PHILADELPHIA, October 4, 2018

Real world mythic creatures, beer with ancient giants, and the annual paleo-party are all coming up this winter at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

Xtreme Bugs featuring larger than life moving insects has its closing weekend Jan. 19–21 with activities for all ages. Then Mythic Creatures opens Feb. 16 showing how scientists connect the dots between mythic creatures and their real-world equivalents.

The Academy stays open late for the monthly Dinos After Dark, with a pop-up beer garden in Dinosaur Hall, and for Night in the Museum for families to experience the activities and fun of the museum on an overnight sleepover.

The annual Paleopalooza festival, celebrating dinosaurs and other amazing fossils, returns March 2 and 3. Access to Science: Opening Doors to Autism opens the Academy early for children on the autism spectrum to experience the museum before the crowds.

Here is the schedule of exhibits and events for January, February and March. For details, updates and discounted tickets, visit ansp.org.

Night in the Museum starring Xtreme Bugs!

Saturday, January 5, 6:30 p.m. –9 a.m.

Come face-to-feet with nearly 20 massive, colorful, moving bugs after dark! Grab a flashlight and wander between a fluttering oversized monarch butterfly and a fluffy tri-colored bumblebee. Enjoy a night of hands-on activities, then roll out a sleeping bag and have sweet dreams. Ages 6 and up; one adult is required per three children. Members $60, non-members $65, VIP (Very Important Paleontologist) $89. For details visit ansp.org or call 215-299-1060.

Special Exhibits Gallery

Xtreme Bugs Closing Weekend

Saturday-Monday, January 19-21

This weekend is the last chance to experience the mind-boggling behaviors and surprisingly intricate structures of bugs through 20 giant colorful moving insects in the exhibit Xtreme Bugs. From a fluttering oversized monarch butterfly to a gigantic Madagascar hissing cockroach, the exaggerated size of these creatures shines a creative spotlight on what makes them “extreme.” Xtreme Bugs blends technology, science, artistry and imagination to capture the most unusual aspects of the insect world. Visit ansp.org for details about weekend activities.

Access to Science: Opening Doors to Autism

Sunday, January 20, 9 a.m.–11 a.m.

Children on the autism spectrum and their families are invited to experience the museum when there are fewer people, starting an hour before the regular opening. Museum Stories (images and descriptions of the exhibits) can be downloaded before the visit at https://bit.ly/2DP2BKn. To pre-register, contact 215-299-1060 or ANS_reservations@drexel.edu. Same-day registration is available onsite.

Dinos After Dark

Friday, January 25, 4 p.m.–8 p.m.

Philadelphia’s dinosaur museum is open late tonight with pay-as you-wish admission, a pop-up Dino Drafts beer garden with food in Dinosaur Hall, live animal presentations, and fun hands-on activities. The Academy welcomes adults and also families with kids to enjoy the museum after dark! Suggested donation: $10. Partial proceeds from Dino Drafts benefit the Academy.

Special Exhibits Gallery

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids

Saturday, February 16–Sunday, June 9, 2019

For thousands of years, people have brought mythic creatures to life through art, stories and songs. Even as scientific discoveries have drawn distinctions between myth and reality, these beasts of the land, air and water have maintained an enduring hold on the human imagination. Discover how real animals such as dinosaurs, mammoths and narwhals may have stirred tales of griffins, giants and unicorns. Learn why so many legendary water spirits look like mermaids. Touch fossils, explore winged mythological creatures, build your own dragon and come face to face with a giant legendary sea monster.

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids Opening Weekend

Saturday–Monday, February 16–18

The special exhibit Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids opens this weekend with a load of activities for the whole family. Discover how real animals such as dinosaurs, mammoths and narwhals may be the origin of ancient tales of griffins, giants and unicorns. This weekend visitors will see displays of specimens from the Academy’s famous research collection, conjure up unicorn poop soap slime, examine sea monkeys, discover what happens when kraken are let loose, and enjoy live animal shows based on mythical creatures.

Night in the Museum featuring Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids

Saturday, February 16, 6:30 p.m.–9 a.m.

Discover what Yetis, unicorns and dragons have in common and investigate the real animals behind these mysteries. Do your best Bigfoot walk past the newly renovated gorilla diorama and imagine your own Nessie as you gaze up at Elasmosaurus for inspiration. Arm yourself with a flashlight and your imagination, and see Mythic Creatures like you’ve never seen it before. Then roll out your sleeping bag and have sweet dreams. Ages 6 and up; one adult is required per three children. Members $60, non-members $65, VIP (Very Important Paleontologist) $89. For details visit ansp.org or call 215-299-1060.

Dinos After Dark

Friday, February 22, 4 p.m.–8 p.m.

Philadelphia’s dinosaur museum is open late tonight with pay-as you-wish admission, a pop-up Dino Drafts beer garden with food in Dinosaur Hall, live animal presentations, and fun hands-on activities. The Academy welcomes adults and also families with kids to enjoy the museum after dark! Suggested donation: $10. Partial proceeds from Dino Drafts benefit the Academy.

Access to Science: Opening Doors to Autism

Saturday, February 23, 9 a.m.–11 a.m.

Children on the autism spectrum and their families are invited to experience the museum when there are fewer people, starting an hour before the regular opening. Museum Stories (images and descriptions of the exhibits) can be downloaded before the visit at https://bit.ly/2DP2BKn. To pre-register, contact 215-299-1060 or ANS_reservations@drexel.edu. Same-day registration is available onsite.

Paleopalooza

Saturday-Sunday, March 2-3, 10 a.m. – 5p.m.

Celebrate dinosaurs and scads of other fossils at this fun annual festival of gigantic proportions. Explore the world of dinosaurs as you examine rare fossils up close that were pulled from the Academy’s world-famous collection just for this festival. Talk with Academy paleontologists, meet live birds, take guided tours of Dinosaur Hall, and enjoy games, crafts and other activities that are guaranteed to enlighten even the wisest (and youngest) dinosaur experts in the family.

Night in the Museum featuring Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids

Saturday, March 16, 6:30 p.m.–9 a.m.

Discover what Yetis, unicorns and dragons have in common and investigate the real animals behind these mysteries. Do your best Bigfoot walk past the newly renovated gorilla diorama and imagine your own Nessie as you gaze up at Elasmosaurus for inspiration. Arm yourself with a flashlight and your imagination, and see Mythic Creatures like you’ve never seen it before. Then roll out your sleeping bag and have sweet dreams. Ages 6 and up; one adult is required per three children. Members $60, non-members $65, VIP (Very Important Paleontologist) $89. For details visit ansp.org or call 215-299-1060.

Founders Day

Thursday, March 21, All day

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is offering pay-what-you-wish general admission to celebrate the founding of the oldest natural history museum in the Americas. Purchase an $8 Supersaver ticket and visitors also explore the Butterflies! garden and the special exhibit, Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids. The Academy was founded March 21, 1812 for “the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences and the advancement of useful learning.” Today the Academy is a leading natural history museum and the place to discover towering dinosaurs, experience a working fossil preparation lab, stroll among live butterflies, see live animal shows, participate in hands-on activities, see special exhibits, and more. To purchase tickets online, visit ansp.org.