Chabot Space & Science Center | East Bay Area - Oakland CA

Forward to the Moon
2026-01-10 23:00 - 2026-01-11 00:00, 2026-01-02 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Learn about NASA’s Artemis Program, and the initiative to get Astronauts back onto the moon!

Phantom of the Universe
2026-01-10 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-03 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-02 13:00 - 14:00
Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt For Dark Matter
25 minutes
Ages 8 and up
An exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bangto its anticipated discovery at the Large Hadron Collider. The show will reveal the first hints ofits existence through the eyes of Fritz Zwicky, the scientist who coined the term “dark matter”. This show is narrated by Tilda Swinton.
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Ohlone Skies (mur taaraxtak)
2026-01-10 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-30 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-29 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-28 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-27 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-26 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-23 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-22 15:00 - 16:00 and 2 more dates
(40 Min) Developed in partnership and solidarity with Cafe Ohlone, mur taaraxtak, or Ohlone Skies, weaves science and storytelling into a rich tapestry of Indigenous Ohlone knowledge, heritage, and history deeply rooted right here in the Oakland hills.

Maya Archeoastronomy
2026-01-10 13:00 - 14:00
20 minutes
Ages 8 and up
In a feast of colors and sounds, Maya Archaeoastronomy: Observers of the Universe makes a tour of six Mayan temples: San Gervasio, Chichen Itzá, Uxmal, Edzná, Palenque and Bonampak where the spectator dives into a Mayan world of knowledge about the importance of the orientations of its temples in relation to the movement of some stars like the Sun, the Moon and Venus.

Universal
2026-01-10 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-31 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-12-19 16:00 - 17:00
Universal
12 minutes
All ages
Fly through the heart of an ancient cluster of stars, and take a swing around the luminous remains of a dying star. Cruise by alien planets that orbit a nearby star, surf past the brilliant rings of Saturn, and more. ‘Universal’ is a quick un-narrated voyage through the universe that carries the viewer from the vast realm of intergalactic space to several stellar wonders of the Milky Way Galaxy through an intriguing and nearby extraterrestrial planetary system, and onward to home, to Earth. This show’s dialogue is all textual and is preferred for those hard of hearing.
Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

From Earth to the Universe
2026-01-09 15:00 - 16:00
32 minutes
Ages 8 and up The night sky, both beautiful and mysterious, has been the subject of campfire stories, ancient myths and awe for as long as there have been people. A desire to comprehend the Universe may well be humanity’s oldest shared intellectual experience. Yet only recently have we truly begun to grasp our place in the vast cosmos. To learn about this journey of celestial discovery, from the theories of the ancient Greek astronomers to today’s grandest telescopes, we invite you to experience from Earth to the Universe.

c360: Cosmic Dance
2026-01-09 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-03 11:00 - 12:00
35 minutes
Ages 8 and up
Got restless feet? You’re in good company: the Sun, Moon, planets and stars also have those ants in their pants and can’t keep their feet moving to the beat of their ageless cosmic dance. Two-step, tango, break dance, and dosey-doe your way across the solar system in this live immersive show! We’ll cover a few basics of the dance of the planets, whose motions across the sky puzzled and bewildered Earthly onlookers for millennia.
Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

Worlds of Curiosity
2026-01-09 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-31 15:30 - 16:30
(15 min) Worlds of Curiosity dives into the questions of “What it would be like to live on an Earth with no Moon?” or “What if the Earth was tilted on its side, like the planet Uranus?”

Big Astronomy
2026-01-09 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-02 11:00 - 12:00
26 minutes
Ages 8 and up
Big Astronomy explores three observatories located in Chile, at extreme and remote places. It gives examples of the multitude of STEM careers needed to keep the great observatories working. The show is narrated by Barbara Rojas-Ayala, a Chilean astronomer.
California Academy of Sciences

ElectroLaze: Pink Floyd: The dark side of the Moon
2026-01-04 15:45 - 16:45
Hear the beats of your favorite classic rock and pop songs and watch the rhythms dance in laser light. Be surrounded by 360 degrees of music and science fusion

C360: When Things Collide
2026-01-04 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-03 13:00 - 14:00
C360: When Things Collide
31 minutes
Ages 8 and up
Movies, mythology, and popular culture paint many pictures of the ways that our world might end. How does science shed light on world-ending planetary disruptions past and future? We’ll fly to celestial sites of devastation and disaster, exploring how these events shape our Universe, and could even threaten life on Earth.

Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

c360: Year of the dwarf planet
2026-01-04 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-03 15:00 - 16:00
35 minutes
Ages 8 and up
Everyone’s favorite underdog among the planets, Pluto has been an icon of dark mystery and murky expectation…until now. In July 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft made a historic encounter with the dwarf planet, giving us our first close look at its face and its entourage of moons. Come and join us as we witness this epic journey of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft.
Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
2026-01-04 13:00 - 14:00
(30 min) 5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI is a full dome film about the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) which is creating the most detailed map of our nearby universe using a unique instrument which can measure the spectra of many galaxies at once. Experience the largest structures in the universe as never seen before by flying through a portion of DESI’s initial data. Dive into modern cosmology, plus the scientific background and motivation for building a Fiske Planetarium large map of galaxies. And, take a trip to Kitt Peak to see footage of the telescope in action while getting to know the amazing people from all over the world making this research possible

Aurora Storm
2026-01-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-31 14:30 - 15:30, 2025-12-30 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-29 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-28 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-27 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-26 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-23 13:00 - 14:00 and 1 more date
Aurora Storm
11 minutes
Ages 8 and up
Aurora Storm explores the captivating northern lights and how different cultures and explorers have experienced them. Produced by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and the University of Alaska Museum of the North. The show teaches about the causes of the aurorae and how humans who live beneath their shimmering light are inspired by what they see. Quotes from the written journals of past Arctic explorers and indigenous people share stories of how they regarded the aurorae.

Zodiac Tours
2026-01-04 11:00 - 12:00
38 minutes
All ages
Come on a tour of the Zodiac, the group of ancient constellations visited by the Sun and planets as they wander along their roadway in the sky. Be dazzled by fabulous facts and fantastic fables of these notable star patterns, and discover what hidden celestial treasures they hold.

Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

Family Astronomy: Discovering the Whole New Worlds of Exoplanets
2026-01-03 18:00 - 20:00
Family Astronomy: Discovering the Whole New Worlds of Exoplanets
$15 Youth, $25 Adults
Members get $5 off per ticket
Buy Tickets

Chabot Space & Science Center’s Family Astronomy Series invites families with children ages 6–12 to explore the wonders of the universe together! Each evening program features an engaging presentation in Chabot’s Planetarium followed by hands-on activities and opportunities to make discoveries together. Each event includes complimentary hot cocoa and snacks.

Celebrate the holiday season with a fun and engaging family astronomy workshop designed for curious minds! Dive into the wonders of exoplanets – distant, mysterious worlds beyond our solar system. Learn how scientists detect planets orbiting other stars and imagine what life might be like on these faraway worlds. Through interactive activities, kids and adults alike will imagine what it might be like to stand on one of these strange new worlds. This engaging experience is perfect for curious families and budding space explorers.

The evening wraps up with public telescope viewing, including special access to Chabot’s historic telescopes, led by our Galaxy Explorers. Warm up with hot chocolate and snacks during this cosmic adventure.

More Information
Please note: program admission does not include after-hours museum access. Be sure to wear layers for the Observatory’s cool nighttime conditions.

Lunaverse
2026-01-03 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-31 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-12-30 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-29 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-28 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-26 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-23 11:00 - 12:00 and 2 more dates
16 minutes
All ages
“Lunaverse” explores the nature of Earth’s moon: its motion and phases, lunar and solar eclipses, tides, and the Moon’s origin. The story unfolds as a conversation between a curious young child and the Moon—Luna—over the course of a night, from moonrise to moonset.
Chabot Space & Science Center in-house production

Sunstruck
2026-01-02 15:00 - 16:00
Sunstruck
21 minutes
All ages
Explore the sun in all its glory in this fulldome show. Sunstruck takes us on a journey to discover the wonders of our magnificent sun and investigate how our star has supported life on Earth for millennia. This program includes information on the structure of our sun, the source of its energy, and how solar activity impacts our world.
Michigan Science Center

Scouting Stars: Winter
2025-12-31 12:30 - 13:30, 2025-12-30 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-29 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-28 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-27 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-26 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-23 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-22 14:00 - 15:00 and 2 more dates
Brief tour of the night sky.
15 min, all ages.

