Two Sundays. One out-of-this-world Fall Fest experience! Celebrate the season with pumpkin decorating, live animals, fall favorites, special astronomy experiences and plenty of family fun across our campus. Don’t miss Early Bird pricing — get your tickets now before full-price admission begins!

Get into the Halloween spirit with a journey of music and light! Featuring spooky favorites and laser imagery, this show is a family-friendly Halloween treat that brings the magic of the season to life beneath the dome. Additional 4PM showing on Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day. Tickets only $12/Members; $15/Non-Members!

A brand-new Trick or Treat experience for 2026!

This year, follow the fun throughout the SM&NC grounds, with Halloween surprises around every corner. Meet some 8-legged residents during a special opening of our Tarantulas: Alive & Up Close exhibition, explore Heckscher WILD!, catch a Planetarium presentation, get creative with crafts and activities in Overbrook and the Bendel Mansion, and of course, trick or treat your way through Heckscher Farm.

A BevMax Tasting Series Favorite ! Enjoy a night of whiskey exploration paired with iconic New Haven Style pies by Sally’s Apizza. Sample exceptional whiskies and learn first-hand from Brand Ambassadors about their products. BevMax will be on site to take orders for full bottles of any whiskies you may try and wish to purchase. Adults 21+ only

THE ART OF PAINTING WITH JAN DILENSCHNEIDER

THU, NOV 12

6 — 8 PM

FREE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
ANIMALS FOR ALL: TARANTULA SENSORY FRIENDLY EVENING

WED, OCT 28

6 — 7 PM

LIVE PLANETARIUM EVENT
SPOOKY UNIVERSE

THU, OCT 29

6 — 8 PM

Established in 1949, Junior Curator is the SM&NC’s hands-on junior volunteer program, offering children a unique opportunity to experience life on a working farm. Participants learn the basics of animal care through feeding, cleaning and daily care of animals on Heckscher Farm. Upon successful completion, participants are eligible to become farm volunteers. 

Admission to our market is always free.

Our Sunday Farm Market is better than ever – and as always, admission to come shop is free! Join us every Sunday this month to pick up great products and produce to support local agriculture.

You asked for more music, so we turned up the volume! Now playing, a robust lineup of music laser "concert" shows spanning two distinct genre series — Rock & Roll Laser Fridays and Pop Laser Saturdays.

From legendary rock to iconic pop, our new lineups of full-dome laser experiences span generations of artists and fans.