Located in Rockford, IL, Discovery Center creates opportunities for children to learn and play through hands-on experiences in the sciences and art!
With more than 250 interactive exhibits and a fantastic outdoor park, the exploration is endless! 🔎💡 Hands-on exhibits encourage children of all ages to play, explore, create and, ultimately, discover the joy of learning! Exhibits relate to math, color & light, Midwest wild weather, agriculture, communication, health and the human body, nanoscience, the science of sports and more. Discovery Center
Family Fridays have come to an end... thank you for an amazing summer! ☀️🫧
Stay tuned – our fall events and classes will be announced next week.
Who's ready to see the legendary Bubblologist Geoff Akins?? Our final Family Friday is August 7th from 10AM to 2PM, and tickets are FREE with general admission or membership!
08/01/2026
Mark your calendars for our August Free Days! Illinois residents can enjoy $0 admission on these dates and times:
08/01/2026
Reminder for Members: Member Morning is tomorrow, August 1st at 8:30am! 🕣💕
07/31/2026
🫧 Get ready to be wowed by Geoff Akins, the internationally acclaimed “bubble-ologist” behind Bubble Wonders: a dazzling show full of spectacular bubble tricks (think bubble volcanoes, dancing bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, and even “kid inside a bubble!”). This is our last Family Friday of the season, so don't miss it!
🫧August 7 from 10AM to 2PM
🫧Shows at 10 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm in Woodward Hall
Wow! Under the Sea Foam Party was everything we could have hoped for and more. We hope you had as much fun as we did! 🐠🫧
Only one more Family Friday of the summer…
07/30/2026
Know before you go! Our Family Friday this week is double the fun, and here's what you need to know:
- General admission grants you access to ALL events/activities!
- Under the Sea: Kresge Hall + museum, 9:30am to 2pm!
- Foam Party: parking lot, 10am to 2pm – unless there is lightning. Bring goggles, swim suit / change of clothes, towel!
- Pirates and mermaids: Kresge Hall + parking lot, 10am to 1pm!
Double the fun! General admission goes twice as far this Family Friday, July 31...meet us Under the Sea for tons of fun activities, pirate and mermaid characters, PLUS a spectacular Foam Party in the parking lot! 🌊
- 9:30AM to 2PM: science and crafts in Kresge Hall, dance party in the museum theater, and an underwater planetarium experience
- 10AM to 1PM: pirate and mermaid characters to meet in Kresge Hall and outside!
- 10AM to 2PM: Foam Party in the parking lot (rescheduled from July 17), goggles, towel, and change of clothes recommended!
Everything is included with general admission or membership, just check in at the front desk when you arrive to get your wristbands for the day!
07/28/2026
Today is FREE DAY! 1–4:30pm for Illinois residents!
Mark you calendars for our July Free Days! Illinois residents can enjoy access to the entire museum at no cost.
| Monday | 9:30am - 4:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30am - 4:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am - 4:30pm |
| Thursday | 9:30am - 4:30pm |
| Friday | 9:30am - 4:30pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am - 4:30pm |
| Sunday | 9:30am - 4:30pm |