and their pages. One…

Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a new program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights will feature a variety of high-tech tools and techniques, gadgets and games – command a robot, print in 3-D, and even code a new game – happening monthly in Spark!Lab Smithsonian.

Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own board game. Using available materials, you can invent a board game, write the rules of play, and create the pieces for your game as well. Challenge your friends and family to play your game and then refine your idea based on their feedback!

Skip the Black Friday madness and make plans to shop the Museum Store holiday sale at The Discovery where you’ll find Reno’s best selection of the smartest toys, games, gadgets, apparel, puzzles, science kits, and more! 30% off everything in the Museum Store from 7:00am to Noon 20% off everything in the Museum Store from Noon to 5:00pm Holiday sale discounts available to museum members and nonmembers. Valid on Museum Store merchandise only. Excludes clearance items. May not be combined…