Museum After Dark
August 14th
🕕 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Great Explorations Children’s Museum
The museum glows after hours for an unforgettable adults-only evening where 🍸 cocktails meet curiosity. Experience immersive science 🔬, dazzling light displays ✨, live entertainment 🎶, hands-on activities, delicious bites 🍴, and an open bar as Great Explorations transforms into an electrifying playground for grown-ups.
Designed for young professionals, corporate partners, and community changemakers, Museum After Dark is more than a night out—it’s a celebration that supports Great Explorations’ mission to inspire lifelong learning through play. Join us for an evening of fun, connection, and discovery while helping spark the excitement for IGNITE! Science Fest and supporting the museum’s impact in our community. 💜
Learn more about Museum After Dark here
IGNITE!
August 22nd
🚀🔬CALLING ALL SCIENTISTS, TINKERERS, ENGINEERS, ARTISTS & MATHEMATICIANS! 🎨⚙️🧪
Join us on August 22, 2026, for IGNITE! at Great Explorations Children’s Museum — an unforgettable celebration of creativity, curiosity, and discovery! ✨
🎉 BEST OF ALL — Guests who pre-register get into Ignite! for FREE thanks to Pinellas Community Foundation! 🎉
From robotics and rockets 🚀 to bubbles and biology 🫧🧬, every corner of the museum will spark imagination with hands-on experiments, interactive exhibits, and mind-blowing demonstrations designed for curious kids and families alike.
At IGNITE!, young innovators will discover that the future belongs to those who create, experiment, and dream without limits 💡🌟
Even better? IGNITE! helps raise funds to support hands-on STEAM programs and ensures all children in our community have access to inspiring, high-quality learning experiences at Great Explorations 💜
Interested in becoming a sponsor and helping us fuel the next generation of creators and explorers? Learn more here.
At Great Explorations, the greatest experiment is the one you create yourself! 🔥
Early Explorations Preschool
✨ Big things are happening at Great Explorations Preschool! ✨
Due to growing demand, we’re opening a brand-new classroom for 3-year-olds!
Give your child the opportunity to learn through creativity, play, and hands-on discovery in a fun, engaging environment designed to spark curiosity every day.
Space is limited, and enrollment is now open!
📧 Contact Emily Barnes at ebarnes@greatex.org or more information and to reserve your spot.
August Monthly Reciprocals
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens & The Florida Aquarium
🌿🐠 Two amazing adventures, one incredible membership perk!
This August, Great Explorations members can enjoy reciprocal admission to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and The Florida Aquarium! 🌺🐙
From wandering through stunning gardens to coming face-to-fin with incredible marine life, your membership unlocks even more ways to explore, discover, and make family memories all month long.
Where will your August adventure take you first? 🌸🐢
Not a member yet? Join the Great Explorations family and enjoy unlimited museum visits, exclusive member perks, reciprocal admission to incredible attractions like The Dali Museum, and a full year of hands-on fun. Your next adventure is waiting! 💜
Planetarium Monday
August 3rd
🪐 Attention space explorers! 💫
August Planetarium Monday is launching on August 3rd!
With fresh topics every month and multiple stellar shows scheduled throughout the day, there’s no limit to what we can explore.
Come journey through the cosmos with us! 🚀
This special event is free for Museums for All (SNAP, WIC, EBT) participants thanks to the generous support of the Chapman Foundation. 💜
🎟️ Included with standard museum admission for all other guests.
Great Connections: A Free Program for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum or with Sensory Processing Differences
August 9th
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Great Explorations Children’s Museum
✨ Join us for August Great Connections! ✨
Enjoy the museum with fewer crowds, dimmed overhead lighting, and soft, calming music throughout the space 🎶
Need a break? Our cool-down room will be available for anyone who needs a quiet moment 🧸
We can’t wait to welcome you for a relaxed, inclusive, and joyful museum experience 🌟
A heartfelt thank you to Guardian Trust for their generous support in making this special gathering possible. 💜
Terrific Tots
August 14th
🎉 Terrific Tots is back! Starting August 13th!
Calling all our tiniest explorers! 💫 Join us every Thursday morning for 20–35 minutes of music, crafts, stories, and hands-on fun designed just for children under 3.
Each week brings a new adventure to discover, and of course, we’ll wrap things up with our favorite bubble party! 🫧
✅ Included with museum admission
🕘 Members enjoy free, early entry—15 minutes before opening!
We can’t wait to welcome you back for a season full of singing, creating, playing, and making memories! 🌟
In the Spotlight
Connie & Garner Koons
Sponsored by Connie and Garner Koons—longtime philanthropists and pillars of the St. Petersburg community—Garner’s Dive Shop celebrates a legacy of generosity, curiosity, and investment in local families. Their support helps create meaningful opportunities for children to learn, grow, and explore through play.
At the heart of the exhibit is the Connie’s Cove climber, the iconic floor-to-ceiling climber that serves as the centerpiece of the Great Explorations museum gallery. Inspired by an underwater world, this vibrant structure is filled with colorful petals, playful fish, and sea creatures that spark imagination and adventure. As children climb, crawl, and navigate its many pathways, they develop strength, confidence, problem-solving skills, and a sense of accomplishment.
With breathtaking views of the museum from above and endless opportunities for active exploration, Garner’s Dive Shop encourages young learners to reach new heights while honoring the community spirit and generosity of the Koons family. 💜
Interested in sponsoring an exhibit and helping bring our mission to life? Connect with Laurel Ginn, CAO, at LGinn@greatex.org to learn more about opportunities to get involved.
Explorers’ Circle
Giving Program
Join the Explorers’ Circle today by pledging an ongoing monthly donation to Great Explorations Children’s Museum!
Donations like these help give students and families access to a world of creativity and knowledge.
