Costumed visitors to the National Air and Space Museum's Air & Scare Halloween event at the Udvar-Hazy Center enjoy listening to a story in the shadow of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. (Photo by Dane Penland / Smithsonian Institution)
Spooky Science and Halloween Treats Take Over the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will host its annual “Air & Scare” Family Day from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Visitors will enjoy safe, indoor trick-or-treating and spooky activities for all ages at this free event.
Designed with the whole family in mind, aerospace will come alive with fun activities, all with a Halloween twist. Participants will enjoy spooky crafts, trick-or-truth stations, science experiments and treat giveaways. The Tot Zone will feature space-themed activities and a dress-up corner. Performances, including “Take a Giant Leap” by the Rainbow Puppets and “Professor Wingnut Wants To Fly” by Oran Sandel, will take place. Free showings of Casper’s Halloween Special will be offered in the Airbus IMAX Theater. Visitors will learn how to build remotely operated underwater robots with the Office of Naval Research SeaPerch Program. Everyone’s favorite Star Wars and Ghostbusters characters will be on-hand for photo opportunities, including a 21-foot-tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. This year’s newest editions to “Air & Scare” will include the Paper Scare Plane Design Challenge and the Trick or Trajectory Rocket Launch, both designed for teens and tweens but open to all ages.
Attendees are encouraged to come in their favorite space or flight-themed costume. Admission is free, but parking is $15 until 6 p.m. Public transportation is also available via the Silver Line Metro and Fairfax Connector bus. “Air & Scare” is made possible by Mars Chocolate North America LLC. For more information and a full list of activities, visit airandspace.si.edu/airandscare.
The National Air and Space Museum is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., at Sixth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. The museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Va., near Washington Dulles International Airport. Regular daily hours for both facilities are from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25).
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SI-502-2014
Alison Wood
202-633-2376