Hang out with your fellow explorers and enjoy delicious snacks, breakfast and coffee. Sleep next to roaring lions, stalking tigers or ancient dinosaurs. Check out awesome specimens, do hands-on experiments and see the museum as you never have before. What will you discover after dark?
Night in the Museum is perfect for scout groups, birthday parties, kids’ clubs, sports team retreats and more. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. The group discount is automatically applied to your cart when you add 10 or more standard Night in the Museum registrations.
Full payment is due upon registration. Refund requests made 30 days or more before registration ends are subject to a $20 per ticket fee. Refund requests made fewer than 30 days before registration ends are subject to a fee equal to 50% of the order total. Tickets are non-refundable after registration ends. Night in the Museum is appropriate for groups and families with children ages 6–12. One adult is required per three children.
Looking for an exclusive evening for your group? Do you have a specific date in mind? Develop your guest list and contact us to reserve the museum for your private group of 125 to 300. Contact reservations@ansp.org or 215-299-1060 for more information. Can’t meet the 125-person minimum? Contact us for availability for your group to join a public date.
Where do we get to sleep in the museum?
Groups will sleep in one of our three diorama halls (Dinosaur Hall, North American Hall and African and Asian Hall). When groups check in they will be informed of their sleeping area (hall). Groups cannot reserve a hall in advance. VIP (Very Important Paleontologist) tickets can be purchased in advance and guarantee a sleeping spot under our T. rex.
What type of sleeping gear can I bring?
You may bring sleeping bags, sleeping mats and twin air mattresses (no queen- or king‐size, please). Battery- or foot-operated pumps are recommended as we are unable to guarantee sleeping space near an outlet due to safety requirements. Please test your air mattress and pumps before arrival. Cots are not permitted. Because each hall sleeps around 100 people, we have to be able to accommodate everyone and may ask participants to limit how much sleep gear they are bringing.
What else should I bring?
We recommend bringing comfortable clothes with several layers to sleep in as the temperature may adjust through the night. Shoes are required when moving around the museum, so you may consider bringing slip-ons for a late-night restroom visit. Reusable water bottles and coffee mugs are encouraged. Headphones are required if you need to use your phone after lights out. While the museum does not get totally dark, we also recommend bringing a small flashlight.
What kind of snack can I expect? What will be served for breakfast?
Snack typically consists of a piece of fruit and a small, bagged snack like chips or pretzels. There is also hot tea and coffee for adults, plus juice and water. Breakfast typically consists of fruit, bagels and cereal, as well as hot tea, coffee, juice and water. Coffee and water are available all night.
Your information says participants cannot bring in outside food, but someone in my group has allergies. What do I do?
If someone in your group has allergies, you are permitted to bring your own food for snack and breakfast. We cannot guarantee that our provided food is allergen‐free. Please let us know ahead of time so that we can do our best to recognize and accommodate any allergies.
What is the schedule like?
The schedule is designed for families and groups to “create their own evening.” There are games, make and takes, experiments and activities in addition to all your favorite exhibits, and families can spend as much or as little time as they like at each. There is a break in the middle for snack, and the night always ends with a special show. Lights out is at 11 p.m. and breakfast begins around 7 a.m. The museum store will be open exclusively for overnight guests in the morning. Admission to the museum beginning at 10 a.m. is included for the following day so you can extend the fun.
Will the museum be completely dark and silent after lights out?
The museum does not get totally dark, as there are safety lights on in spaces throughout the building. If you are a light sleeper, we recommend that you consider bringing a sleep mask to block any ambient lights and earplugs to tune out nighttime noises. We kindly ask that all guests be mindful of each other during this program, especially after lights out, to avoid interrupting each other’s sleep.
Can I bring children under the age of 6?
Night in the Museum is designed for families with children 6–12 years old. Activities go well past most younger children’s bedtimes, and we find that younger guests have a tough time staying up late enough to enjoy the event. Activities take place in all our halls and classrooms, so the museum is quite loud, and we unfortunately don’t have anywhere they can quietly go to sleep.
Can teenagers and adults attend?
Night in the Museum is designed for families with children 6–12 years old. To ensure a positive experience for all guests, all children attending must be 6-12 years old. Adults-only groups are not permitted at Night in the Museum. There must be at least one child aged 6-12 registered per group.
Can my children explore the museum or visit the restrooms without me?
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times, including during evening programming, during snack and breakfast, and after lights out to visit the restroom. If you are with multiple children and need to take only one to the bathroom, please ensure that another adult in your group is able to supervise the other children until you return. Activities are designed to be enjoyed by a multi-generational audience, and safety during this after-hours event is the highest priority.