World's Beyond Earth
2025-12-31 11:30 - 12:30
25 minutes
Ages 6 and up
What have 50 years of space exploration taught us about the planets and moons closest to us? With each probe and spacecraft launched into the unknown, scientists discover more about the surprisingly dynamic, active, and varied nature of the worlds that share our solar system, and gain a deeper understanding of the unique conditions that make life on our home planet possible.
Based on authentic scientific data from groundbreaking space missions, Worlds Beyond Earth takes viewers on an exhilarating adventure through our cosmic neighborhood. Immersive visualizations showcase the solar system with unprecedented accuracy, including a landing on the cratered surface of our own Moon, a dramatic flight through the swirling rings of Saturn, and soaring encounters with distant worlds of active volcanoes and buried oceans. This film is narrated by Lupita Nyong’o.

25th Anniversary Balloon Drop
2025-12-31 10:00 - 17:00
$10 Kids
11AM
12PM
2PM – Members Only
3PM
4PM
Ring in the New Year without staying up all night! Celebrate strokes of midnight around the world at 11am, 12pm, 3pm and 4pm! Kids will count down and celebrate with hundreds of colorful balloons dropping from above.
After the drops, each kid can take home a prize at one of our prize stations!

Ticket price does not include admission to the Center. General Admission tickets can be purchased here.

ElectroLaze: Holiday
2025-12-30 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-29 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-28 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-28 15:45 - 16:30, 2025-12-27 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-26 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-23 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-22 16:00 - 17:00 and 2 more dates
These bright lights and infectious beats give new meaning to the old holiday light shows on the lawn!

SPACETIME
2025-12-30 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-23 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-22 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-21 15:00 - 16:00 and 1 more date
12 minutes, all ages.
Telescopes built to detect electromagnetic waves, like visible light, infrared, radio waves, and other forms, give us the ability to see objects and events at great distances in the universe, and far back in time. Today, a new type of instrument, the “gravity wave telescope”, is giving us the power to “hear” cosmic events beyond the sight of ordinary telescopes. Gravity waves are ripples in spacetime created by events like collisions between black holes, and powerful processes that took place in the earliest times of our universe.
The Dutch Black Hole Consortium is currently building an enormous underground gravity wave detector, called the Einstein Telescope. When completed, this instrument will provide unprecedented insight into the nature of the universe and its origin, allowing scientists to probe cosmic secrets that light waves cannot illuminate.

Winter at Chabot
2025-12-30 10:00 - 17:00
Step Into a Season of Science and Wonder
Buy Tickets

Pack your mission gear and prepare for liftoff! Your winter adventure begins at the Chabot Space Station, where frozen frontiers await! Step through the portal and prepare to journey across some of the coldest, most captivating worlds in the cosmos: the ocean-covered moon Europa, the dazzling ice plains of Pluto, and a mysterious icy exoplanet orbiting a distant star.
Ongoing Experiences
10:00AM–5:00PM
Icy World Mission Log (Grab your Mission Log at the Front Desk and complete various activities around the Center!)

10:00AM–5:00PM | Cafe
Paper Gingerbread Craft

10:00AM–5:00PM | Classrooms 3 and 4
Sock Skate Open

10:00AM–4:00PM | Lab 2
Space Crafts

10:00AM–4:00PM | Studio 3 and Mezzanine
Icy Planet Hands on Activities

Timed Activities
10:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM | Theater
Icy World Mission Briefing

11:00AM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Lunaverse

12:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Spacetime (New!!)

12:30PM | Amphitheater
Bubble Snow Fall

1:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Aurora Storm

2:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Scouting the Stars – Winter Skies

2:30PM | Lab 1
Gingerbread Rover Workshop (separate ticket, $10 per person, advanced registration required). Each ticket includes one rover kit. A maximum of two people may work on each rover. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

2:30PM
Tickets for workshops are sold separately from General Admission. Purchase your workshop tickets in advance and reserve your spot early. Space is limited and sessions will fill quickly!

3:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Ohlone Skies

4:00PM | Theater
Holiday Laser Show

Give the gift of curiosity and adventure
A Chabot Membership opens a universe of learning and play all year long. Members enjoy 25% off the Gift Shop and Café throughout the month of December, so there’s never been a better time to expand your universe at Chabot!
Become a Member

Winter at Chabot
2025-12-29 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-27 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-26 10:00 - 17:00
Step Into a Season of Science and Wonder
Buy Tickets

Pack your mission gear and prepare for liftoff! Your winter adventure begins at the Chabot Space Station, where frozen frontiers await! Step through the portal and prepare to journey across some of the coldest, most captivating worlds in the cosmos: the ocean-covered moon Europa, the dazzling ice plains of Pluto, and a mysterious icy exoplanet orbiting a distant star.

