
Calendar of Events
Past Events

Grinch Traps
Don’t let the Grinch steal your Christmas cheer. Visit The Shop to use available tools and a variety of materials to build a Grinch trap. If your trap is foolproof, you’ll save Christmas for everyone! 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.
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Russian Cultural Dolls
Visit The Shop to create your own version of a matryoshka doll. More commonly known as Russian nesting dolls, these well-known toys were originally designed by Sergey Malyutin, a folk crafts painter from Russia. Did you know? The largest set of matryoshka dolls in the world is a 51-piece set hand-painted by Youlia Bereznitskaia of Russia, completed in 2003. The tallest doll in the set measures almost two feet tall!
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Open Build: Wheels
Visit The Shop to design and build the future of transportation. During “Open Build: Wheels,” take your pick from a variety of materials and use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine with wheels. Best of all, 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 space.
Find out more »
Open Build: Wheels
Visit The Shop to design and build the future of transportation. During “Open Build: Wheels,” take your pick from a variety of materials and use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine with wheels. Best of all, 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 space.
Find out more »
Family Game Night
Challenge your brain, and your family and friends with a board game you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, create a board game inspired by the holiday seasons and cultures from around the world. 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.
Find out more »
Family Game Night
Challenge your brain, and your family and friends with a board game you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, create a board game inspired by the holiday seasons and cultures from around the world. 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.
Find out more »
Wobblebots
One event on December 23, 2018 at 12:30 pm
One event on December 26, 2018 at 10:30 am
Stop into Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own wobblebot. Combine a variety of common materials and simple electronics to create a “robot” that wiggles, wobbles. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.
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Special Hours: Museum Store
Need some extra time to shop the Museum Store—maybe while the kids are at school? Take advantage of extended Museum Store hours and finish out your holiday shopping with Reno’s best selection of the smartest toys, games, gadgets, apparel, puzzles, science kits, and more! Members and nonmembers will get 20% off their entire purchase during these special hours! Complimentary gift wrapping also available. Enter to win a Plasma Car! Spend $100 or more in the Museum Store during extended hours…
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Wobblebots
Stop into Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own wobblebot. Combine a variety of common materials and simple electronics to create a “robot” that wiggles, wobbles. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »
Special Hours: Museum Store
Need some extra time to shop the Museum Store—maybe while the kids are at school? Take advantage of extended Museum Store hours and finish out your holiday shopping with Reno’s best selection of the smartest toys, games, gadgets, apparel, puzzles, science kits, and more! Members and nonmembers will get 20% off their entire purchase during these special hours! Complimentary gift wrapping also available. Enter to win a Plasma Car! Spend $100 or more in the Museum Store during extended hours…
Find out more »
Special Hours: Open Monday
The Discovery will be open 10:00am to 5:00pm on the Mondays during Washoe County School District’s winter break. That’s even more days to discover! Be sure to check out the calendar of events to find out what’s happening throughout the entire three weeks of winter break—December 21, 2018 through January 13, 2019!
Find out more »
Pom Pom Pine Cones
Visit Art Alcove to create a classic tree-trimming work of art! Combine felted pom poms with a real pine cone to create the perfect decoration for the holidays—yours to keep, or give as a gift!
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Open Build: Wheels
Visit The Shop to design and build the future of transportation. During “Open Build: Wheels,” take your pick from a variety of materials and use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine with wheels. Best of all, 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 space.
Find out more »
Wobblebots
Stop into Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own wobblebot. Combine a variety of common materials and simple electronics to create a “robot” that wiggles, wobbles. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.
Find out more »
Reno Jazz Syndicate
Explore the sounds of jazz with a performance from a trio of musicians from the Reno Jazz Syndicate. The trio will perform three 45-minute sets on the stage in the museum’s main atrium.
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Family Band
An event every day that begins at 10:30 am, repeating until December 29, 2018
Take the entire family to the top of the charts with the hot new tune you play on the instruments you create in The Shop. Using available tools and materials, create a variety of musical instruments you can actually play. Best of all, what you create is yours to take home! 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…
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Edison Challenge
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to take part in the Edison Challenge. In this activity you’ll use your imagination, a pile of junk, and electrical components so see if you can prove famous inventor, Thomas Edison, correct when he said, “all you need to invent is your imagination and a pile of junk.”
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Edison Challenge
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to take part in the Edison Challenge. In this activity you’ll use your imagination, a pile of junk, and electrical components so see if you can prove famous inventor, Thomas Edison, correct when he said, “all you need to invent is your imagination and a pile of junk.”
Find out more »
Special Hours: Open Monday
The Discovery will be open 10:00am to 5:00pm on the Mondays during Washoe County School District’s winter break. That’s even more days to discover! Be sure to check out the calendar of events to find out what’s happening throughout the entire three weeks of winter break—December 21, 2018 through January 13, 2019!
Find out more »
New Year Around the World
An event every day that begins at 10:30 am, repeating until January 4, 2019
Explore the various of ways the new year is celebrated around the world by creating a variety of celebratory items in The Shop. Using available tools and materials you can create coin wallets, floral arrangements, and more! What you make is your 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.
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Small Wonder Wednesday
An event every week that begins at 9:00 am on Wednesday, repeating until December 18, 2019
Visit us every week for stories and more! Make your way to The Discovery every Wednesday for a special morning just for families with children ages 5 and under. Hear stories, climb the clouds, create art, and enjoy the entire museum for a full hour before it opens to everyone! Supported in part by:
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New Year Around the World
Explore the various of ways the new year is celebrated around the world by creating a variety of celebratory items in The Shop. Using available tools and materials you can create coin wallets, floral arrangements, and more! What you make is your 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.
Find out more »
$5 Admission After 4pm
An event every week that begins at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, repeating until January 1, 2020
Visit The Discovery after 4:00pm every Wednesday when admission is just $5.00 per visitor! Members and children under age 1 are always free. And best of all, the museum stays open until 8:00pm!
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Kickstart College Savings
An event every week that begins at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, repeating until January 9, 2019
Did you know that beginning in 2014, all Nevada children enrolled in a public kindergarten receive $50 to begin saving for college expenses? It’s called the Nevada College Kickstart Program, and all you need to do to claim your child’s account is register. Tracy Sherwood, Financial Wellness Navigator for the Washoe Country School District (WCSD), will be on hand to assist families with their student’s College KickStart accounts.
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