MODS brings science to life with I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit, messy experiments, MAGNA-TILES® innovation, free admission opportunities and its milestone 30th Annual Wine, Spirits & Culinary Celebration

Boca Raton, FL – August 31, 2026 – Get ready to explore wildly, create boldly and discover differently this fall at the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS).

From stepping inside the colorful world of renowned wildlife artist Charley Harper and getting ooey-gooey with Messy Science, to dreaming, creating and testing with MAGNA-TILES®, MODS is filling the season with hands-on experiences that turn curiosity into discovery.

September kicks off with the debut of the immersive I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit, inviting guests to explore nature through famed artist Charley Harper’s iconic bold colors, playful geometry and distinctive artistic lens. The month also brings Messy Science Weekends, Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and Nickelodeon’s Our World: Worldwide Day of Play 2026, and a buy-one-get-one admission offer during Broward Attractions & Museums Month.

In October, imagination clicks into place with the debut of The Original MAGNA-TILES® Experience, a new traveling experience created by MODS that will launch locally before traveling to museums nationwide. The month culminates in a milestone evening as the Museum celebrates the 30th Annual Wine, Spirits & Culinary Celebration.

“Discovery at MODS begins with curiosity and comes to life through play,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of MODS. “This fall, guests of all ages can explore nature through an artist’s eyes, get messy with science, test ideas through hands-on experimentation and use creative play to make meaningful connections with the world around them. Whether interpreting a Charley Harper image or building something entirely new, every experience is designed to inspire learning through play, spark curiosity and encourage discovery.”

I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit

Sept. 18 – Jan. 11, 2027

Experience the natural world through bold colors, playful geometry and hands-on experiences with the artwork of renowned wildlife artist Charley Harper in I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit, presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and in partnership with Brightline and Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans. Guests can explore six distinct habitats, create their own Harper-inspired artwork at The Art Studio, interact with multisensory interpretations of his iconic work in the Interactive Habitat Poster Kiosk, play hide-and-seek among animals in The Woodland Ball Run and much more. For more information, please visit mods.org/IAMWILD.

Broward Attractions & Museum Month

Sept. 1-30

 
September is Broward Attractions & Museums Month (BAMM). Mention BAMM at the MODS box office to receive a free adult or child ticket with the purchase of a regular adult ticket. For more information, please visit mods.org/BAMM.

Messy Science Weekends in September

Saturdays: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sundays: 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

Science is about to get seriously messy! Dive into a slimy, ooey-gooey adventure as guests investigate the science behind textures, mixtures and reactions through hands-on experiments. Meet animal ambassadors that dig, crawl and slime their way through life and discover why sometimes the messiest experiments lead to the biggest discoveries. For more information, please visit mods.org/messyscience.

ACM and Nickelodeon’s Our World: Worldwide Day of Play 2026 

Sept. 26
10 a.m.–5 p.m.

As part of Messy Science Weekends, MODS joins the Association of Children’s Museums and Nickelodeon for Our World: Worldwide Day of Play, to fill the Museum with even more active adventures, creative challenges and hands-on science. Guests can make Oobleck and elephant toothpaste, create bubble slime paintings, join coding dance parties, investigate Everglades soil, build catapults, make slime, encounter animal ambassadors, embark on a virtual panther prowl and experience the explosive live KaBoom Show. For more information, please visit mods.org/dayofplay.

The Original MAGNA-TILES® Experience

Oct. 9 – Jan. 4, 2027

Get a first look at the new traveling MAGNA-TILES® Experience, created by MODS, debuting locally before traveling to museums nationwide. The Original MAGNA-TILES® Experience invites learners to dream big, build boldly and put their ideas to the test while exploring magnetic forces, engineering and creative problem-solving. Through hands-on challenges and open-ended play, guests can investigate how magnets attract and repel while transforming their ideas into buildable creations. For more information, please visit mods.org/magnatilesexperience.

Dream, Create & Test Weekends in October

Saturdays: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sundays: 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

Watch imagination click into place during special weekend programming inspired by The Original MAGNA-TILES® Experience. Guests can tackle fresh build challenges, experiment with magnetic forces and discover how creativity, engineering and problem-solving come together through play. For more information, please visit mods.org/dreamcreatetest.

30th Annual Wine, Spirits & Culinary Celebration

Oct. 23

5 p.m.–11 p.m.

Raise a glass to 30 years of exceptional cuisine, fine wines and philanthropy at MODS.

Presented by Bank of America, the 30th Annual Wine, Spirits & Culinary Celebration marks its pearl anniversary while honoring founders Steve Halmos and Keith Koenig. Guests can enjoy the Honoree Pearl Reserve Cocktail Hour, VIP and Grand Tasting experiences, Beer Garden, Food Truck Experience and an after-party beneath MODS’ iconic Great Gravity Clock.

Proceeds benefit MODS’ STEMobile outreach programs, bringing hands-on science education into the community. For more information, please visit mods.org/30wine.

Oct. 31

Make baby’s first Halloween a celebration of discovery! Baby’s First, presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, creates memorable first experiences through themed stories, sensory-rich exploration, helpful parent tips and a festival photo booth perfect for capturing the moment. For more information, please visit mods.org/babysfirst.

Opened in 1977 as the Discovery Center, today the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) is at the forefront of science education, innovation and exploration. MODS connects people to inspiring science, providing STEM education and cultural experiences for 450,000+ visitors annually in the 150,000 sq. ft. facility. MODS is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) for three decades. MODS has added to that distinction by being named Broward’s Hub for Resilience Education by the Board of the Community Foundation of Broward, selected by the LEGO Foundation as one of only 21 museums nationwide to join the Playful Learning Museum Network and awarded the prestigious 2023 IMLS National Medal for Museum Service.

The Museum welcomes visitors from all walks of life. The Museum hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MODS is located downtown at 401 SW Second Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. For more information about the Museum, please visit mods.org or call 954.467.MODS (6637).

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