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SuperNatural Halloween returns to the Academy on Saturday, October 26
Annual fundraiser brings the museum to life at night and supports free and reduced admission programs.
SAN FRANCISCO (October 10, 2019)—The California Academy of Sciences invites families to bring their costumes and their curiosity for a night of trick-or-treating around the world’s only aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum. Among spooktacular animals and spine-tingling scientific specimens, the Academy presents SuperNatural Halloween 2019, an annual fundraiser co-chaired by Anne Waterman Bassin, Josie Freckmann, Alex Marchetti, Jessica Moment, Summer Tompkins Walker, and Senta Wilson. Proceeds from SuperNatural support the Academy for All initiative, which provides free and reduced admission opportunities and access to science for the Bay Area and beyond.
This year’s SuperNatural will feature a silent disco in the aquarium, where guests can grab a pair of headphones and get down to family-friendly jams throughout the night. Around the museum, partygoers can enjoy special live animal encounters with Lindsay Wildlife Experience, marvel at roaming magicians, and transform into their favorite Academy animals with the help of festive face painters. At the Philippine Coral Reef, they can catch a special nighttime dive show featuring a surprise costumed guest. Plus, they will get the chance to experience the Academy after dark with a giant pumpkin carving demonstration. Costumes are encouraged and children will receive a reusable trick-or-treat bag to haul their treats as they explore hands-on Halloween arts and crafts around the museum. Inside the planetarium, guests can enjoy live, presenter-led showings of “Trick-or-Treating around the Solar System,” including an early, lights-on showing for younger guests.
Downstairs in the Moss Room, teens can hang out and enjoy an exclusive Teen Lounge featuring snacks, karaoke, arcade games, and more—back by popular demand. And upstairs in the Forum, guests can discover the ever-evolving nature of Skin as they explore the Academy’s latest exhibit, featuring some fun Halloween surprises! Plus, Academy researchers will be on hand to share the fascinating stories behind their favorite scientific specimens. Chat with a scientist and get up close to examine spooky skulls, pumpkin specimens, scorpions, spiders, and more at stations throughout the museum.
General admission tickets for SuperNatural are $55 for adults, $40 for children ages 3-17 ($50 for adults, $35 for children for Academy members); children age 2 and younger are free. Family VIP benefactor tickets are also available (from $100-$2,500) and include special VIP lounge, early event entry at 5 pm, exclusive catered dinner, a future behind-the-scenes collections tour of the museum, and more. Plus, this year the Academy is excited to offer the Help a Neighbor sponsorship package, which includes five general admission tickets for $250, making it possible for a local family for whom the cost of admission is a barrier to attend SuperNatural 2019. For event details, to purchase tickets, or to donate, please visit www.calacademy.org/supernatural or call (415) 379-5411 for more information.