Birthday Parties
at the Boonshoft Museum
Parties & Small Gatherings
Looking for a way to celebrate your child’s special day at the Museum? Enjoy the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery’s interactive exhibits with the option to add-on a private space to entertain your guests. Affordable group admission and (optional) two-hour room reservations are available for science lovers of all ages! Private room reservations are based on availability, with a first come, first serve basis.
To book a private event rental for gatherings of 45 or fewer guests on Fridays-Sundays, use the button below to view available dates, reserve your event rental, and pay for your rental.
Click on your preferred package to view availability.
Be sure to choose “Boonshoft Party Package Membership Discount” if you have a Family level membership to ensure your discount is applied.
**Proof of membership will be required.
If you can’t find an available date, we may be able to accommodate a group admission at a discounted rate without a party space rental. You can schedule your Group admission below on any day of the week that we are open to the public.
**Please note that Group Admission does not guarantee a gathering space to eat, and party decorations & cake will not be allowed.**
If you need a weekday rental, or if you anticipate more than 45 guests, fill out an Inquiry Form
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you do not need to be a member to book group admission.
All group admissions must be booked and paid 2 weeks in advance to ensure proper staffing. Drop in groups will have to pay regular admission at the Guest Services Desk. During peak booking season (September to April) party bookings may book to capacity 6-8 weeks out.
Our Eco Eatery is open to the public, for both café and carry-in dining. We ask that all groups who have not booked a room be mindful of other guests while using our public spaces.
We ask that you follow the museum’s guidelines of 5 children to 1 adult. For this reason we provide 2 free chaperone tickets per every set of 10 purchased admissions. The maximum capacity for our birthday party space is 50 people total, including babies. If you require a larger space, we offer private event rentals based on space rented, and number of guests.
You can only bring decorations if you reserve a party space rental. You will not be able to have more than 30 minutes of early access and 15 minutes for cleanup, so it is recommended that set-up be minimal. The museum does not allow helium balloons, confetti, glitter, sparklers, fog machines, “poppers,” or piñatas at any time.
After your reservation, you will be informed which entrance hosts and guests should use. Members will still be responsible for showing their membership card and photo ID, and guests will need to check in with rentals staff upon arrival. Parties arriving before they have access to their party room will have to keep any belongings or decorations in their vehicle.
You can add an additional 5 or 10 guests (maximum of 45) during checkout at the group admission rate when booking a party package.