Pride Night at the Museum

Join us for an after-hours celebration of queer brilliance featuring hands-on chemistry experiments, interplanetary journeys, and collaborative artmaking. With delicious treats from Ursula and cocktails crafted by BABE Wine Bar, the evening promises stellar vibes where everyone’s lights shine.  

In celebration of the Museum’s dazzling new exhibition, Cosmic Splendor: Jewelry from the Collections of Van Cleef & Arpels, come dressed in your personal embodiment of the cosmos.  From stardust glam to planetary allure, this Pride is a festival of self-expression inspired by the wonders of the universe. Whether you’re channeling astro allure, celestial chic, or stunning supernova, let your inner universe glow.  

As you walk up to the Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, you’ll be greeted by folks from Biology and Astronomy on Tap for fun games and activities.

Inside the Gilder Center, you’ll be able to participate in three floors of exciting activations.

Floor 1

Chemistry Lab with Professor André K. Isaacs 

Get ready for an electrifying evening of science, surprises, and spectacular demonstrations with Dr. André K. Isaacs, associate professor of chemistry at the College of the Holy Cross. Well known as a vibrant science communicator, Isaacs has captured the imaginations of over half a million followers on TikTok with his infectious love for chemistry. 

Now’s your chance to experience the magic in real life! Throughout the night, Isaacs will light up the Gilder Center with timed demonstrations that you won’t just watch—you’ll be part of the action.  

Marketplace

Browse a curated pop-up marketplace featuring original works from the following LGBTQ+ artists, vendors, and organizations. Offerings include jewelry, pins, prints, upcycled fashion, and more!  

Organizations

Floor 2

The Evolution of Sapphasaura  

In the summer of 1973, bold activists from the Lesbian Feminist Liberation group made history with a giant paper mâché lavender dinosaur—dubbed the Sapphasaura—in a fierce protest against the Museum’s erasure of Queer and women+ voices in its exhibits. 

Now, more than 50 years later, Sapphasaura returns—and you’re invited to be part of her evolution. Join artists Anna Moustakerski and Teagan Hoey in reenvisioning this iconic symbol of resistance in an interactive, community-driven art project. Using slips of paper mâché, you’ll be able to write a note to someone you love. The artists will then add your note to the sculpture, forever immortalizing it in the fibers of Sapphasaura. 

After you help create this art piece, learn more about the origins of Sapphasaura in collaboration with The American LGBTQ+ Museum. Hear about how far we’ve come and where we need to go as we delve into the rich history and enduring legacy of Queer activism in cultural centers. 

Sexes in Nature

Join Museum Curator Jessica Ware and Assistant Curator Jessica Goodheart from the Museum’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology to learn more about species that don’t fit neatly into the categories of male or female. These animals exhibit a wide range of natural variations in sex, highlighting the complexity and diversity found in the animal kingdom.  

Scientists will showcase live animals from 8–9 pm. 

Butterfly Vivarium 

Enter the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium to experience the awe and wonder of these graceful critters! You’ll get an up-close look at 80 species of butterflies among lush vegetation in tropical temperatures.  

Floor 3

Journey to Mars

Join Brian Abbott, assistant director of the Hayden Planetarium and former chair of the Museum’s Pride Community Resource Group, for an exclusive after-hours journey to Mars like you've never experienced before. 

Step into the Invisible Worlds theater and prepare for liftoff with OpenSpace, an open-source interactive data visualization software designed to visualize the entire known universe and portray our ongoing efforts to investigate the cosmos.  

You’ll explore the Martian surface in breathtaking detail—no spacesuit required. This is your chance to witness the universe come alive in a one-of-a-kind immersive experience, guided by one of the Museum’s leading experts.

With music by DJ Amber Valentine! 

Amber Valentine is a New York City-based DJ known for high-energy sets rooted in disco, house, and classic gay anthems. A staple in the Queer nightlife scene, she’s played everywhere from Susanne Bartsch parties to New York Knicks games. Amber is also the co-creator of PAT, the iconic Brooklyn party, and Misster Weds at The Woods. She loves creating spaces that center Queer joy and community on the dance floor. 

Learn more about Sparkle with Pride: Chemistry in Action, our all-ages daytime event.