When does registration end?
Registration for each event ends at 5 p.m. on the previous Friday (one week and one day) before the event date. Refund requests made 30 days or more before registration ends are subject to a $20 per ticket fee. Refund requests fewer than 30 days before registration ends are subject to a fee equal to 50% of the order total. Tickets are non-refundable after registration ends.
How do I book for a group?
Groups are welcome to join all public overnight dates, pending ticket availability. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more standard registrations. Once the tickets are added to your cart, the discount will automatically be applied at checkout. You can also contact reservations@ansp.org or 215-299-1060 to book directly or to find out how many tickets may still be available for a larger group. These public events sell out quickly, so if you would like to book for a group we recommend reserving your spots as soon as you can. If you would like to book a private overnight, please contact us and we would be delighted to discuss dates and program information.
I am part of a group and someone else bought my ticket. What do I need to know about checking in?
We will send a detailed email to ticket purchasers about where to go and what to bring a few days before each event, and we kindly request that purchases made on behalf of a group forward the information to all participants to ensure a smooth check-in. Participants must know the name of the person who bought the tickets in order to check-in, including scout, party and school group bookings. We ask that group leaders or organizers make themselves available during check-in to help greet their guests. If you are part of a group but haven’t received any information, please reach out to your group leader, and of course let us know if you have any other questions.
Where do I park?
The Academy does not provide parking for Night in the Museum guests. However, the nearest overnight parking garage is a block away from the Academy at the Philadelphia Logan Square Garage (formerly LAZ Parking) at 1815 Cherry Street. We strongly urge you to prebook parking at this garage in advance of the program for the best rate. More information can be found at https://ansp.org/visit/directions-and-parking. Click the pink magnifying glass on the map and submit your date and time to find out the discounted parking rate and click “Buy” in the green box to be directed to the iParkit website for purchase and details.
Where do I check in for Night in the Museum? Do I need to bring a receipt or a ticket?
Check-in for Night in the Museum begins at 6:30 p.m. at the 19th Street Entrance (side entrance) of the museum. If you arrive after the program has begun, please let the security guard know when you arrive that you are here for the Night in the Museum program and they will contact staff to assist you with check-in. We will have the list of participants printed when check-in begins so you do not need to bring a receipt or ticket. If you are part of a group booking of any size, you must know the name of the person who bought your ticket in order to check-in, including scout, party and school group bookings.
I’d like to visit the Academy after the overnight; do I need to buy a ticket and what time can I come in?
Free next day admission is included in your Night in the Museum ticket. Please continue to wear the wristband distributed at the program to gain entry to the museum. The museum is closed to the public from 9 to 10 a.m. as we clean, setup and prepare for the upcoming day, but there are many interesting historical sights, cultural organizations, restaurants, cafes and shops within walking distance for you to visit while you await reopening. Please ask the staff for tailored recommendations.
Are masks or vaccinations required in order to attend?
As of October 2022, Drexel University does not require masks or proof of vaccination to visit the Academy and participate in programs. However, while mask-wearing remains optional, we cannot permit visitors to sleep in a face mask due to safety requirements. The Academy reserves the right to adjust, cancel, postpone or otherwise alter program dates or times according to current safety measures recommended by Drexel University or the City of Philadelphia.
What else should I know to prepare me for my stay?
Alcoholic beverages, cans, bottles and glass containers are not permitted to be brought into the building during Night in the Museum. Anyone thought to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be escorted from the premises without refund. Please leave valuables and electronics at home. The Academy may act on your behalf, or on behalf of your child, in any medical emergency, including, if necessary, emergency medical treatment and admission to an accredited hospital or emergency care center. All other Academy of Natural Sciences and Drexel University safety policies apply during Night in the Museum.
How are we keeping visitors and staff safe during Night in the Museum?
To ensure the health and safety of our guests, staff and volunteers, we have carefully developed new health and safety protocols following guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Drexel University and in consultation with national museum organizations as well as fellow museums around the world, across the nation and in Philadelphia.
Educational program plans have been evaluated and approved by health and safety officers at Drexel University. All staff and participants must abide by Drexel COVID guidelines. Visit https://drexel.edu/coronavirus/ to find out more about expectations for staff and visitors. If you have questions during the program, please contact our Night in the Museum program staff or security team members for immediate assistance.
The Academy reserves the right to adjust, cancel, postpone or otherwise alter program dates or times according to current safety measures recommended by Drexel University or the City of Philadelphia.