NightLife of the Living Dead

This event is sold out online! VIP tickets may still be available, or you can try your luck at the door—a limited quantity of tickets are set aside for walk-up guests, while supplies last.

Calling all creatures of the night: We're dying to have you join us for our annual NightLife Halloween bash! Get into costume and come ready for a night dead-icated to mad science, killer music, and scary good drag performances by Reparations and Rice Rockettes.

Sounds by Hella Gay Dance Party

Check out Hella Gay Dance Party's exclusive NightLife playlist on Spotify

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

NightLife of the Living Dead Drag Show
West Garden
8:30 PM

• For one night only, iconic drag performance groups, Reparations and the Rice Rockettes are joining forces to serve the most chilling and thrilling Halloween performance, hosted by Nicki Jizz and Estee Longah. DJ’d by the one and only Charles Hawthorne.

Body Snatchers & Flesh Eaters
Swamp
6 - 10 PM

• What if we told you zombies are real? Chat with Dr. Brian Fisher, the Academy’s entomology curator, and explore what happens when fungal body snatchers take over the bodies of ants.
• Watch Ornithology & Mammalogy graduate students Adan Deeb and Daniela Sanchez skeletize specimens (removing muscle from bones) so our flesh-eating dermestid beetles can get to work and finish the job.

Haunting Photos
Swamp
6 - 10 PM

• Inherit a vintage photo slide and some chilling charms to create your own eerily romantic charm bracelet as a keepsake to memorialize the evening. Courtesy of our friends at the Museum of Craft and Design.

A few don't-miss NightLife details:

• Effective September 16, NightLife guests will no longer be required to provide proof of full vaccination or a recent negative test. We still strongly encourage all guests to stay up-to-date on their vaccinations, and to mask up indoors. As always, if you’re feeling under the weather, please NightLife another time. View health and safety information here.
   
• Last entry into the rainforest exhibit is 7:30 pm—our animals need their sleep.
   
• Morrison Planetarium is now open at NightLife with 4 showtimes. To maximize staff and guest safety, planetarium passes are required and capacity is limited. Passes are available online in advance for an additional $5 while supplies last to reserve a seat at a 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, or 9:30 pm planetarium show. Please see our FAQs for more details. (Please note: A limited number of standby seats will be available for all showtimes as space allows on a first-come, first-served basis. Food and drink are not permitted inside the planetarium.)
   
• Beverages are available at various bars throughout the building, but food must enjoyed outdoors or in the Academy Cafe only.
   
• NightLife is for adults 21+ only. Photo ID required.
   
• Still have Qs? See our FAQs here.