Winter at Chabot

Winter at Chabot
December 20–23 & December 26–31 | 10 AM – 5 PM
We’re extending our hours for the holiday season, so you’ll have even more time for Winter fun at Chabot!

Kick off the Winter season at Chabot with WinterFest
FREE for Members, $24 Adults, $19 Children (2-12) and Seniors (65+)
Join us for a two-day celebration that marks the launch of Winter at Chabot! The Center comes alive with festive energy. Enjoy live music, face painting, and special activities that blend holiday cheer with cosmic exploration. Meet Chabot’s science and astronomy experts as they share real research about icy worlds, planetary missions, and the search for life beyond Earth. From sparkling décor to hands-on discovery, WinterFest is the perfect start to a season filled with imagination, science, and family fun.
WinterFest - Day One
December 20th | 10AM-5PM
Featuring DC Dance Center’s Holiday Shine Showcase, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, SMAX and more!
Buy TicketsWinterFest - Day Two
December 21st | 10AM-5PM
Featuring SMAX, Astro Everywhere, daily workshops and more!
Buy Tickets
Step Into a Season of Science and Wonder
After WinterFest ends, 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.
Europa
Touch down first on Europa, the glacial moon of Jupiter, where a vast ocean hides beneath layers of shimmering ice. Conduct experiments, discover bubbling “geysers,” and imagine what mysterious life might dwell beneath its frozen seas.
Pluto
Next, make your way to Pluto, where soft, sparkling ice plains stretch beneath a twilight sky. Here, you can skate across the surface of Pluto itself on our beloved Sock Skate experience! No skates or cold required, just your coziest socks as you glide across a floor that feels like interstellar ice.
Mystery Exoplanet
Finally, venture into deep space to a mysterious icy exoplanet, orbiting a distant star. Gaze at alien frost patterns and glowing crystals as you uncover the science behind worlds we’ve only just begun to imagine.
Throughout your voyage, enjoy hands-on science demos, creative workshops, and snowfall moments that fill the air with wonder. Sip hot cocoa, craft your own gingerbread rover, and celebrate the magic that is Winter at Chabot!
NEW Winter Workshops
Offered December 20-23 and 26–30 | 11:30 AM & 2:30 PM
This is an add-on experience. Separate ticket required. Advanced registration is recommended – these workshops will sell out!
Enhance your Winter at Chabot adventure with our special, hands-on Winter Workshops, offered daily during the holiday season. Each workshop is a unique blend of science, creativity, and festive fun designed for families and curious minds alike.

Comet Making
Get ready for an out-of-this-world experience all about comets. The icy travelers of our solar system! Discover what makes these cosmic wanderers glow, learn about their mysterious origins, and explore their role in shaping space as we know it. Then roll up your sleeves to create your very own comet using dry ice and other cool materials in this frosty, hands-on lab!
Tickets Coming Soon
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.
Tickets Coming SoonTickets 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!
Become a Chabot Member
Your Year-Round Passport to Discovery
Black Friday Special
25% off all Memberships!
November 28
Get 25% off all Memberships, including Gift of Memberships, for one day only! Members also enjoy 25% off all Gift Shop and Café purchases throughout December.
Become a MemberWinterFest Member Perks
December 20th & 21st
Join during WinterFest weekend to receive 30% off at the Gift Shop and Café PLUS a complimentary winter drink! (Hot cocoa recommended for chilly space explorers.) Members will also enjoy exclusive access to special programs like Gingerbread Rover Building and more!
Become a MemberGive 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!


