Little Sparks
2025-05-15 10:15 - 11:00, 2025-05-17 10:15 - 11:00, 2025-05-18 10:15 - 11:00, 2025-05-22 10:15 - 11:00, 2025-05-24 10:15 - 11:00, 2025-05-25 10:15 - 11:00, 2025-05-29 10:15 - 11:00, 2025-05-31 10:15 - 11:00 (America/New_York) and 7 more dates
A fun and interactive program that introduces littles (ages 0-5) to science concepts through music, dancing, crafting, stories, and more.
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Included in the cost of admission, no pre-registration required.

Mindbender Mansion Member Preview
2025-05-17 10:00 - 16:00
You’re invited to step into the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion before it opens to the public! As a valued member, you’re exclusively invited to preview this delightfully quirky experience packed with brainteasers, puzzles, and interactive challenges that will put your problem-solving skills to the test.
Explore mind-bending mysteries waiting to be unlocked. Collect hidden clues and secret passwords by cracking challenging puzzles and teaming up for group tasks. Complete your quest to earn a spot in the prestigious Mindbender Society!
Don’t miss this sneak peek into one of our most puzzling exhibitions yet—fun for all ages and brainpower levels!
Mindbender Mansion was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and is sponsored locally by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County.

Maker Workshops: Aerospace Engineering
2025-05-17 11:30 - 12:30
Embark on a journey of innovation and exploration with our Maker Workshops at the Creation Station. Each week brings a new and exciting theme, allowing participants to engage in hands-on maker sessions where they can build and create using a variety of materials, electronics, and coding platforms. Immerse yourself in the world of technology and creativity, where each workshop is a unique adventure in the intersection of art, science, and technology.
Suggested Participation Ages: 9 years old and up; children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop.
Price: $5 per participant + cost of admission
No pre-registration required. Please visit the front desk of the museum on the day of your visit to purchase a ticket. Admission is required to purchase a ticket to the workshop.

Exhibit Opening | Mindbender Mansion
2025-05-18 10:00 - 16:00
Enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, a quirky place full of puzzles, brainteasers, and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers.
Guests to this fun and quirky mansion are invited to join the Mindbender Society by gathering hidden clues and secret passwords scattered throughout the various thematic rooms of the house. The clues and passwords are revealed by solving select brainteasers and group challenges.
Visitors are encouraged to think outside the box and collaborate with their fellow mansion guests to meet individual and group challenges, which include manipulating a tilt table, keeping up with trays on a conveyer belt, and disco hopscotch spelling.
Mindbender Mansion was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Oregon, and is sponsored locally by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County.

SparkSeekers: Homeschool Adventures | States of Matter
2025-05-22 13:00 - 15:00
Solids stand firm, liquids go with the flow, and gases just can’t be contained! We’re going to experiment with the ways that molecules move, groove, and occasionally misbehave!
The SparkSeekers program is designed to empower homeschooled students (ages 7–11) by immersing them in the captivating intersection of science and imagination through hands-on observation and experimentation. Participants will develop the skills to inquire and problem-solve, drawing inspiration from the ingenious minds of history’s greatest inventors. With an exciting new theme each month, there’s always a fresh opportunity for imaginative exploration and learning.

Price: $15 per student (ages 7–11)
Registration: Register online here or in-person at the front desk
This is a student drop-off program. Adults and children not participating in the program must purchase separate museum admission if they wish to explore the museum with the participant at the end of the program.

Maker Workshops: Electrical Engineering
2025-05-24 11:30 - 12:30

Maker Workshops: The GPS
2025-05-31 11:30 - 12:30

SparkSeekers: Homeschool Adventures | Agriculture
2025-06-05 13:00 - 15:00
From humble seeds to mighty trees, plants do way more than just sit there looking green. Dive into some hands-on experimentation where we watch things grow and uncover how agriculture keeps the world fed and fueled!
The SparkSeekers program is designed to empower homeschooled students (ages 7–11) by immersing them in the captivating intersection of science and imagination through hands-on observation and experimentation. Participants will develop the skills to inquire and problem-solve, drawing inspiration from the ingenious minds of history’s greatest inventors. With an exciting new theme each month, there’s always a fresh opportunity for imaginative exploration and learning.

