40th Anniversary Events & Programs

We are thrilled and humbled to be celebrating Discovery Museum's 40th anniversary this year, 2022!

Discovery Museum has served more than 5 million children and families over the past 40 years—and that is due in no small part to the generosity and support of our community. That support, combined with the vision and dedication of our staff and volunteers, has enabled us to stoke kids’ natural curiosity and creativity to explore and better understand themselves, their capabilities, and the incredible possibilities of the world around them. We are honored to be an enduring part of the lives of so many families. —CEO Neil Gordon

Please join us for these special events and programs as we celebrate 40 years of hands-on learning for families and the community support that made—and continues to make—it all possible. 

Join us for...

June 23, 7:30pm | STEM + Movie Nights on the Lawn #1 – Enjoy hands-on pollinator activities and then settle in to watch “A Bug’s Life” on our lawn at 8:30pm. Registration not required. Free. Museum building will be open only for restroom use. Rain date is Friday, June 24.

Jun 24, 4:30-8:00pm | Summer Friday Nights Free kickoff – Visit with free admission every Friday night through Labor Day. Registration required to visit. Free.

June 25 & 26, 10:00am-2:00pm | Bessie’s Birthday Weekend – We’ll celebrate our dinosaur mascot’s 40th with STEM explorations, a scavenger hunt, and more. Registration required to visit. Free with admission. 

July 16, 6:30pm | Discovery After Dark, a 21+event – It’s grown-up time at the Museum! Enjoy live Caribbean steelpan music, drinks, food, and FUN. Indoors and outdoors; advance ticket purchase required.

July 22, 7:30pm | STEM + Movie Nights on the Lawn #2  – Enjoy hands-on STEM activities and then settle in to watch "FernGully" on our lawn. Free. Museum building will be open only for restroom use. (Rescheduled from July 21 due to forecasted thunderstorms.)

June – August | Patio Performances – Inclusive performing arts events on our patio, including:
The Chhandam Institute of Kathak Dance (Chhandika), June 29
Exploring China: The “Middle Kingdom” Through Music & Story, August 3
Jazz performance by Berkshire Hills Music Academy, August 19
Registration required to visit. Free with admission.

August 11, 7:00pm | STEM + Movie Nights on the Lawn #3 – Enjoy hands-on STEM activities and then settle in to watch "Hidden Figures" on our lawn. Free. Museum building will be open only for restroom use. Rain date is Friday, August 12.

September 10, all day | Community Day! – Join us for a free-admission Community Day—our Thank You to the community as we celebrate our 40th anniversary! In the morning, we’ll kick off the festivities by making one-of-a-kind noisemakers. Then, join us on a celebratory parade to our cake-cutting ceremony at 11:00am, led by a special guest from the Maynard Public Library. Throughout the day, try your hand at some classic Discovery Museum activities such as Balls & Ramps, Cup Towers, a “Discovery Quest” scavenger hunt, and more! (Please note that the performance of Dhol-Tasha-Lezim has been cancelled, unfortunately.)

October 1 – 31, 2022 | Pay and Play Like It’s 1982! – Join us any day in October 2022, the month of our founding, and pay just $2.50 admission. Registration required to visit.

In addition, a number of long-running visitor-favorite public programs will be offered such as Cold As Ice, Fairyborough, Exploring Nano, Woodworking, Take Aparts, and more.