Ongoing Experiences
10:00AM–5:00PM
Icy World Mission Log (Grab your Mission Log at the Front Desk and complete various activities around the Center!)

10:00AM–5:00PM | Cafe
Paper Gingerbread Craft

10:00AM–5:00PM | Classrooms 3 and 4
Sock Skate Open

10:00AM–4:00PM | Lab 2
Space Crafts

10:00AM–4:00PM | Studio 3 and Mezzanine
Icy Planet Hands on Activities

Timed Activities
10:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM | Theater
Icy World Mission Briefing

11:00AM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Lunaverse

11:30AM, 2:30PM | Lab 1
Gingerbread Rover Workshop (separate ticket, $10 per person, advanced registration required). Each ticket includes one rover kit. A maximum of two people may work on each rover. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

11:30AM
2:30PM
Tickets for workshops are sold separately from General Admission. Purchase your workshop tickets in advance and reserve your spot early. Space is limited and sessions will fill quickly!

12:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Spacetime (New!!)

12:30PM | Amphitheater
Bubble Snow Fall

1:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Aurora Storm

2:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Scouting the Stars – Winter Skies

3:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Ohlone Skies

4:00PM | Theater
Holiday Laser Show

Give the gift of curiosity and adventure
A Chabot Membership opens a universe of learning and play all year long. Members enjoy 25% off the Gift Shop and Café throughout the month of December, so there’s never been a better time to expand your universe at Chabot!
Become a Member

Winter at Chabot
2025-12-28 10:00 - 17:00
Step Into a Season of Science and Wonder
Tickets Coming Soon

Pack your mission gear and prepare for liftoff! Your winter adventure begins at the Chabot Space Station, where frozen frontiers await! Step through the portal and prepare to journey across some of the coldest, most captivating worlds in the cosmos: the ocean-covered moon Europa, the dazzling ice plains of Pluto, and a mysterious icy exoplanet orbiting a distant star.

Ongoing Experiences
10:00AM–5:00PM
Icy World Mission Log (Grab your Mission Log at the Front Desk and complete various activities around the Center!)

10:00AM–5:00PM | Cafe
Paper Gingerbread Craft

10:00AM–5:00PM | Classrooms 3 and 4
Sock Skate Open

10:00AM–4:00PM | Lab 2
Space Crafts

10:00AM–4:00PM | Studio 3 and Mezzanine
Icy Planet Hands on Activities

Timed Activities
10:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM | Theater
Icy World Mission Briefing

11:00AM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Lunaverse

11:30AM, 2:30PM | Lab 1
Gingerbread Rover Workshop (separate ticket, $10 per person, advanced registration required). Each ticket includes one rover kit. A maximum of two people may work on each rover. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

11:30AM
2:30PM
Tickets for workshops are sold separately from General Admission. Purchase your workshop tickets in advance and reserve your spot early. Space is limited and sessions will fill quickly!

12:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Spacetime (New!!)

12:30PM | Amphitheater
Bubble Snow Fall

1:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Aurora Storm

2:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Scouting the Stars – Winter Skies

3:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Ohlone Skies

4:00PM | Theater
Holiday Laser Show

Give the gift of curiosity and adventure
A Chabot Membership opens a universe of learning and play all year long. Members enjoy 25% off the Gift Shop and Café throughout the month of December, so there’s never been a better time to expand your universe at Chabot!
Become a Member

Winter at Chabot
2025-12-23 10:00 - 17:00
Step Into a Season of Science and Wonder
Buy Tickets

Pack your mission gear and prepare for liftoff! Your winter adventure begins at the Chabot Space Station, where frozen frontiers await! Step through the portal and prepare to journey across some of the coldest, most captivating worlds in the cosmos: the ocean-covered moon Europa, the dazzling ice plains of Pluto, and a mysterious icy exoplanet orbiting a distant star.
Ongoing Experiences
10:00AM–5:00PM
Icy World Mission Log (Grab your Mission Log at the Front Desk and complete various activities around the Center!)

