Curious Histories Fest is back! Our free annual celebration of science, history, exploration, and experimentation will feature free hands-on activities and family-friendly fun, as well as exciting talks, tours, and highlights from our special collections. Visit our museum; talk to curators and experts; take part in performances, story times, and special events; and immerse yourself in curiosity! Plus, the first 150 visitors will receive a free serving of Siddiq’s Water Ice (limit one per person).

Color Your World

Curious Histories Fest highlights a new theme each year. Inspired by our current BOLD: Color from Test Tube to Textile exhibition, this year’s “Color Your World” theme explores the color in your life.

Have you ever wondered about the color of your clothes? Or your food? Does color have a taste? How do we perceive color? Where do natural and synthetic dyes come from, and how do they work? Do you love tie-dye? And rainbows?

Join us for family activities, hands-on crafts, engaging talks, and live dyeing demos! Then visit our museum and see special collections showcasing strange and wondrous color and dye histories. Enjoy food trucks, special guests, live music, and so much more.

Activity Highlights

Food and Drink

Music

Curious Histories Fest is open to all ages. Admission and programs are free; food trucks are pay-as-you-go. No reservations are necessary.


Bolte Family Foundation logo

Major funding for Curious Histories Fest is provided by chief presenting sponsor the Bolte Family Foundation.

Additional support provided by sustaining sponsors American Chemical Society, Dow, and Arkema Inc.; and contributing sponsor Dr. Zhen Yang, YM American Academy.

Featured image: Sevron Cationic Dyes on Dacron Type 801 Polyester Fiber, cover of a dye sample book produced by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, 1972.

More events

Magikooler Leisure Chest, 1950s
July 12, 2025
For Families

Stories of Science: Summertime Science

Join us in our museum EVERY SATURDAY for a family-friendly program that highlights strange and surprising stories from the history of science!

July 14, 2025
Science on Tap

America’s Scientific Revolutionaries

As the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches, Jeffery R. Appelhans highlights the American Philosophical Society’s efforts to shed light on the overlooked scientific revolution from 1763 to 1804.

Science History Institute Othmer Library
July 16, 2025
Free

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

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