On October 25, the Saint Louis Science Center transformed into a place of haunts and hands-on discovery for the second event in the new adults-only Science Center Up Late series: “Spooky Science.” During the evening, more than 1,080 adults explored the spine-tingling intersection of science and fear, proving that immersive and hands-on learning can be as thrilling as it is educational. The evening offered activities and experts throughout the Science Center campus. In the Life Science Lab, guests explored the science of echolocation, and in Makerspace they could try their hand at a life-sized game of Operation and participate in a Dr. Frankenstein circuit take-home activity. Down in the T. rex Room, live “foley art” demos gave guests a peek into how sound effects can be created using common or unexpected items, and attendees could venture into May Hall to try escape room experiences with Adventure of Intrigue. Out in the GROW gallery’s pavilion, guests moved through a wide-ranging array of activities designed to confront their deepest fears. These experiences challenged visitors to tackle heights using VR goggles, face darkness inside a portable planetarium, brave bugs by handling live invertebrates and eating brownies made with cricket flour, and take the opportunity to see (and even touch!) a human brain.
Experiences at the McDonnell Planetarium invited attendees to take part in “Ghost Stories Under the Stars” featuring renowned storytellers like Dr. Pamela Gay discussing vampire stars, Bobby Norfolk sharing culturally significant spooky stories, and Rachel Woodall diving into the dark history of St. Louis. Even the Science Center’s Chief Science and Education Officer, Dr. Becky Thompson, hosted a session. Later in Boeing Hall, the Funky Butt Brass Band brought their high-energy fusion of jazz, funk, and New Orleans flair, creating an electric atmosphere that carried through the night. Meanwhile, Two Scientists Walk into a Bar—the Science Center’s upcoming off-site event series—offered guests several chances to grab a beverage and sit down for intimate conversations with Washington University researchers about everything from astrophysics and black holes to emotion regulation and battery materials.
The night gave external partners and vendors a chance to engage guests as well. Spooky Science featured tastings with the St. Louis Bourbon Society, J. Rieger & Co., Bare Wood Spirits, Old Craft Road Spirits, and other local distillers, alongside seasonal brews from Schlafly. In GameXPloration, Hi-Pointe was on hand for a burger toss activity. Down on the Lower Level, artists like Brock Seals, Natasha Anderson, David Carr, and Brian Lanthan showed off their artistic process with art demonstrations. And in the Loft, the Academy of Science St. Louis presented live trivia games in collaboration with the Science Center’s Membership team.
Live demonstrations at Energy Stage captivated audiences throughout the night. Those who dared to watch saw a live dissection of a cow eyeball and learned about the intricate structures of the eye that make sight possible. “Bad Mad Science” offered attendees a spectacle of experiments gone wrong (witnessed from the safety of their seat). And capping off the night, physics was on full display with the “Spooky Science Goes Splat” pumpkin drop to share the science of forces and motion.
Thank you to everyone who attended Science Center Up Late: Spooky Science! Be sure to check out the next event in the Up Late series: Attraction on January 24, 2026! See more photos from the event below.