10:00AM–5:00PM | Cafe
Paper Gingerbread Craft

10:00AM–5:00PM | Classrooms 3 and 4
Sock Skate Open

10:00AM–4:00PM | Lab 2
Space Crafts

10:00AM–4:00PM | Studio 3 and Mezzanine
Icy Planet Hands on Activities

Timed Activities
10:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM | Theater
Icy World Mission Briefing

11:00AM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Lunaverse

11:30AM, 2:30PM | Lab 1
Gingerbread Rover Workshop (separate ticket, $10 per person, advanced registration required). Each ticket includes one rover kit. A maximum of two people may work on each rover. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
11:30AM2:30PM
Tickets for workshops are sold separately from General Admission. Purchase your workshop tickets in advance and reserve your spot early. Space is limited and sessions will fill quickly!

12:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Spacetime (New!!)

12:30PM | Amphitheater
Bubble Snow Fall

1:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Aurora Storm

2:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Scouting the Stars – Winter Skies

3:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Ohlone Skies

4:00PM | Theater
Holiday Laser Show

Give the gift of curiosity and adventure
A Chabot Membership opens a universe of learning and play all year long. Members enjoy 25% off the Gift Shop and Café throughout the month of December, so there’s never been a better time to expand your universe at Chabot!
Become a Member

Give the gift of curiosity and adventure
A Chabot Membership opens a universe of learning and play all year long. Members enjoy 25% off the Gift Shop and Café throughout the month of December, so there’s never been a better time to expand your universe at Chabot!
Become a Member

Winter at Chabot
2025-12-22 10:00 - 17:00
Step Into a Season of Science and Wonder
Buy Tickets

Pack your mission gear and prepare for liftoff! Your winter adventure begins at the Chabot Space Station, where frozen frontiers await! Step through the portal and prepare to journey across some of the coldest, most captivating worlds in the cosmos: the ocean-covered moon Europa, the dazzling ice plains of Pluto, and a mysterious icy exoplanet orbiting a distant star.

Ongoing Experiences
10:00AM–5:00PM
Icy World Mission Log (Grab your Mission Log at the Front Desk and complete various activities around the Center!)

10:00AM–5:00PM | Cafe
Paper Gingerbread Craft

10:00AM–5:00PM | Classrooms 3 and 4
Sock Skate Open

10:00AM–4:00PM | Lab 2
Space Crafts

10:00AM–4:00PM | Studio 3 and Mezzanine
Icy Planet Hands on Activities

Timed Activities
10:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM | Theater
Icy World Mission Briefing

11:00AM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Lunaverse

12:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Spacetime (New!!)

12:30PM | Amphitheater
Bubble Snow Fall

1:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Aurora Storm

2:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Scouting the Stars – Winter Skies

2:30PM | Lab 1
Gingerbread Rover Workshop (separate ticket, $10 per person, advanced registration required). Each ticket includes one rover kit. A maximum of two people may work on each rover. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Buy Tickets
Tickets for workshops are sold separately from General Admission. Purchase your workshop tickets in advance and reserve your spot early. Space is limited and sessions will fill quickly!

3:00PM | Planetarium
Planetarium Show: Ohlone Skies

4:00PM | Theater
Holiday Laser Show

Give the gift of curiosity and adventure
A Chabot Membership opens a universe of learning and play all year long. Members enjoy 25% off the Gift Shop and Café throughout the month of December, so there’s never been a better time to expand your universe at Chabot!
Become a Member

Live Zeiss Show: The Winter Solstice
2025-12-21 13:30 - 14:30
A special show for our annual Winterfest!

WinterFest - Day 2
2025-12-21 10:00 - 17:00
$24 Adults, $19 Children (2-12) and Seniors (65+)
Members get in FREE
Buy Tickets

Pack your mission gear and prepare for liftoff! Your winter adventure begins at the Chabot Space Station, where frozen frontiers await! Step through the portal and prepare to journey across some of the coldest, most captivating worlds in the cosmos: the ocean-covered moon Europa, the dazzling ice plains of Pluto, and a mysterious icy exoplanet orbiting a distant star.

