Funday Event

A girl jumps off the Sunstones sculpture in the Forces That Shape the Bay exhibit
06/10/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Fun with the Sun

Kick off our series of Summer Science Fundays with a celebration of our sun and other stars. Search for sunspots, learn how dust particles come together to form planets and stars, and explore how solar eclipses work.

A child builds a structure with giant geometry materials during Science Fun Days
06/17/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Build, Engineer, and Invent!

Explore building in two and three dimensions and discover the engineering properties of sturdy structures including bridges, roller coasters, and more! We’ll provide the building materials, you supply the creativity!

Two girls testing boats made of recycled materials in our Forces That Shape the Bay exhibit
07/01/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Float Your Boat

What does a boat need to float and sail? Join us in our Forces That Shape the Bay exhibit, where we’ll be engineering our own small boats out of recycled materials. Discover what it takes to design and build a sail that works and a boat that floats.

A boy testing out different weights on a balance scale
07/08/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Fun with Physics

Investigate and experiment with the forces that govern our world, with activities from our hands-on Phenomenal Physics festival and GSK Science in the Summer™. 

Two Lawrence Hall of Science volunteers serve ice cream to a young visitor
07/15/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Ice Cream Shake-Up

On National Ice Cream Day, we celebrate the sweetest of the seven basic tastes, the one made possible by sugars. Make your own ice cream and learn about the science behind this tasty treat.

A mother and son look through a microscope
07/22/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Chemistry Funday

Join us for two activities exploring the surprising properties of light and investigating the chemical structure of matter. Compared to microscopes, these techniques can teach us different things at an even smaller scale. The first activity uses laser diffraction to study the structure of bird feathers. The second activity uses polarized light to study how materials respond to being put under stress.

A trapeze artist performs at The Lawrence during Science Fun Days
07/29/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Les Aerielles

Celebrate the human body and what it can do when put to music! Les Aerielles will return this summer with their incredible young trapeze arts performers. Performance times at 12:00 noon, 1:00, and 2:00. p.m.

Children are observing a bug during Science Fun Days
08/05/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Bug Bonanza

A visitor favorite, Bug Bonanza is a celebration of bugs! SaveNature will bring their awesome insect zoo to The Lawrence from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Learn about the lives of these fascinating creatures and even touch them…if you dare! We’ll also conduct bug hunts in the Outdoor Nature Lab, where we’ll have magnifying glasses available to explore our backyard up close.

A group of performers from Cal Taiko band drumming on stage
08/12/2023
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Science Funday: Cal Taiko Band

Experience the rhythm of traditional taiko drumming in a performance by UC Berkeley’s Taiko band. Berkeley students will play massive drums made from animal skins and ancient tree trunks. This troupe of youthful and energetic drummers will channel the heartbeat and spirit of their homeland and will talk about this cultural tradition that traces its roots back more than 1,000 years in Japan.

girl playing pinball
07/31/2022
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Funday: Get Your Game On!

Join us for a celebration of the science and math of games!

A young trapeze performer suspended in the air with a view of the San Francisco Bay in the background
07/24/2022
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Funday: Trapeze Arts

Our friends at Les Aerielles are returning once again with their incredible young trapeze arts performers.

the molecular structure of ice cream
07/17/2022
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Funday: Ice Cream Day

Learn to make your own ice cream treat…with science!

A child smiles when a ball rolls down a ramp.
07/10/2022
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Funday: Fun with Physics

From rollers to resistors, from magnets to mirrors, our tabletop demonstrations help you explore the forces of motion and energy of our universe.

A child is looking at an insect on a leaf
07/03/2022
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Funday: Bug Bonanza

Look carefully… Six legs? Eight legs? Fourteen? Let’s observe bugs up close and see what we can learn!

girl launches her boat into the Forces That Shape the Bay exhibit pond
06/26/2022
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Funday: Float Your Boat

We’re making boats out of recycled materials all day long!

A young person is observing nature in the Outdoor Nature Lab
06/19/2022
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Summer Funday: Outdoor Nature Lab Opening Day

Come celebrate with The Lawrence as we open our first expansion in over 20 years–the brand new Robert and Elizabeth Karplus Outdoor Nature Lab!

A woman and two children observing the sun using a solar viewer device
06/12/2022
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Summer Funday: Fun with the Sun

Kick off the summer with our first Sunday Funday! Join us for a celebration of our sun and other stars.