(Photo by Candice Swanson Photography)
The annual celebration melds the fun of Halloween with educational science.
Discovery Cube puts the science into Halloween with its third annual Pumpkin Palooza — full of spooky demos, mazes, dance parties and more.
This year’s partnership between Discovery Cube and OC Waste & Recycling also adds a sustainability component to the event with pumpkin composting classes. Santa Ana College will lend their culinary students to help lead the composting demonstrations (on select dates).
“Recognizing Halloween as a time when many pumpkins end up in landfills, OC Waste & Recycling saw an opportunity to teach families how to reduce their waste through composting,” said Discovery Cube CEO Joe Adams. “This led to the idea of offering composting classes during Pumpkin Palooza, where families can learn how to divert pumpkins from landfills, helping to combat climate change by reducing methane gas emissions. Additionally, Discovery Cube OC and OC Waste & Recycling will host the next iteration of Discovery Cube’s Impact Event Series, featuring pumpkin composting just after Halloween.”
Pumpkin Palooza runs on select dates, starting Friday, Oct. 4 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 27. Guests can immerse themselves in two floors of Halloween activities. Plus new this year, families can rock the night away at Pumpkin Palooza Party Nights during select nights at the Cube, complete with a DJ spinning a wicked mix of monster mashups, double the trick-or-treating fun, glow giveaways, eerie lights and hauntingly good vibes. Other activities include hopping onto Boo’s Bumper Cars and zooming around a track while learning the laws of motion, navigating through mind-bending Crazy Mazes and exploring the awe-inspiring Pumpkinology 101 — where families can learn how pumpkins break down naturally, uncover creative uses for organic materials and follow the journey of a pumpkin’s life cycle from seed to soil in this hands-on experience.
“Pumpkin Palooza at Discovery Cube Orange County blends the fun of Halloween with engaging scientific learning,” Adams said. “Through interactive exhibits and activities like Pumpkinology 101 and spooky science demos, visitors are immersed in hands-on experiences that explore the science behind motion, math and even composting. From creating glow-in-the-dark slime to exploring the wonders of composting, the event demonstrates how science is part of everyday Halloween fun.”
Adams said Pumpkin Palooza Party Nights nighttime party is a brand-new addition, offering more family-friendly fun for guests who want to extend their Halloween celebrations.
For those in the Los Angeles area, Enchanted Halloween Evenings at Discovery Cube Los Angeles is a newer addition to the Halloween festivities, bringing a Saturday-evening event with a magical twist to the season. The event features a variety of family-friendly activities including trick-or-treating, glow-in-the-dark activities, spooky science booths, magicians and costume parades.
“Discovery Cube’s Halloween events, whether in Orange County or Los Angeles, are not just about fun — they’re about making science accessible and exciting for kids and families,” Adams said. “Whether you’re navigating through mazes, composting pumpkins or dancing with DJ Jack-o-Lynn, these events are designed to inspire curiosity and learning in a fun, festive atmosphere. We invite everyone to join in the celebration and create unforgettable Halloween memories with us.”
By Jessica Peralta
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