Ongoing Experiences

10AM – 5PM | NASA Ames Visitor Center
NASA Ames staff will share insights into NASA’s Artemis program, highlighting upcoming lunar missions and future robotic exploration of icy worlds such as Europa and other ocean-bearing moons, where scientists are searching for clues to habitability beyond Earth. Visitors can also take part in an interactive infrared camera demonstration, revealing how scientists “see” heat and use infrared technology to study Earth, the Moon, and distant worlds across our solar system.

10AM – 4PM | Mezzanine
Boo Bubbles uses dry-ice fog to create ghostly bubbles that mimic the extreme cold and thin atmospheres of frozen moons like Europa and Enceladus, inviting visitors to imagine icy, hidden-ocean worlds.

10AM – 4PM | Mezzanine
Planetary Cyro Chemistry with the pH of Dry Ice Demo – The pH of Dry Ice demo turns sublimating CO₂ into a color-changing wonder, revealing how carbonic acid forms and transforming liquids into vibrant hues reminiscent of dynamic chemistry on icy worlds.

10AM – 4PM | Studio 3
Icy Orbs invites visitors to examine mysterious frozen spheres and imagine their origins, sparking creative stories about distant exoplanets where extreme cold, shifting surfaces, and unusual chemistry shape alien worlds.

11AM – 2PM | Upper Rotunda
Pacific Face Painting – Ready for some extra sparkle? Stop by our face-painting area and let Pacific Face Painters transform your favorite characters, creatures, and colors into wearable art for all ages.

12– 5PM | Observation Deck
SMAX – A pop-up and test kitchen that focuses on creatively assembled sandwiches and treats served by Paris and Joog, two friends from San Francisco and Vallejo.

3 – 5PM | Studio 3
SIPREME Hot Chocolate – Stop by SIPREME Chocolate of Alameda for a steaming cup of out-of-this-world hot chocolate, right outside of Chabot’s historic telescopes! The perfect beverage for chilly nights staring up at the heavens! This is no ordinary hot chocolate — it’s made with shaved chocolate bar, giving it added richness and depth. Four fabulous flavors will be available in either 2% or oat milk. For more information about SIPREME, visit www.sipremechocolate.com.

Timed Activities

10:30AM – 10:50AM, 11:30AM – 11:50AM, 2PM – 2:20PM | Theater
Icy Worlds Mission Briefing – Join our educators in the theater for an orientation on icy worlds throughout the solar system and beyond. Take this knowledge along as you embark on the rest of Winter Fest to find icy experiments, winter crafts, and so much more!

12:30 PM-1:15 PM | Theater
Extraterrestrial McFlurries: Icy worlds in our solar system and beyond! Join astrobiologist Julia DeMarines, for a grand tour on the coolest places in and beyond the solar system and what it means for life out there.
Julia DeMarines is an Astrobiologist working as a senior scientist on evolutionary intelligences for data security in the age of AI. She is a National Geographic Explorer and Educator. Her research involves detecting life in space through biosignatures and technosignatures, and the ethics of sending messages to contact aliens.

3:30 PM-4PM | Theater
Holiday Laser Show – Light up the night with our full-dome laser show featuring holiday classics!

1:30 PM-2:15 PM | Planetarium
Live Zeiss Show: Solstice Sky – Join us for a guided tour of the wintertime night sky. Discover this winter’s constellations and planets, and learn what “the Solstice” is all about. This is a live planetarium show presented by Eastbay Astronomical Society members John Currie and Gerald McKeegan.

12–12:30 PM, 1–1:30 PM, 3-3:30 PM | Portable Planetarium
Solar System Adventures: Frozen Worlds – Join Josh Roberts from Astro Everywhere on a live tour of the icy worlds of our solar system. See moons, ice giants and minor planets up close and personal in the Portable Planetarium!
Astro Everywhere brings the astronomy to YOU! From breaking astronomy headlines to telescopes or a planetarium at events, Astro Everywhere tries to connect Bay Area audiences with the night sky and the universe beyond it.

11:30AM – 12:30PM, 2:30PM – 3:30PM | Lab 2
Add-On Workshop: Gingerbread Rovers – Put your engineering skills (and your sweet tooth) to the test in our Edible Mars Rover Lab! Learn about the real rovers exploring Mars, then design and build your own gingerbread decorated version using graham crackers, frosting, and other delicious materials. It’s a fun, creative workshop that combines science, engineering, and holiday cheer all in one tasty mission. Each ticket includes one rover kit. A maximum of two people may work on each rover. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
11:30AM
2:30PM

10:45AM – 11AM, 12:45PM – 1PM, 2:45PM – 3PM, 3:45PM – 4PM | Amphitheater
Snow Fall – Head to the Amphitheater to catch some snowflakes as we transform Chabot into an icy winter wonderland!

