[quote]The goal of this day is to host a fun-filled, high-energy, highly visible public celebration for the opening of the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion and the signature Your Brain exhibit.” — Tory M Collins, SVP Marketing, Programs and Business Development, The Franklin Institute[/quote]
Philadelphia, PA, USA — The Franklin Institute celebrates the debut of the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion, the most significant expansion in the history of The Franklin Institute, on Saturday, June 14. The highly anticipated celebration of the 53,000-square-foot wing features more than 30 innovative activities spread throughout the museum, all of which complement Your Brain, the largest and most advanced signature exhibit at The Franklin Institute, and the three additional traveling exhibitions that are set to open on June 14. The brain party kicks-off with an explosive ceremonial ribbon cutting at 10 am to mark the official opening of Your Brain. This commemorative day also highlights the “Best of TFI”, including the public display of 80 rarely seen historical artifacts, plus the iconic live shows and familiar programs that have made The Franklin Institute the premier destination for engaging science exploration for decades. Admission to The Franklin Institute is free for the first 500 visitors who arrive on Saturday, June 14. The opening day celebration also includes commemorative giveaways, music from a live four-piece band, face painting, and three special food carts featuring classic fare such as hot dog sliders, cotton candy, house-made lemonade, caramel corn, snow cones, and Italian water ice. People of all ages are invited to come early to be among the very first to experience a brain party like only The Franklin Institute can deliver.
“This is the beginning of a new era in the history of The Franklin Institute,” said Troy M. Collins, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Programs and Business Development. “Our hope is to create long-lasting experiences that greatly outlive opening day.”
OPENING DAY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE KARABOTS PAVILION CELEBRATION INCLUDE:
BEST OF TFI
Wonderland of Science | Pepper Hall 11 am–4 pm
For one day only, The Franklin Institute opens its curatorial vault and places 80 of the most significant and fascinating artifacts from the history of science and technology on display for visitors to see up close. Hand-selected by museum staff and volunteers who will be explaining each on opening day, the 80 artifacts represent the 80 years the museum has welcomed visitors along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Live Science Show Extravaganza | Demonstration Theater On the hour from 11 am to 4 pm
The best of the best live shows are packaged together to present an explosive extravaganza. Visitors will watch dueling Tesla coils compete with crackling electricity, feel the BOOM of exploding hydrogen balloons, and participate in chilling liquid nitrogen demonstrations.
Mobile Scavenger Hunt with a Grand Prize Family Membership | Museum wide 10 am–5 pm
Visitors can test their knowledge of all things science as they travel through the museum galleries on a quest to win the grand prize: a one-year family membership to The Franklin Institute.
YOUR BRAIN
Brain Waves Team | Museum wide 10 am–5 pm
Roving science educators will challenge visitors in a variety of brainteasers and puzzles on opening day. Be sure to look for these Brain Waves teams at festivals and events all over the region this summer.
Brain Bar | Your Brain 10 am–5 pm
Visitors can examine real specimens and models of human and animal brains inside Your Brain on opening day, and beyond.
Brain Workshop | Karabots Education Center 10:30 am–4 pm
Visitors can experience a taste of the interactive education workshops that take place daily at The Franklin Institute for students. Touch a real sheep’s brain, watch a brain dissection and test memory and multi-tasking skills through simple challenges – all in the spacious new Karabots Education Center.
Meet the BRAIN behind Your Brain | Your Brain 11 am–12:30 pm
Visitors can meet and ask questions to Franklin Institute Chief Bioscientist and lead developer of Your Brain, Dr. Jayatri Das.
101 INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
Inventor Statutes | Key Hallway 10 am–5 pm
Visitors turn an oversized key on the pedestal of these Inventor Statues to watch them literally come to life. Actors portraying the most recognizable scientists and inventors in history, also past Franklin Institute Award Medalists, will tell their own stories of inspiration and innovation when prompted by guests.
Design Challenges | 101 Inventions that Changed the World 10 am–5 pm
Budding architects and inventors can put their skills to the test by building creations with our classic Keva planks, and by designing, building and testing their own flying machine. Plus, see 3-D printing in action.
Creation Station: Giant Tinker Toys | Harcourt Education Center 10 am-4 pm
Imaginations run wild as guests plan, build, and breakdown Giant Tinker Toys and Imagination Playground blocks.
CIRCUS! SCIENCE UNDER THE BIG TOP
Jugglers and Stilt Walkers | Roving
Prepare to be dazzled and amazed by the expert performances of these classic entertainers celebrating Circus! Science Under the Big Top, the inaugural traveling exhibit housed in the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion.
Magician Scott Sullivan | Roving Museum wide 12 pm–4 pm
Visitors will be easily fooled by expert magician Scott Sullivan. See how he makes a playing card vanish, pick-pockets a volunteer, and performs many other startling sleight of hand tricks.
Mentalist Max Major | Franklin Theater 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm
A magician whose performances combine magic, mentalism, and hypnosis, Major relies heavily on his skills at reading body language. Using a combination of body language, psychology and suggestion Max Major will demonstrate the Hidden Powers of the Mind.
KARABOTS PAVILION
Shimmer Wall Science | South Front Lawn 10 am–5 pm
Visitors can learn how science and art combine to create the stunning façade that drapes the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion making wind and other natural elements visible.
Rain Garden Tours | Race Street Pavilion Entrance 11 am–1 pm
The Franklin Institute’s Chief Environmental Scientist Raluca Ellis invites visitors to tour the newly installed Rain Garden and hear about the climate impacts on the urban environment.
Share your #BrainParty experience
The Franklin Institute unveils a new customized WASABI 3D art creation designed to make an impossible scenario seem real. Guests can stand on these unique pieces of artwork for 3D photo capture. #BrainParty #Karabots #YourBrain
Tweet it: #BrainParty like only @TheFranklin can do to celebrate the opening of the #Karabots Pavilion June 14
The Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion, a 53,000-square-foot, $41 million dollar pavilion, named in honor of the lead donors whose commitment to science and technology education brought the project to fruition, will transform The Franklin Institute in a myriad of ways adding to the appeal of Philadelphia’s cultural mecca, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The three-story expansion will become home an expansive new education center, a state-of-the-art conference center and the museum’s largest signature exhibition, Your Brain. Teva Pharmaceuticals is the lead underwriter of Your Brain, which is housed in the Frank Baldino, Jr. Gallery in the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion, and is the largest exhibit in North America dedicated to the brain. Circus! Science Under the Big Top is presented by PECO in the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion. 101 Inventions That Changed the World is presented by TE Connectivity in the Mandell Center.
