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Science After Dark 2024

Welcome! This is NOT your High School Science Class...
CSC is excited to present Science After Dark, hands-on educational fun and engagement for adults! Science After Dark provides adults the opportunity to visit CSC exhibits, learn from experts, and engage actively with CSC’s programs, after hours. We have dissections and laser shows including a reworked Dark Side of the Moon planned! Events include adult beverages available for donation. Details for future events will be announced quarterly. We hope to see you there!

2024 Event Schedule Now Available!

Follow us for updates!

February 9th

Laser Pink Floyd!

6:30, 7:30, 8:30, & 9:30 PM in the Millholland Planetarium

We are SOLD OUT for all four showtimes for the Pink Floyd Laser Show! We are excited to see you all this weekend. Please Note: Tickets not claimed by showtime will be resold to in-person attendees. Planetarium doors close and lock 5 minutes after the show starts and cannot be reopened. We are excited to see you there!

Tickets must be purchased in advance to secure your spot!

Members: $5.50
Nonmembers: $7.50

April 11th

The State of Innovation of Beer!

5:30 - 7:30 PM in the Planetarium Building

'Tap' into the trends of an NC staple beverage. Learn why North Carolina is a beer mecca. Appalachian State University's Dr. Brett Taubman, Professor and Director of Fermentation Sciences will lead participants through the evolution of IPAs with a discussion of brewery innovations and tutored tastings from local breweries with more than just IPAs. This event is open to ages 21+ only.

Tickets must be purchased in advance to secure your spot!

Members: $12
Nonmembers: $15

May 23rd

Big League Fun Challenge Night!

6:00 – 8:00 PM in the Main Arts and Science Building

Assemble your crew and prepare for a night of science fun and competition. Explore CSC’s new Featured exhibit Big League Fun. Teams will compete against each other in a time-tracked romp through exhibit challenges (who can throw the fastest pitch?), feats of bravery (which bug will you dare to eat?), and trivia. Activities will be outside, weather permitting, and in the main building. To determine a winning team, CSC will validate each team’s start/end times and performance on tasks. Details provided in a confirmation email prior to the event.

Tickets must be purchased in advance to secure your spot!

Members: $12
Nonmembers: $15

 

Buy Tickets!

 

July

Laser Night!

Time TBD in the Millholland Planetarium

Theme night with a show voted on by Science After Dark participants! Come dressed in your best 80's outfit!

Tickets must be purchased in advance to secure your spot; pricing and link coming soon!

August

Laser Night!

Time TBD in the Millholland Planetarium

Theme night with a brand new show!

Tickets must be purchased in advance to secure your spot; pricing and link coming soon!

October

Under the Stars!

Time TBD in the Planetarium Building

Come to the Science Center for an astronomy filled night under the stars. Let's fill the planetarium building with a galaxy of fun! Potential partners include, CVAC to us on the lawn for stargazing.

Tickets must be purchased in advance to reserve your spot; pricing and link coming soon!

November

Artificial Intelligence!

Location/Time TBD

Potential speaker from Microsoft or Google to complement the new featured exhibit Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind and the Machine.

Tickets must be purchased in advance to reserve your spot; pricing and link coming soon!

Larry W.

Took the kiddos and they loved it. Employees were nice and helpful. If your looking for something to do with the kids give this place a shot.

-Larry W.

Sam H.

This place was great. We have kids from 8 to 1 and they all had a great time. What I really liked is most of the exhibits are hands on and that really kept them occupied.

– Sam H.

Denise G.

Fabulous and I don’t often give praise. We took our grandson and were there for hours. He loved it and so did we.

– Denise G.

Meredith C.

What a wonderful place to visit! Great environment to learn and the staff is very helpful! Hickory is lucky to have great family education and entertainment.

– Meredith C.

Tiffany F.

We love the Science Center! I take my 2 and 4 year old boys weekly to play and enjoy the exhibits. The staff are wonderful and the classes offered are excellent! We are so blessed to have such an amazing resource in our area.

– Tiffany F.

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NC Science Fest SEMC ASTC
Catawba Science Center
243 Third Avenue NE
PO Box 2431
Hickory, NC 28603
Phone: (828) 322 8169
Fax: (828) 322 1585
©2019 Catawba Science Center
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Catawba Science Center, located in Hickory, provides fun for all ages, and is within a short drive from Morganton, Statesville, Lenoir, Lincolnton, and Western NC.