Don't Try This at Home Day

Join us at The Franklin Institute for Don’t Try This at Home Day! 🎉

🗓️ Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
🕚 Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
📍 Location: 222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1115, United States

Experience one of Philadelphia's most thrilling family-friendly science events! Enjoy high-energy, large-scale science demonstrations that push experiments to the limit, all conducted safely by expert performers and fearless partners. This is not your typical classroom experience; it’s live STEM entertainment where science ignites, erupts, and surprises audiences in real time! 🔥

Live Science Shows and Demonstrations:

• 💥 A 500-ball blast powered by ultra-cold Liquid Nitrogen
• 🎈 A multi-balloon explosion fueled by hydrogen
• 🌤️ Outside fun in Science Park with giant cloud formations or bubble play
• 🎢 A multi-stage Gravity Drop featuring watermelons, water balloons, and more
• 👨‍🍳 The Periodic Chef experience with fast-paced shows inspired by cooking programs that combine everyday ingredients with unexpected scientific elements

Special Members Only Planetarium Show:

Catch "Don't Try This in Space" at 1:00 pm at the Fels Planetarium! 🌌

Special Guests and Interactive Experiences:

• 🎮 Play a game of Operation while wearing full electrical safety gear with actual electricians from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
• 🌊 Learn from the Philadelphia Water Department about the impact of litter and debris in our environmental systems and what happens when service workers get called to the job

Discover science at its most powerful, engaging, and unexpected! Free with general admission.