Happy Travelers, get ready to blast off and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing with a trip to these out-of-this-world activities, events, and programs right here in Pennsylvania!
1. The State Museum of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg
The celebration kicks off at The State Museum of Pennsylvania with five days of “Moon Madness” July 17-21. Geared to all ages, the program is chock full of space-themed programs, memorabilia including moon rocks and space monkey Miss Sam's chair from Project Mercury, activities, and a special show in the museum’s planetarium.
2. Carnegie Science Center
Pittsburgh
Experience a night filled with spectacular space science at the Carnegie Science Center on July 19. View archival footage of the Apollo 11 mission, then blast off to the lunar surface at the planetarium show. Stargaze through telescopes, chat with astronomy experts, and enjoy lunar science demonstrations. Best yet – sample Tang, that iconic beverage of astronauts, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen!
3. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm
Ronks
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing all summer long with its themed maze, “Man On The Moon 1969-2019.” Learn about the how NASA technology improves our daily lives as the farm hosts NASA’s Chief Technologist and astronaut Alvin Drew on July 18-20.
4. The Franklin Institute
Philadelphia
The Franklin Institute is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with the museum-wide celebration, “Summer of the Moon.” There’s a spectacular anniversary celebration featuring small- to large-scale rocket demonstrations including colorful trash can rocket explosions and the ever-popular “World’s Cheapest Spacesuit” live science show on July 20.
5. NASA PA Space Grant Consortium
State College
The NASA PA Space Grant Consortium is presenting the “Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Moon Landing Celebration” at The State Theatre on July 20. The celebration features interactive and informational displays, a screening of the film Apollo 11, and talk by former NASA astronaut James A. Pawelczyk who was a payload specialist aboard the space shuttle Columbia.
6. Apollo Area Historical Society
Apollo
Where better to celebrate the historic mission of Apollo 11 than in Apollo, PA?! The Apollo Moon Landing 50th Anniversary Celebration features a ton of family friendly activities including a craft show, flea market, food vendors, car cruise, bounce house, and ice-cream and pizza-eating contests at Owens Grove Park on July 20.
7. Senator John Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh
Get an up close and personal view of the Apollo 11 mission at a special screening of the documentary, “The Day We Walked on the Moon.” The film at the Heinz History Center on July 20 presents a minute-by-minute description of the day man first walked on the moon, as told by astronauts including Michael Collins, the third member of the Apollo 11 mission, members of Mission Control, and the children of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
8. Beaver County Amateur Astronomers
Beaver Falls
Gaze up at the moon with the Beaver County Amateur Astronomers at their Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Star Party at Brady's Run Park on July 20. Don’t have a telescope? No worries! Telescopes will be set up to observe the moon and the area where the landing took place, as well as Jupiter, Saturn and some double stars.
9. James A. Michener Art Museum
Doylestown
The James A. Michener Art Museum has a day full of fun activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 20. Enjoy a docent-led tour of the “Color of the Moon exhibition,” then participate in self-guided family activities. Explore the calming energy of the moon in a yoga session. Afterwards, learn about the sun and the moon from local astronomers, complete telescope displays.
10. The Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia
Celebrate Apollo 11 and the lunar landing with The Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Voyage to the Moon: A 50th Anniversary Concert “on July 24. The program is jam-packed with lunar, planetary and stellar music from both the classical and popular music realms, and a new work composed especially for this occasion by film and TV composer Michael Giacchino!
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