The Exploratorium’s Annual Noon “Buoy Pull” & Bay Day Festival (2024)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

The Exploratorium is thrilled to announce its Bay Day celebration, taking place on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event highlights the wonders of the San Francisco Bay, offering guests the chance to get hands-on with the unique and vibrant local ecosystem. The cornerstone of Bay Day is the highly anticipated, annual Buoy Pull event, scheduled for noon in the outdoor exhibit area of Gallery 5.

Is the Buoy Pull (Noon) Free to Watch?
Yes! The Buoy Pull scheduled for Noon is free and open to the public. From the Embarcadero you’ll likely be able to catch some view of the crane hoisting the buoy out of the water.

What’s not free?
While the Buoy Pull at noon is outside and free to watch, admission to the Exploratorium and the vast majority of the all the hands-on engagement and action for “Bay Day” will be in the Gallery 5 outdoor area which is only accessible with paid admission.  Adult tickets are $39.95; youths, teachers, students and seniors are $29.95 and we always provide free and reduced admission to those who qualify through our Exploratorium for All program.

On loan from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the CO2 buoy has been anchored between Piers 15 and 17 since April 2013, collecting data on water temperature, salinity, and CO2 levels in the atmosphere and the Bay. Every year, a crane hoists the buoy from the water to calibrate and replace the sensors and to clean off corrosion and marine organisms. This provides a unique opportunity for guests to get up close and personal with the animals and plants that call the San Francisco Bay home.

This year’s Bay Day promises an afternoon full of exploration, education, and environmental stewardship. Scientists and educators will be on hand to identify and catalog the marine organisms, both native and invasive, and to guide family-friendly activities such as drawing and identifying specimens, and examining them with microscopes and hand lenses.

This unforgettable day of exploration and special programming is free with museum admission—and it’s always free for Daytime members and donors. Daytime admission tickets can be purchased here.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.