3 great spots for spooky science in the Huntsville area

Reading time: 5 minutes

Two divers do underwater pumpkin carving at Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur, Alabama, a great place for spooky science activities in the fall.
Underwater pumpkin carving in the Oceans Tank at Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur (Cook Museum of Natural Science)

Snakes, spiders, bats, rotting things, and even natural bodily functions tend to freak out many people, so they’re usually grouped into the spooky season along with ghosts, ghouls and monsters.

That’s a little unfair, at least from the science perspective. How so?

Check out these three edutainment destinations, two in Huntsville and one in Decatur, where you can dive into the spooky science of nature and come away with fascination instead of fear.

U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Living in Huntsville is out of this world, and there’s no better place to connect with that energy than the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

More otherworldly than underworldly, the center’s annual Spooky Space Spectacular is all about cosmic family fun, with trick-or-treating, creative costumes, pop-up telescopes in Rocket Park and hands-on activities, all set to the beat of tunes from DJ Casper.

Also: An after-hours Haunted Zipline?! See below for details.

🚀 12th Annual Spooky Space Spectacular

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 5-8PM
  • Cost: $12 per person; children under age 2 admitted free

🔗 Haunted Zipline @ the Aviation Challenge Ropes Course

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 8-11PM
  • Cost: $17 per person, available at the ticket desk
  • Important: Closed-toed shoes are required. 

📍 U.S. Space & Rocket Center

EarlyWorks Children’s Museum

A family dressed as Ghostbusters with the baby dressed as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man at the Halloween Bash at EarlyWorks Children's Museum in Huntsville, Alabama.
A month of seasonal activities culminates in the annual Halloween Bash at EarlyWorks Children’s Museum. (EarlyWorks Children’s Museum)

EarlyWorks Children’s Museum in downtown Huntsville has been tackling some topics this month in its Grossology series that I hope make you giggle like I did—farts, snot and rot—or more eloquently, Fantastic Farts, Marvelous Mucus and Explore Rot.

They’ve put a fun, educational spin on these naturally occurring things in the Tinker Lab, where they also created 3D objects to represent each category and hid them throughout the museum for a month-long scavenger hunt.

Beyond the gross stuff, most of this month’s other activities have taken a fall twist and conclude with a Halloween Bash for families.

Here are this month’s calendar details from EarlyWorks and details about the trick-or-treating-only bash:

🤢 Grossology activities throughout the month at 11:30AM + 2:30PM daily (Sundays at 2:30PM only)
🔥 Campfire Daily Storytime during regular hours @ 10:30AM + 1:30PM (Sundays at 1:30PM only)
🎨 Think Big Studio Art Lessons Tuesdays + Fridays at 11AM + 2PM
Little Adventures Circle Time at 11AM + 2PM on Wednesdays (music) + Thursdays (dance) at 11AM + 2PM
Sensory Sunday every third Sunday from 9AM to 11AM

🎃 EARLYWORKS HALLOWEEN BASH

  • When: Friday-Saturday, Oct. 24-25, 3-7:30PM (Trick-or-treating walk-through is estimated at 30 minutes)
  • Cost: Tickets must be purchased in advance | Members: $10 | Non-members: $12 for ages 4 + older; free for ages 3 + younger
  • Bonus: Since this special event doesn’t allow for much playtime, participating families will receive a 50% coupon for a future visit.

📍EarlyWorks Children’s Museum

Cook Museum of Natural Science

We understand that fear of spiders (arachnophobia) and snakes (ophidiophobia) are real. If that’s you, well, we saved it for last in your scroll, and please accept our apologies.

For everyone else who is tentative, wary or openly loves them, know that these creepy crawlies are safely contained in their habitats at the Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur.

If you don’t already appreciate them, you may come to after observing them at their enclosed best, enjoying some enrichment as they investigate cool pumpkins carved with designs submitted from the community. Some of the winning designs will be featured in the upcoming Underwater Pumpkin Carving events on Saturday, Oct. 25. (Last time to submit a stencil for the contest is 4:30PM Wednesday, Oct. 15.)

Here’s the full lineup of all that’s happening this month with spooky science at the Cook Museum:

🕷️Spider Special Terrarium Display now through Oct. 31
💎 Cook Museum Mining Co. concludes fall school break hours this Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10AM-2PM
🐻 Bear Bonanza Fun Day on Saturday, Oct. 25, which includes:

  • Underwater Pumpkin Carving at the Oceans Tank + Live Animal Enrichment at 11AM + 2PM
    (Video will play from 10AM-2PM if you miss it.)
  • Enrichment all day for the live animals (and you) as the museum’s many critters interact with carved pumpkins

📍Cook Museum of Natural Science

  • Where: 133 4th Ave NE, Decatur, AL 35601
  • When: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-5PM
  • Cost: Members: Free | Nonmembers: $20 for ages 15-64; $15 for ages 3-14; $17 for ages 65 and older + military with ID; free for ages 2 and younger
  • More Info: Website | Facebook

Want more fun + informative news on what to do around Huntsville? Follow Hville Blast on FacebookTikTokYouTube and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Lisa Battles
Lisa Battles
Articles: 58