2PM – 4PM | Studio 2
Miraculous Weekend – Live music in AstroLight!
Miraculous Weekend is a 5-piece modern Americana and Bluegrass string band (Drew Thomas on upright bass, Jordan Klein on banjo, Zac Mathews on mandolin, and Mike Sinclaire and Alex Spector on guitars). Based in Oakland and Marin, tight vocal harmonies and an at time frenetic energy are hallmarks of this group of friends.

NEW Planetarium Show!
SPACETIME
Telescopes built to detect electromagnetic waves, like visible light, infrared, radio waves, and other forms, give us the ability to see objects and events at great distances in the universe, and far back in time. Today, a new type of instrument, the “gravity wave telescope”, is giving us the power to “hear” cosmic events beyond the sight of ordinary telescopes. Gravity waves are ripples in spacetime created by events like collisions between black holes, and powerful processes that took place in the earliest times of our universe.
The Dutch Black Hole Consortium is currently building an enormous underground gravity wave detector, called the Einstein Telescope. When completed, this instrument will provide unprecedented insight into the nature of the universe and its origin, allowing scientists to probe cosmic secrets that light waves cannot illuminate.

Generously sponsored by

Family Astronomy: Winter Solstice - The Longest Night
2025-12-20 18:00 - 20:00
Family Astronomy: Winter Solstice – The Longest Night
$15 Youth, $25 Adults
Members get $5 off per ticket
Buy Tickets

Chabot Space & Science Center’s Family Astronomy Series invites families with children ages 6–12 to explore the wonders of the universe together! Each evening program features an engaging presentation in Chabot’s Planetarium followed by hands-on activities and opportunities to make discoveries together. Each event includes complimentary hot cocoa and snacks.

Explore the fascinating history, diverse cultural customs, and ancient rituals associated with the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Participants will learn about

The science behind solstices
The many ways cultures across the globe have celebrated this celestial moment through storytelling, candlelight, and creative traditions

From bonfires to creating handmade decorations and sharing stories, discover how people throughout time have found warmth and wonder in the darkest night.

Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies as you celebrate this special evening together. Afterward, head up to the Observatory for telescope viewing (weather permitting) to mark the return of longer days ahead.

More Information
Please note: program admission does not include after-hours museum access. Be sure to wear layers for the Observatory’s cool nighttime conditions.

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir
2025-12-20 13:30 - 14:30
A special performance for our annual Winterfest!

D.C. Dance Company Performance
2025-12-20 12:30 - 13:00

WinterFest - Day 1
2025-12-20 10:00 - 17:00
$24 Adults, $19 Children (2-12) and Seniors (65+)
Members get in FREE
Buy Tickets

Pack your mission gear and prepare for liftoff! Your winter adventure begins at the Chabot Space Station, where frozen frontiers await! Step through the portal and prepare to journey across some of the coldest, most captivating worlds in the cosmos: the ocean-covered moon Europa, the dazzling ice plains of Pluto, and a mysterious icy exoplanet orbiting a distant star.

Ongoing Experiences

10AM – 5PM | NASA Ames Visitor Center
NASA Ames staff will share insights into NASA’s Artemis program, highlighting upcoming lunar missions and future robotic exploration of icy worlds such as Europa and other ocean-bearing moons, where scientists are searching for clues to habitability beyond Earth. Visitors can also take part in an interactive infrared camera demonstration, revealing how scientists “see” heat and use infrared technology to study Earth, the Moon, and distant worlds across our solar system.

10AM – 5PM | Rotunda
Berkeley Public Library – Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with Berkeley Public Library! Get a library card! Discover library programs and materials, make astral-themed buttons and paper crafts, and take home free BPL giveaways!

10AM – 4PM | Mezzanine
Boo Bubbles uses dry-ice fog to create ghostly bubbles that mimic the extreme cold and thin atmospheres of frozen moons like Europa and Enceladus, inviting visitors to imagine icy, hidden-ocean worlds.

