Discover, explore and experiment with interactive science activities happening daily across our labs.
From special event weekends to daily lab activities, there's always something new to discover.
Explore Our Labs
Each of our labs offers unique daily experiments and activities. Here's what's happening this season.
Included with Museum Admission.
Our youngest guests are invited to explore thematic sensory bins, interact with real specimens, and practice the scientific process.
Through a mix of child-led exploration and facilitated activities, our youngest guests will explore why we eat, where food comes from, and how food is prepared.
The food we eat is proof that we're a part of the environment just as much as any plant or animal. So where does that food come from? How can animals eat things we can't? Come in and explore these topics through games and real animal specimens.
Come grow through science by exploring the technology behind our agriculture. Experiment with grain in different Silos, Grow a Better Crop through farm challenges, or watch how we separate seeds using suction!
Explore food science using the engineering design process to create utensils, make food replicas and build simple Rube Goldberg machines to salt a dish.
Take a journey from plate to cell to uncover how the foods we eat become the energy and building blocks our bodies need to grow, move, think and thrive. Discover how modern medicine aids in nutritional support for all.
Join us for an interactive storytime featuring both new and classic children's books that illuminate scientific phenomena.
A look back at recent seasonal programs and lab activities that have already wrapped up.
Special Event
April 3 – 12, 2026
Science doesn't just happen at a museum! Celebrate spring break at Discovery Place Science and discover different ways to take science outside the museum and into your world. Activities will provide opportunities to experiment and explore how science, nature and sustainability make an impact on you, your community and the world.
Special Event
April 18 – 19, 2026
Final boarding call to experience Discovery Place's traveling exhibition Above and Beyond. Guests will experiment with flight and aviation throughout the Museum, including building hydraulic systems, exploring how animals fly and the physics of flight.
Special Event
April 24, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Discover the magic of the Moon at Discovery Place's Star Party! Guests will use telescopes to explore the night sky, search for stars and observe the Moon. Interactive stations include building stomp rockets, creating craters and sizing up the Moon.
Special Event
June 11, 2026
Build on play throughout the Museum and explore a variety of engineering and build challenges including a unique spin on marble machines.
Special Event
July 26 – August 1, 2026
Celebrate Shark Week at Discovery Place and discover the facts behind the fins. Sharks are integral to maintaining a healthy balance in marine ecosystems and benefit the ocean and the climate.
From the Field
March 28, 2026
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, so come learn about this amazing organ with the professionals at Carolinas Rehabilitation and the Center for Injury Prevention.
From the Field
February 21, March 21, April 18, 2026
Students from UNC Charlotte's Bat Immunology Training and Education (BITE) are here to dispel myths and share their research about our coolest flying mammals.
From the Field
May 16, 2026
Join medical professionals from all over the Charlotte area and explore the science of safety and injury prevention to start the summer off safe.
From the Field
July 11, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Join medical professionals as they share the science of safety and injury prevention through hands-on activities.
From the Field
July 18, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Participate in engaging activities alongside scientists from the Pearl to explore some of the medical marvels and technology that make humans “super.”
From the Field
July 11 & August 1, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Come see robots in action as they navigate obstacles, move objects, and take on real-world challenges! Infinite Turtles, a student-led and state-champion robotics team from Matthews, NC, brings their engineering skills and passion for STEM to life on the field.
From the Field
June 20, July, August | Open – 1:00 p.m.
Students from UNC Charlotte's Bat Immunology Training and Education (BITE) are here to dispel myths and share their research about our coolest flying mammals.
Dive deeper into each of our interactive labs and discover even more hands-on science experiences.
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