Collectible NightLife: Artifacts, DJ Battle & Rare Gems | California Academy of Sciences

Submitted by the Event Organizer

“NightLife” at California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences has resumed their evening event series, Nightlife for 2021 starting Thursday, May 13, 2021.

From basking in the glow of one of the largest living coral reef displays in the world to taking in the interstellar views from the Living Roof, guests can explore the nocturnal side of the Academy and see what makes the museum at night different. With live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and nearly 40,000 live animals (including familiar faces like Claude), the night is sure to be wild.

Special discounted evening admission: Daytime tickets to the California Academy of Sciences typically range between $28 and $42. Tickets to NightLife tupically start at $13-$15, but in the past have gone up as high as $25.

All guests can reserve tickets online for a specific entry timeslot. 

NightLife
Select Thursdays | 6-10p (timed entry)
California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park, SF
Tickets: Prices typically start between $13-$15, but are dynamic and vary by date and entry time
21+

• Please note that the last entry into the rainforest exhibit is 7:30 pm—our animals need their sleep
• Reservations required for Morrison Planetarium – To reserve a showtime for the planetarium, scan the QR code posted in the lobby with your phone as soon as you arrive

Visit the reopening page for more information about ticketing, health and safety, exhibits, and FAQs.

Learn More: Upcoming schedule of events |  Health and safety procedures

Nightlife Details

Last updated 8/12/21 – See the latest updates

What can I expect at NightLife?
We’ve made some adjustments to in-person NightLife events to help keep guests safe. At this time, NightLife capacity is limited and timed-entry tickets are required. While expanded programming and capacity ramp back up, NightLife is only on select Thursdays—view upcoming events here. As always, all guests must be 21+ with ID to attend. For those unable to attend in person, the Academy will continue to offer its free virtual NightSchool programs—informal online “classes” with an eclectic mix of science and culture—streaming live (and available as recordings afterwards) on the Academy’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Do I need to make a reservation for the rainforest and Shake House?
As of June 19, we are no longer requiring reservations for Osher Rainforest or the Shake House during daytime or NightLife visits. Simply walk up and enjoy! Please note, however, that the last entry into the rainforest is 7:30 pm—our animals need their sleep!

Will the planetarium be open during NightLife?
Yes! The planetarium is reopening during Thursday NightLife events starting July 15, with showtimes at 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm, and 9:30 pm. Scan the QR code in the lobby as soon as you arrive to reserve your showtime. If no time slots are available, please try again later as additional reservations are often released hourly depending on the number of tickets still available for scheduled showtimes. Due to a limited quantity of reservations, we regret that not all guests interested in attending a planetarium show may be able to secure a reservation during their visit.

What dining options will be available during NightLife?
Food and beverages are available for purchase in the Academy Café and West Garden​ from 6-9:30 pm and include ​a variety of grab-and-go options, craft cocktails​, and more​.

Will I be able to eat and drink inside?
Yes, but only in the Academy Café! No space inside? Head out to the West Garden or East Garden for abundant outdoor seating. If you’re eating in the Café, please keep your mask on at all times except when actively eating or drinking.

Can I re-enter the event after exiting?
For your safety, we’re no longer offering re-entry hand stamps. If you wish to re-enter after exiting, you will need to purchase a new NightLife ticket.

Are NightLife VIP Experiences available?
Yes! Starting July 15, NightLife VIP guests will enjoy a private rooftop lounge atop the Academy’s lush 2.5-acre living roof to encounter native wildflowers in bloom, enjoy eye-popping views, and learn about the building’s impressive feats of green engineering.The experience also includes two complimentary cocktails and snack, priority entry to Osher Rainforest and the Shake House earthquake simulator, reserved planetarium seating, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour into our collections (including our rare Gem and Mineral Vault!), and 10% off at the Café and retail stores. Masks will be required indoors. Learn more!

Are there still public programs and demonstrations during the day?
Yes! However, to minimize crowding inside the museum, we are not currently scheduling public programs and demonstrations at specific times. Instead, we will continue to present “pop-up” programs where Academy staff will host spontaneous, exciting, educational mini-programs throughout the day on every floor, in the East and West Gardens, and on our Living Roof.

