CATALYST

This month, we have exciting programs and events at the Museum!  Whether you're trying to dig for dinosaurs in the Discovery Zone, take relaxing walk through the Wildlife Halls or move your body to a Bad Bunny Laser Show in the planetarium  — we have something for everyone!

Read more: Things to Do at the Museum Over the 2025 Holiday Season

Here are just a few of things you could do to fill your day the Museum this month: 

The Secret World of Elephants

Enter “The Secret World of Elephants” to discover the remarkable science behind nature’s most lovable giants. How do elephants “hear” with their feet? What animals are their closest-living relatives? How have elephants and humans coexisted for thousands of years? Through hands-on interactions, you will feel the low-frequency rumbles elephants use to communicate, explore how they reshape their environments and come face-to-face with some of their ancestors, including dwarf elephants. From the ancient Ice Age to today’s African savanna, get ready to be amazed by elephants’ fascinating history and incredible intelligence — and inspired to help protect their future. All exhibition content is bilingual in English and Spanish. Learn more here!

Read more: Understanding Nature’s Most Loveable Giants

Brick Planet: A magical journey made with LEGO® bricks

“Brick Planet: A magical journey made with LEGO® bricks” takes you on an imaginative journey around the world through the lens of artist Sean Kenney’s sculptures built with LEGO® bricks. Explore our planet’s unique ecosystems, brought to life through colorful, playful environments where nature provides the building blocks for creative inspiration and scientific discovery. From towering polar bears and coral reefs to bustling cities and African savannas, you will feel a renewed sense of wonder for the rich balance of life that binds ecosystems and their inhabitants. Enjoy plenty of hands-on opportunities, from building LEGO® brick creations to sketching journals and playing a magnetized game. Free with Museum admission, the exhibition’s content is bilingual in English and Spanish. Learn more, here!

Discovering Teen Rex

Get up close with history in the making! Come see an extremely rare, totally complete triceratops fossil get uncovered in real-time. Also, get you can catch a glimpse of an incredible dinosaur bone that we found in the Museum parking lot and the famous Teen Rex fossil!

This exhibition, free with general admission, is best when paired with the documentary "T. Rex 3D," which is now showing on our giant screen Infinity Theater.

Read more: Museum Scientists Discover a Complete Triceratops Skull

Magical Winter Nights

Now open!

Stars are sparkling, cocoa is steaming and the West Atrium and Third Floor diorama halls have undergone a beautiful, holiday makeover. Until Jan. 4, a part of the Museum has become a whimsical winter holiday adventure filled with lights, sounds and surprises. This special after-hours experience lets visitors of all ages explore immersive seasonal scenes after dark. 

Read more: What You Can Expect at Magical Winter Nights

Upcoming In-Person Events

125th Birthday Celebration

Dec. 6 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Join us in celebrating our 125th birthday! Come see the Museum’s first dinosaur, the DeWeese Diplodocus and our rarely seen original Articles of Incorporation. Travel back in time using our 125-scavenger hunt mobile app – match building locations with what they once looked like. Learn more!

Daybreak Discoveries: Nature’s Unexpected Partnerships

Dec. 8 | 8:50 a.m.

This talk explores biodiversity and why relationships among living things are essential for life on Earth. Together, we’ll dive into symbiosis and the fascinating types of relationships that shape ecosystems, from parasitism to commensalism to mutualism. Through real examples ranging from mud flats, to coral reefs, to the African savannah, to the human microbiome, we’ll see how these connections play out in nature and in our exhibits, like Brick Planet. Finally, we’ll discuss how people both depend on and influence these relationships, and highlight exciting symbiosis research happening right here at the Museum. Get tickets!

NOCTURNES

Dec. 8 | 7 p.m.

In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, moths are whispering something to us. In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe. Together, they are on an expedition to decode these nocturnal creatures in a remote ecological “hot spot” on the border of India and Bhutan. The result is a deeply immersive film that transports audiences to a rarely-seen place and urges us all to look more closely at the hidden interconnections of the natural world. Get tickets!

Curious Kids: Snow Much Fun!

Dec. 11 & 12 | 8:45 a.m.

Join us for Snow Much Fun! This 45 minute session is designed for kids 2-5 years old to experiment with snow and water play to explore the science of water! Capacity is limited. Caregivers are required to stay and engage alongside their little learners. Get tickets!

Science Spotlight: Snowmass & Elephants

Dec. 15 | 7 p.m.

Join curators from our Earth Sciences department for a lively, bite-sized lecture on the mega-sized fossil record of elephants that once lived your own backyard and throughout the region. Afterward, stroll through The Secret World of Elephants, where you can chat with volunteer educators and curators and get up close with rarely seen specimens from our collections. Get tickets!

Block Party: A 21+ Night at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Dec. 17 | 7 p.m.

Tap into your inner child — and builder — at Block Party! - an adults-only evening of creativity, competition and cocktails at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Enjoy exclusive after-hours access to "Brick Planet: A Magical Journey Made with LEGO® Bricks," featuring artist Sean Kenney’s vibrant sculptures that explore ecosystems from polar bears to coral reefs. This thrilling new exhibit includes interactive stations like sketching journals, magnetized games and build-your-own LEGO® creations. Get tickets!

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Dec. 19 | 7 p.m.

Get ready to embrace your inner Grinch with an evening featuring the holiday classic Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on the giant screen. Come dressed in your best grinchy green and settle in for a night of holiday cheer. Enjoy fresh popcorn and a selection of festive beverages — kid-friendly options and adult-approved treats will be available for purchase. About the Film: This beloved adaptation brings Dr. Seuss’ timeless tale to life, following the Grinch as he schemes to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville — only to discover the true meaning of the holiday spirit. With heartwarming moments and plenty of laughs, it’s a seasonal favorite for all ages. Get tickets!

Cosmic Countdown - A Family New Years Eve Celebration!

Dec. 31 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Join us for an out-of-this-world Cosmic Countdown! This event is perfect for young explorers who want to ring in the New Year without staying up until midnight. Come see objects from outer space, blast off in mini rockets and create your own space jewelry, among many more space-themed activities. As we count down to our celestial celebration, enjoy live demonstrations that are truly out of this world! Be sure to join us at your ticket time for our big New Year countdown and we invite you to come early and stay after to explore the Museum. This event does not require purchase of a General Admission ticket. Get tickets!

Giant Screen Infinity Theater Movies

The giant screen Infinity Theater has reopened! Don't go home from the Museum without catching a captivating nature and science documentary on the giant screen.

Check here for showtimes and schedule updates

Planetarium Space and Laser Shows

They’re back and more dazzling than ever! Laser shows, presented by Laser Fantasy, have returned to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and are a perfect match for your summer vibe! Catch your favorite artists in an immersive, mind-blowing light show combined into a full cosmic concert for all your senses.

Check here for showtimes and schedule updates. 

Other planetarium shows now available:

• Encounters in the Milky Way w/ narration by Pedro Pascal
• Great Solar System Adventure
• Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
• Black Holes (En Español)
• One World One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure 
• Destination Solar System 

Satisfy your science curiosity during our SCFD Free Days and Free Nights. See enormous fossils of dinosaurs that roamed the Earth millions of years ago or learn about the human body’s capabilities in “Expedition Health.” The entire Museum is open for free, except for the temporary exhibitions, planetarium and Infinity Theater which require an additional charge. Learn more about our free days, here.

• Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 at 9 a.m.