Price: $15 per student (ages 7–11)
Registration: Register online here or in-person at the front desk
This is a student drop-off program. Adults and children not participating in the program must purchase separate museum admission if they wish to explore the museum with the participant at the end of the program.

Design + Doodle Lab: A Summer Art Pop-Up
2025-06-06 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-13 10:00 - 16:00
Unleash your creativity with a drop-in art experience for all ages. Throughout the day, we’ll offer a variety of pop-up art projects designed to inspire imagination and hands-on exploration. Prefer to follow your own muse? Head to our open art station, where you’ll find a wide range of materials and art supplies ready to become whatever masterpiece you dream up.

Special Hours: Museum open from 1pm - 6pm
2025-06-07 13:00 - 18:00
On Saturday, June 7, 2025, the Cade Museum will be open from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we make this temporary change. Thank you for your continued support.

Summer Camps: Where the Wild Things Live (Half Day)
2025-06-09 09:00 - 2025-06-13 13:00 | The Cade Museum, 811 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL, 32601, United States
Your home probably has a bed, toys, and a fridge full of tasty foods, but have you ever wondered what creepy crawlies and furry friends need to create their home sweet home? Find out where living things go to unwind after a long day in the wild as you tour their habitats.
Dates: June 9–13, 2025
Grades: Rising 1st-3rd
Price: $199 per student
Register for our half day camp (9:00–1:00pm) here.
Registration closes on June 4, 2025.
For information about camp scholarships, click here.

Summer Camps: Where the Wild Things Live (Full Day)
2025-06-09 09:00 - 2025-06-13 16:00 | The Cade Museum, 811 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL, 32601, United States
Your home probably has a bed, toys, and a fridge full of tasty foods, but have you ever wondered what creepy crawlies and furry friends need to create their home sweet home? Find out where living things go to unwind after a long day in the wild as you tour their habitats.
Dates: June 9–13, 2025
Grades: Rising 1st-3rd
Price: $349 per student
Register for our full day camp (9:00–4:00pm) here.
Registration closes on June 4, 2025.
For information about camp scholarships, click here.

Summer Camps: Tech Explorers (Full Day)
2025-06-09 09:00 - 2025-06-13 16:00 | The Cade Museum, 811 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL, 32601, United States
Channel your inner Tony Stark to ignite your creativity and invent the future you want to see! Explore innovative robotics, hand-on coding, and cutting-edge technology to design your next big idea. Will your future be filled with lightsabers and droids or ender dragons and diamond pickaxes? Suit up and get ready to level up in Tech Explorers!
Dates: June 9–13, 2025
Grades: Rising 4th-6th
Price: $349 per student
Register for our full day camp (9:00–4:00pm) here.
Registration closes on June 4, 2025.
For information about camp scholarships, click here.

Special Hours: Museum open from 1pm - 6pm
2025-06-14 13:00 - 18:00
On Saturday, June 14, 2025, the Cade Museum will be open from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we make this temporary change. Thank you for your continued support.

Summer Camps: DNA - The Science of You (Half Day)
2025-06-16 09:00 - 2025-06-20 13:00 | The Cade Museum, 811 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL, 32601, United States
DNA may be what makes Captain America strong and Peter Parker’s spidey senses tingle, but did you know that DNA is also responsible for what makes you uniquely you? Learn how genes and DNA shape who we are, from freckles to taste buds.
Dates: June 16–20, 2025
Grades: Rising 1st-3rd
Price: $199 per student
Register for our half day camp (9:00–1:00pm) here.
Registration closes on June 11, 2025.
For information about camp scholarships, click here.
