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columbiaspace

@columbiaspace

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Igniting a community of critical & creative thinkers! 💡🌏
Open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10AM-5PM

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Why not both? 🤗🚀

Thrilled to secure $1 million in state funding to help expand Downey’s Columbia Memorial Space Center! More space for hands-on science, more opportunities for local kids, and a new home for Inspiration, the full-scale space shuttle mockup built right here in Downey.

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🌟🔭 THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER! STARS IN THE PARK IS BACK! 🌌

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of stargazing, cosmic discovery, and out-of-this-world family fun at Whittier Narrows Nature Center! ✨

We’re joining forces with the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, Rio Hondo College Observatory, and Columbia Memorial Space Center to bring you a night filled with incredible experiences!

🚀 Bring your little explorers early at 5 PM for a special spacecraft-building activity where they can design and create their own satellites and space probes!

🪐 Meet local astronomy and space science organizations and explore interactive STEM activities!

📸 Snap a memorable photo at our illuminated cosmic photo station!

✨ Follow our beautifully lit pathway TO THE STARS, leading you into an enchanting telescope-viewing area!

🔭 And discover the wonders of the night sky through multiple telescopes, guided by experienced astronomers who will help bring the universe a little closer!

📅 Sunday, November 8
🚀 5:00 PM — Early Kids’ Spacecraft Activity
🔭 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Stars in the Park
📍 Whittier Narrows Nature Center

One night. Countless stars. Endless wonder. 🌠

#WhittierNarrowsNatureCenter #StarsInThePark #Astronomy #Stargazing #FamilyActivities

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🌟🔭 STARS IN THE PARK HAS A NEW DATE! 🌌

Our highly anticipated Stars in the Park event, originally scheduled for October 25th, has been rescheduled to Sunday, November 8th, due to potential weather conditions that could interfere with our view of the night sky.

But the wait will be worth it! ✨

We’ve teamed up with the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, Rio Hondo College Observatory, and Columbia Memorial Space Center to bring you an unforgettable evening of astronomy, exploration, and family fun!

🚀 Early Spacecraft-Building Activity: Families with little ones can arrive at 5 PM to design and create their own satellites and space probes!

🪐 Interactive STEM Activities: Meet local astronomy and space science organizations and enjoy hands-on activities for young explorers!

📸 Illuminated Photo Station: Capture a special memory beneath the stars!

✨ Pathway to the Stars: Follow our beautifully lit walkway to the telescope viewing area!

🔭 Guided Stargazing: Explore the night sky through multiple telescopes with experienced astronomers!

📅 Sunday, November 8
🚀 5:00 PM — Early Kids’ Spacecraft Activity
🔭 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Main Event
📍 Whittier Narrows Nature Center

Mark your calendars, invite your friends and family, and get ready for a magical evening under the stars! 🌠

#WhittierNarrowsNatureCenter #StarsInThePark #Stargazing #AstronomyNight #FamilyFun

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🎃 What happens when curiosity sparks creativity AND connection?

Meet Elijah Sol, a six-year-old Water Engineer with cerebral palsy whose fascination with pipes, drains, and water inspired his very own DIY interactive Water Works Station! 💦⚙️

His wheelchair costume has gears, buttons, and activities to invite others to stop, say hello, and interact.

At Columbia Memorial Space Center’s Spooky Science Night, Elijah enjoyed trunk-or-treating, Halloween festivities, and discovery! 🚀

Cerebral palsy is the most common lifelong physical disability, yet opportunities for meaningful interaction and inclusion still matter.

The Space Center’s mission is to ignite a community of critical and creative thinkers. What if that curiosity extended to getting to know one another, too?

