Orlando Science Center is revamping its science night live event exclusively for adults. This includes adjusting the minimum age of participants to 18 years old.
The changes begin this Saturday at SNL. This is an off-hours gathering featuring a lineup of science-based entertainment lineups with comedy, music and speakers, in addition to all the current science center exhibits.
Jeff Stanford, the museum’s vice president of marketing, said the evening was an opportunity for over 21 during that decade’s existence. There have been gaps in the pandemic era for several years and have since been in reconstruction mode.
“We needed a little extra incentive to encourage people to come, and it had been strong for about a decade, so we needed to refresh the event, and we also needed to find a new audience,” Stanford said.
“We were getting feedback that college students were very interested in coming to SNL. They were looking for things to do in a town that wasn’t typical nightlife,” he said.
There is a sentimental feeling to those who remember youthful family outings to science centres and field trips at school here and in other cities. At the same time, on a regular day at the Rock Haven Park Museum, there is much for many people for those with a lot of children.
“Without kids, it feels a bit troubling to get out of the way of a nine-year-old,” Stanford said.
Therefore, Science Night Live was developed as an opportunity for adults to visit the museum in a mature atmosphere. It also features adult drinks and food for sale. Additional science-related programming was then introduced.
On August 23rd, there will be a session with Kashapatel. Kashapatel is responsible for the presentations for “Science Comedian,” the Corner Gallery Improvisation Group, Geek Night Orlando, and the Science-oriented show with Trivia hosted by Trivia hosted by Sean Marshall, a researcher at Florida Space Institute.
There is also live music from Beemo, a local five-piece band that plays a mixture of Americana, bluegrass and Celtic people’s music.
The group, which includes Lockheed Martin employees, recorded a video of the song “Poison Star,” located in the Dino Digg area of the Orlando Science Center.
“The song is related to the last day of the dinosaurs. I looked up and saw an asteroid coming to them,” Stanford said. “It’s fun to show that science-oriented people can sway.”
As part of the SNL restructuring, there are three events nights a year rather than five, each packing more programming, Stanford said. He said the museum will continue to carry other adult-centric events, including the science of wine and science.
“Our mission is to encourage science learning for everyone. It means you are a child, a child or a family, a family with a teenager, or 18 or 35 or 55 or 65,” Stanford said. He said the museum’s topics, including nature, space, and dinosaurs, have a universal appeal.
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“I think you learn better while having fun, so we create an atmosphere that is low pressure, casual and offers opportunities for lifelong learning,” Stanford said.
Upcoming Science Night Live will be between 8pm and 11:30pm. Admission is $20 per person. There is a cash bar and food for sale. For tickets or more information, please visit osc.org/snl.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
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Original issue: August 15th, 2025, 11:17am EDT
