Children bring a lot of joy and happiness to our world. But let’s be honest, sometimes we as adults need a little time for ourselves – like going on a date or unwinding with a drink with friends.
While everyone knows that the Museum is a generally great place to bring kids, there is one night of the week at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science that's sort of an unkept secret. Bring in the cash bar!
Most Fridays, the Museum extends its hours of operations from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. where we see an older audience, adult friend gatherings, date nights and quieter halls. It's a great opportunity to enjoy smaller crowds, no school groups and a well-stocked cash bar while you get to visit all your favorite parts of the Museum. When else could you walk around the Museum with a drink in hand?
There's so much to do and to see at the Museum, here are just a few must-sees on your next Friday Night at the Museum.
Things to do on a Friday night at the Museum:
Giant Screen Experience
Enjoy a movie date with your special someone at our newly transformed Infinity Theater, one of the best places to get your fill of wonder and discovery during your Museum visit. As you settle into your seat, perhaps with a drink in hand, be prepared to be transported by our cutting-edge laser projector and immersive sound system. We've poured our hearts into every detail in the recently renovated theater experience, from enhanced accessibility features to stunning 2D and 3D capabilities, all to ensure that every visitor can fully immerse themselves fully in the magic of scientific exploration on the giant screen.
NOW SHOWING ON FRIDAY NIGHTS:
T. REX 3D
T. REX 3D
Experience the ultimate G.O.A.T. — Greatest of All Tyrants — as it roars to life on the giant screen in the film "T. REX" now showing at the Infinity Theater. For over a century, the T. rex has reigned as the undisputed king of the dinosaurs. With state-of-the-art CGI and cutting-edge paleontological insights, this movie offers an unprecedented journey into the world of the T. rex and its fellow Cretaceous carnivores. This movie features scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science unearthing a teenage T.rex.
Don’t miss the chance to see the real-world fossil now on display in our temporary experience “Discovering Teen Rex.” The fossil was collected on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management under permit ND2023-0084. Thank you to Chevron for sponsoring “Discovering Teen Rex. The Museum also acknowledges the generous support of the Genesee Mountain Foundation.
Read more: Teen Rex Discovery Roars into the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D
Take part in a breathtaking journey with “Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D.” In this giant screen film narrated by English actor Andy Serkis, you will explore the world of the magnificent blue whale, a species rebounding from the brink of extinction. Following two scientific expeditions — one to find a missing population of blue whales off the exotic Seychelles Islands, the other to chronicle whale families in Mexico’s stunning Gulf of California — this is an inspirational story that transforms our understanding of the largest animal ever to have lived. Joined by a cast of supporting characters, from dolphins and sperm whales to sea lions and orcas, don’t miss your opportunity to see the blue whale’s star moment on the giant screen!
Exhibitions:
Orcas: Our Shared Future
Unleash the magic of the sea with our mesmerizing exhibition, “Orcas: Our Shared Future.” This immersive experience traces the evolution of our beliefs about orcas, from fear to admiration and awe. Discover the stunning intelligence and complex social structures of these magnificent creatures as you meet a life-sized replica of an orca family and listen to their soothing harmonies in an underwater environment.
The Power of Poison
Explore the captivating and paradoxical world of nature’s toxic arsenal in “The Power of Poison.” This spellbinding exhibition, featuring live performances and interactive dioramas, takes you into tales of illness, enchantment and death by poison. Walk through the Colombian forest and uncover the secrets of plants and animals that wield poison as a tool for defense and survival. Learn how scientists are harnessing the effects of poison to protect, repair and heal human cells, offering new perspectives on health and medicine.
Space Odyssey
In the Denver Museum of Nature & Science “Space Odyssey” exhibition, future astronauts and inquisitive humans now have a place to discover answers to out of this world questions like: “How do we know how many stars are in our galaxy when we can’t see them all?” “How do you put the brakes on in space?” And, “How do we know what the far side of the Moon looks like if it never faces Earth?”
"Space Odyssey" is all about answering the how, catapulting you into a place where you can touch, see, hear and, yes, even smell what it’s like to be “out there.” You determine how to engage with the world beyond us, in a wildly creative environment that encourages free-range space science and no-boundaries adventure.
Prehistoric Journey
A journey through the eons allows you to trace the evolution of life on Earth, from single-celled organisms to lumbering dinosaurs to the inhabitants of today's world.
Travel through time-starting 3.5 billion years ago. Your journey begins beneath ancient seas. Life diversifies as you move through the millennia, surrounded by fearsome fish and waving sea lilies. Soon you're out of the water and the air is filled with huge dragonflies. Foot-long centipedes crawl around you. Then the dinosaurs appear!
Learn more: Prehistoric Journey
Stargazing & Skyline Views
Cap off your night with a visit to the Anschutz Family Sky Terrace. Take in the twinkling Denver skyline and, if you're lucky, peer through a telescope for a closer look at the stars – a romantic end to your Museum adventure.
Whether you're looking to impress a date, catch up with friends, or treat yourself to a night of discovery, our Adult Nights offer a perfect blend of entertainment, education and relaxation. So ditch the usual happy hour this Friday and elevate your evening at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Who knew learning could be this much fun?
Read to Impress
As you walk through our Museum halls on Friday Nights, enhance your experience by reading our engaging blogs about our exhibitions and programming on your mobile device by visiting Catalyst.
By simply typing dmns.org/catalyst in your mobile web browser, you'll find offers, captivating stories, the latest news and fun facts about our programming and scientific discoveries that you can draw upon to impress your friends, family or your *wink* date.