October will be an eventful month at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. The museum has scheduled a series of activities starting with Earth Science Week on October 13 and concluding with the annual Halloween Spooktacular on October 27.
Earth Science Week will be celebrated on Sunday, October 13, and Saturday, October 19, from noon to 3 p.m. Visitors can engage in hands-on activities at the STEAM Center and explore rocks and minerals in the "Written in the Rocks" exhibition.
National Fossil Day is set for October 16, featuring a Bone Wars game from 10 a.m. to noon at the STEAM Center along with fossil show-and-tell sessions.
On October 18, a free sky observing event will begin with a sky talk at the Planetarium at 7 p.m., followed by star observations at Washington Crossing State Park. In case of poor weather conditions, participants will remain at the Planetarium for a screening of “5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI.”
The Halloween Spooktacular on October 27 will run from noon to 4 p.m., offering games and crafts. Children in costume can participate in trick-or-treating on the front lawn at 1:30 p.m., followed by a raffle. Free planetarium shows are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., with tickets available on a first-come basis.
The New Jersey State Museum operates Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., closing only on state holidays. General admission is free. More information is available on their website or social media platforms.
"The New Jersey State Museum is a center for the exploration of science, history and the arts," states its mission statement. Located in Trenton since its establishment in 1895, it houses over two million objects across various collections including Archaeology/Ethnography, Cultural History, Fine Art, and Natural History.