Are daytime VIP Tours available?
Yes! Book a VIP Tour to explore the secrets of the Academy as you spend 45-minutes behind the scenes learning more about how the museum works—and what it takes to house nearly 46 million specimens. (Please note: Tour includes stairs and unpaved paths.) For ages 8 and up. Members, your discount will be applied after login.

Please note that the VIP Tour ticket price does not include Daytime Admission. You will have the opportunity to add a VIP Tour to your order when reserving your tickets online.

When will Dean Astronomy Lectures start back up again?
We are happy to announce that our Dean Lecture series has returned virtually. To register for lectures in August and beyond, please check out our Dean Lectures page and Morrison Planetarium’s Facebook page for upcoming livestreamed programs, stargazing resources, and more.

When will Penguins+Pajamas Sleepovers start back up again?
We’re hoping to resume sleepovers later this year. Please visit our Penguins+Pajamas Sleepovers page for the most up-to-date info.

For those unable to attend in person, the Academy will continue to offer its free virtual NightSchool programs—informal online “classes” with an eclectic mix of science and culture—streaming live (and available as recordings afterwards) on the Academy’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Thursday, July 24, 2014
“NightLife” at California Academy of Sciences

Collectible NightLife | July 24, 2014

Music by DJs Tanoa & Tom LG

Show us yours and we’ll show you ours—collections that is.

This week, NightLife salutes the time-tested art and science of collecting. From life forms discovered at the darkest depths of the ocean to space objects collected after crashing through the atmosphere—we’ve got it all.

Schedule of Events:

Collections Showcase in the East Pavilion (Level 1)
6:00-10:00 pm:

• Philippines Expedition Showcase: Fresh from the Academy’s largest scientific diving expedition to date in the Philippines, Dr. Terry Gosliner and Academy researchers will showcase some of the most fascinating specimens collected at the “center of the center” of marine biodiversity. From photographing fish 400 feet below the surface, to preparing a sea slug to enter into a scientific collection, get an insider’s look into the Academy’s growing collection of nearly 46 million scientific specimens.
• Learn about the role collections play in preserving history with Paxton Gate, local taxidermy emporium Loved to Death, and Schein & Schein Antique Maps.

16mm Film Reel Collections in the Coral Reef
(Lower Level / Aquarium)
6:00-10:00 pm: View vintage 16mm reels from Bay Area film aficionado and collector Jon Bastian.

Vinyl Collector’s Battle in the Piazza (Level 1)
6:00-10:00 pm: Dance to the sounds of two of the Bay Area’s top vinyl DJs—Tanoa and Tom LG—as they battle for the title of “vinyl victor.”

View a Collection of Rare Gems in the West Pavilion
(Level 1)
8:45-9:45 pm, Take a trip to the Academy’s Gem & Mineral Vault to admire an impressive collection of precious stones rarely seen by the public.

View Academy Collections by the Project Lab (Level 1)
6:30-9:00 pm, Learn how courageous scientists once risked their lives to save Academy collections after the 1906 earthquake and fire as you view prized collections from the Academy’s library archives.

Skulls Exhibit in the Forum (Level 2)
6:00-9:30 pm, Get inside our heads with the Academy’s jaw-dropping new exhibit Skulls, featuring over 600 dead heads and live, flesh-eating beetles.

Dark Universe Planetarium presentation
Planetarium

Enjoy the following planetarium shows this week at NightLife:

6:30 pm
Storm of Stones
Earth’s surface has long suffered from space rocks slamming into us—and we continue getting pelted (although less frequently) to this day. When we’re lucky, we can also collect surviving fragments of the impactors for further study. Join Senior Planetarium Presenter Elise Ricard to discover the nature of meteorites—where they come from, how we collect them, and what they teach us about our solar system.

7:30 & 8:30 pm
Dark Universe
Explore two of today’s greatest cosmic mysteries—dark matter and dark energy—in a vast, data-fueled starscape of beauty and wonder. Hurtle through deep space and be there for the birth of our own galaxy while exploring never-before-seen visualizations of the invisible matter and forces at work in our Universe.

21+ Event, ID required for entry.

Note: The 4-story Rainforest exhibit closes at 7:45pm and planetarium passes are distributed to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. Special programs and lectures may have limited seating and admission will also be made available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

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.