Birmingham’s best spooky science experiments for kids + adults who love a good party trick

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Halloween is creeping up, which means it’s time to grab your most epic costume and party tricks that will leave everyone screaming (with delight!). Whether you’re a kid hunting for hands-on thrills, or an adult eager to stir up some magic, you can unleash your inner mad scientist at McWane Science Center’s Spooky Science Days, October 29-31 in Birmingham.

Read on for a sneak peek at the creepy-cool experiments waiting for you.

Top 3 Spooky Science experiments at McWane Science Center

Experiment 1: Brain Dissection

See one of McWane Science Center’s spookiest experiments—a brain dissection. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

• Materials: Adult sheep brain and dissection tools
• Brain power: Peek inside a real sheep brain and discover how its structure controls movement, senses and behavior—brains have never looked this fascinating (or spooky)!
• Fascinating facts: Sheep brains show the same key parts as humans, giving you a hands-on way to learn how brains control everything we do.

Catch it in action at McWane on Thursday, October 30 at 1PM.

Experiment 2: Spider Web—Design Challenge

• Materials: Popsicle stick frame + string (provided by McWane)
• What you’ll do: Use the popsicle stick frame and string to design and build your own spider web—and test if it’s strong enough to catch a fake bug.
• Science behind it: Through this design challenge, you’ll learn about the types of spiders seen in Birmingham during the fall and discover how their webs and behaviors help them survive and thrive.

Catch it in action at McWane on Thursday, October 30 at 10AM.

Experiment 3: Witches Brew

Witches Brew 1: expect bubbles + changing colors

Spooky Science at McWane (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

• Materials: Distilled water, a color-changing indicator (like cabbage powder or food coloring) and milk of magnesia.
• What happens: Stirring the ingredients makes the liquid magically change colors right before your eyes.
• Science behind it: This reaction occurs because the indicator detects changes in acidity and alkalinity, demonstrating how different substances can make a liquid more acidic or basic.

Catch it in action at McWane on Friday, October 31 at 10AM.

Witches Brew 2: expect bubbles, changing colors + fizzing

This Witches’ Brew is the ultimate Halloween experiment. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

• Materials: Warm water, baking soda, vinegar and food coloring (any color)
• What happens: Pour vinegar onto a colorful mixture of baking soda and watch your cauldron come alive with fizzing bubbles! The more baking soda and vinegar you add, the bigger the eruption. Warning: things can get messy!
• Science behind it: This fizzy magic happens because an acid (vinegar) reacts with a base (baking soda), producing carbon dioxide gas that creates all those bubbles.

Catch it in action at McWane on Friday, October 31 at 10AM.

More Spooky Science at McWane Science Center

There’s more spooky science happening at McWane this October. Here’s the full lineup:

• Wednesday, October 29:
  • 10AM: Boo Bubbles—create chilly bubbles that float, wobble + burst into a cloud
  • 2PM: Ghostly Glowing Greeting—explore light + reveal the mystery

• Thursday, October 30:
  • 10AM: Spiderwebs: Design Challenge—spin, build + test your very own spiderwebs
  • 1PM: Brain Dissection—peek inside a spooky brain to see what’s lurking inside
  • 2PM: Frankenstein’s Tinker Lab—watch a ghost appear right before your eyes

• Friday, October 31:
  • 10AM: Witches Brew—mix magical ingredients to brew your very own potion
  • 2PM: Pepper’s Ghost—watch a ghost appear right before your eyes

Know before you go

• Address: 200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Hours: Wednesday-Friday 9AM-5PM | Saturday, 10AM-5PM
• Cost: Adults $19.95 | Seniors (ages 65+) $18.95 | Kids (ages 13+) $15.95
• Tickets

Become a McWane Science Center Member

Now’s the perfect time for new members to sign up and save big!

• Base Membership: $85
• Movie Lovers Membership: $160 (Includes IMAX benefits!)
• Membership Add-Ons: $5-$35

Don’t miss out—Membership Kickoff ends Friday, October 31! Learn more and sign up today.

Ready for hands-on Halloween fun? Check out Spooky Science at McWane Science Center, October 29-31.

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