10AM – 4PM | Mezzanine
Planetary Cyro Chemistry with the pH of Dry Ice Demo – The pH of Dry Ice demo turns sublimating CO₂ into a color-changing wonder, revealing how carbonic acid forms and transforming liquids into vibrant hues reminiscent of dynamic chemistry on icy worlds.

10AM – 4PM | Studio 3
Icy Orbs invites visitors to examine mysterious frozen spheres and imagine their origins, sparking creative stories about distant exoplanets where extreme cold, shifting surfaces, and unusual chemistry shape alien worlds.

11AM – 2PM | Upper Rotunda
Pacific Face Painting – Ready for some extra sparkle? Stop by our face-painting area and let Pacific Face Painters transform your favorite characters, creatures, and colors into wearable art for all ages.

12-5PM | Observation Deck
SMAX – A pop-up and test kitchen that focuses on creatively assembled sandwiches and treats served by Paris and Joog, two friends from San Francisco and Vallejo.

Timed Activities

11:30 AM-12:15 PM | Touch the Sun
Storytime & Author Meet & Greet: Galaxy Mapper – Galaxy Mapper book read-aloud with local author Allie Summers; behind the scenes intro into making pictures books, and interactive cosmography and astrophysics craft activities. Great for kids ages 4-11 years, but all are welcome.

10:30AM – 10:50AM, 11:30AM – 11:50AM, 1PM – 1:20PM, 2PM – 2:20PM | Theater
Icy Worlds Mission Briefing – Join our educators in the theater for an orientation on icy worlds throughout the solar system and beyond. Take this knowledge along as you embark on the rest of Winter Fest to find icy experiments, winter crafts, and so much more!

3:30PM-4PM | Theater
Holiday Laser Show – Light up the night with our full dome laser show featuring holiday classics!

12:30-1PM | Planetarium
DC Dance Center’s Holiday Shine Showcase – Celebrate the season with dazzling performances by San Leandro’s DC Dance Center. Ballet, tap, and jazz come to life in this festive showcase full of charm, energy and winter magic.

1:30 PM-2:15 PM | Planetarium
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir – Join us for a heartwarming celebration of the season as the Oakland Youth Chorus, Miracles, and Middle School ensembles fill the air with festive melodies and timeless classics. With rich harmonies and a joyful spirit, this exceptional performance is sure to spark holiday cheer for audiences of all ages. Come share in the music and magic of the season.

12–12:30PM, 1–1:30PM, 3-3:30PM | Portable Planetarium
Solar System Adventures: Frozen Worlds – Join Josh Roberts from Astro Everywhere on a live tour of the icy worlds of our solar system. See moons, ice giants and minor planets up close and personal in the Portable Planetarium!
Astro Everywhere brings the astronomy to YOU! From breaking astronomy headlines to telescopes or a planetarium at events, Astro Everywhere tries to connect Bay Area audiences with the night sky and the universe beyond it.

11:30AM – 12:30PM, 2:30PM – 3:30PM | Lab 2
Add-On Workshop: Gingerbread Rovers – Put your engineering skills (and your sweet tooth) to the test in our Edible Mars Rover Lab! Learn about the real rovers exploring Mars, then design and build your own gingerbread decorated version using graham crackers, frosting, and other delicious materials. It’s a fun, creative workshop that combines science, engineering, and holiday cheer all in one tasty mission. Each ticket includes one rover kit. A maximum of two people may work on each rover. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
11:30AM
2:30PM

10:45AM – 11AM, 12:45PM – 1PM, 2:45PM – 3PM, 3:45PM – 4PM | Amphitheater
Snow Fall – Head to the Amphitheater to catch some snowflakes as we transform Chabot into an icy winter wonderland!

NEW Planetarium Show!
SPACETIME
Telescopes built to detect electromagnetic waves, like visible light, infrared, radio waves, and other forms, give us the ability to see objects and events at great distances in the universe, and far back in time. Today, a new type of instrument, the “gravity wave telescope”, is giving us the power to “hear” cosmic events beyond the sight of ordinary telescopes. Gravity waves are ripples in spacetime created by events like collisions between black holes, and powerful processes that took place in the earliest times of our universe.
The Dutch Black Hole Consortium is currently building an enormous underground gravity wave detector, called the Einstein Telescope. When completed, this instrument will provide unprecedented insight into the nature of the universe and its origin, allowing scientists to probe cosmic secrets that light waves cannot illuminate.

Generously sponsored by
