October is bubbling over in Tampa, and the Glazer Children’s Museum is inviting young scientists to become spooktacular mad scientists for the rest of the month. Spooky Science, the museum’s month-long celebration of STEAM with a delightfully spooky twist, fills its downtown home at 110 W Gasparilla Plaza with playful experiments and creative discoveries designed for curious kids and their families.
There are no jump scares here. Instead, children can mix, test and tinker through hands-on art and science activities, settle in for cozy, not-so-spooky storytimes led by Team GCM, and enjoy live performances and interactive demonstrations from science-inspired entertainers throughout the month.
This year’s star craft waits in the MakeSpace exhibit: cyanotypes, mysterious blueprints made with the magic of sunlight. Families work together to arrange objects on light-sensitive paper, then let the sun do its work, creating spooky blue-and-white silhouettes. Experimenting with shadows, shapes and light, every child leaves with a one-of-a-kind creation — and a first lesson in how light really works.
One highlight is still ahead: the Mad Science Show returns on Saturday, October 24 from 2 to 3 p.m., included with admission, bringing bubbling reactions and hands-on wonder to the stage. Earlier in the month, Mad Science, Reactory Factory and the Spheres Bubble Show have already delighted young audiences, and the hands-on fun continues every day until Halloween.
For Tampa families looking for a Halloween season outing that is joyful, creative and genuinely educational, Spooky Science is a perfect fit — science that feels magical, approachable and fun. Happy City News recommends arriving ready to experiment.
Photo: Glazer Children’s Museum