Innovation creates possibilities; inclusion creates belonging. 💚

#SpookyScienceNight #InclusiveSol #CerebralPalsy #DisabilityInclusion #STEMForAll #CityofDowney #DowneyCA #ColumbiaMemorialSpaceCenter #WeirdScience #Adaptivemallhalloween2026

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So much fun at Spooky Science Night with @columbiaspace last night. Trick or treating and tons of hands on STEM activities, we loved it so much! Make sure to check it out next year! 🎃👻

#spookyscience #stem #columbiaspacecenter #familyhalloween #familyfriendly

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In case you missed it, @abc7la and @nbcla stopped by the City of Downey to get a first look at the 'Inspiration' Shuttle restoration!

#CityofDowney #DowneyCA #ColumbiaMemorialSpaceCenter

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Tag a friend who’d love to explore @columbiaspace 👩‍🚀🌌

🎟️ Admission
Adults and children ages 4 and over: $5
Children 3 and younger & Downey Students Tk-12: FREE

Columbia Memorial Space Center
📍 12400 Columbia Way, Downey, CA 90242

⏰ Tuesday - Saturday from 10 AM – 5 PM

*️⃣ They do regularly host field trips during the week, so call ahead to check if your visit may be impacted.

#hiddengemsla #downeyca #hiddengemslosangeles #columbiamemorialspacecenter #stemactivities

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#comiccon #sciencecommunication #conspiracytheories #stemeducation #astronomy

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So grateful to have our work and the student facilitators out of UC Irvine recognized and celebrated by the Physical Sciences department! 💫💟

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𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗗𝗘: 𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟵-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🍂 Fall festivals, scarecrows, and cultural celebrations are in full swing this weekend, plus a few surprises that have nothing to do with pumpkins.

👉 Comment ‘weekend’ to get more info on each event

✍️ Is your biz or org hosting a family-friendly event this weekend? Drop the details in the comments and keep the list growing!

🚗 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗚𝗢: Confirm details with the event organizer before making plans. We’re here to help you find the fun, but changes, cancellations, and mistakes can happen! Any updates we come across will be in the comments.

📸: Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

#thingstodothisweekend #thingstodowithkids #southerncalifornia #losangeles #familyfunsoutherncalifornia | kidsguide weekend guide | things to do this weekend | southern california | long beach | orange county | los angeles | irvine | huntington beach | pasadena | downey | torrance | costa mesa | lakewood | things to do with kids | free family fun | free things to do in southern california | fall festivals socal | heritage festival | irvine global village festival | scarecrow festival | catcon | astronomy night | october 2026

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🎃 Family-Friendly October Events in LA & OC 🍂

OCT 10–11
🌍 Irvine Global Village Festival at the Great Park — Oct 10
🎃 Knott’s Spooky Farm (Buena Park) — Select dates through Oct 31
🎃 Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest Festival (moorpark) — until Oct 31
🎃 Night of the Jack (Calabasas) — until Nov 1

OCT 16–18
👻 Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park (Lake Forest) — Oct 16–18 & 23-25
🔬 Spooky Science Night at Columbia Memorial Space Center (Downeg) — Oct 17
🎃 Fall Festival at The Original Farmers Market (LA) — Oct 17–18
🎃 Carved at Descanso Gardens (La Canada Flintridge) — until Nov 1

OCT 23–25
🐠 Scarium Family Night at Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) — Oct 23
🎃 Halloween Zoo-Tacular at OC Zoo — Oct 24
👻 Boo at the Bay at the Peter and Mary Muth Interactive Center (Newport Beach) — Oct 24
🤠 Family Fun Day at the Autry (LA) — Oct 24
🦁 Boo at the L.A. Zoo — Oct 24–25 & 31-1

OCT 30–31
👻 DTLA Halloween Festival for Kids in Grand Hope Park at ASU — Oct 31
🎃 Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch (Irvine) — until Nov 1
🎭 Hallowe’en Spooktacular at Bob Baker Marionette Theater (LA) — until Nov 8

📌 Save this for your October family bucket list! 🍂🎃

#LAwithKids #OCwithKids #LosAngelesEvents

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