Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery

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Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery Welcome to Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery!

The mission of the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery is to delight, inspire and challenge by providing an exciting and interactive learning environment in which children and their adults can explore the wonders of Santa Cruz County.

Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days are coming to MOD!"Hey Gabby, take us to the museum!"😻 From October 23 to Nove...
10/16/2026

Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days are coming to MOD!

"Hey Gabby, take us to the museum!"

😻 From October 23 to November 1, the Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery is going full cat-tastic. 🧶

Strike a pose with a Gabby cutout at our photo backdrop, follow the paw prints, and hunt for the Gabby Cats hiding all over the museum.

🐾 Find them all and scan the QR code at the end of the trail for a purr-fectly magical surprise.

TWO WEEKS OF CAT-TASTIC PROGRAMS, ALL FREE WITH ADMISSION!

Fri 10/23
11:30 AM Pumpkin Painting (sign-ups limited)

Sat 10/24
10:30 AM Magic Salt Painting
1:00 PM Spooky pH Science with fizzy reactions

Wed 10/28
11:00 AM Design Your Own Gabby Cat Ears

Thu 10/29
3:00 PM Character Corner: Build Your Favorite Gabby Characters

Fri 10/30
11:00 Cat Stretch Yoga and Dance Party
1:00 to 3:00 PM Cupcake Decorating (sign-up required)

4-6 PM Trick or Treating in the Mall!

Sat 10/31
10:30 AM Paint & Play: Gabby's Dollhouse Edition
1:00 PM MerCat's Spa Science

The photo experience and scavenger hunt run every day. Come in costume and make it a Halloween to remember!

Gabby's Dollhouse Association of Children’s Museums (ACM)

ChildrensMuseum KidsActivitiesSantaCruz HalloweenWithKids

The days are growing shorter, the nights are growing longer, and summer’s busy adventures are giving way to a slower, co...
10/13/2026

The days are growing shorter, the nights are growing longer, and summer’s busy adventures are giving way to a slower, cozier rhythm. Long ago, people marked this turn of the season by gathering close, lighting fires, carving lanterns, and dressing up to face the long nights together.

The Halloween season invites us to look at the dark and scary places with curiosity.

This week, We’ll peek into the shadows, dig into slimy pumpkin guts, and build friends to keep us brave.

Each activity has been thoughtfully designed as a conversation starter, giving kids a playful way to talk about what scares them and space to express themselves.

10/12/2026

Thank You for making Zoom Honk Smash Possible!

The Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery is so grateful to everyone who sponsored, volunteered, donated, and showed up to this incredible event.

A huge thank you to our Presenting Sponsors:
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
and
Santa Cruz Subaru

A special Thank You to
Sophie Logan, DDS, MMSc Orthodontics
Granite
Bonsai Robotics
Gateway School
Baymonte Christian School
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

And to
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and Bomb Squad, Central Fire District , CAL FIRE ,CHP Santa Cruz , Capitola Police Department , CaltransHQ , Santa Cruz METRO , Santa Cruz County RTC , UPS, Joby Aviation, Graniterock largoconstruction , Pacific Gas and Electric, Santa Cruz County, Calif., san Lorenzo Betz A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals , The RC Enthusiast , the Cabrillo College Nursing students who ran our Teddy Bear Clinic, Robin | Kids Sensory & Messy Play Kits, Fairytale Endings Entertainment, free Books for Kids Sunnyside Pumpkin Patch and Produce, Deluxe Foods and Whole Foods.

Special thanks to TOGO'S Capitola for keeping our volunteers fueled all day,

and to Supervisor Manu Koenig, Superintendent Faris Sabbah, and Congressman Jimmy Panetta for celebrating with us.

We can't wait to see you all next year!

10/08/2026

Previously loved kids halloween costumes $5! New costumes added daily!

10/07/2026

What happens when you drop pumpkins from a 40' lift?

Pure Joy!

Thank you Santa Cruz Subaru and Santa Cruz County Office of Education for making Zoom Honk Smash possible!

A huge thank you to our VIP Pumpkin Smashers at Zoom Honk Smash!Congressman Congressman Jimmy PanettaSupervisor Manu S K...
10/06/2026

A huge thank you to our VIP Pumpkin Smashers at Zoom Honk Smash!

Congressman Congressman Jimmy Panetta
Supervisor Manu S Koenig
Superintendent Dr. Faris Sabbah
Executive Director Dr. Wren

Thank you for dedicating your time and helping us make magic for Santa Cruz families. Seeing our community leaders smash pumpkins with winning raffle tickets from a 50' lift was definitely the highlight of our day!

Proceeds from Saturday's event will fund subsidized memberships for more than 100 low-income families, giving them a full year of unlimited play, discovery, and learning at MOD.

10/03/2026

Zoom Honk Smash is underway ! Today until 3:30 PM

Dont miss our last pumpkin smash at 2:30!

10/02/2026

What happens when you drop a pumpkin from 40 feet? Come find out Saturday.

Our VIP pumpkin smashers:

11:30 Congressman Jimmy Panetta
12:30 Supervisor Manu Koenig
1:30 Superintendent Faris Sabbah
2:30 MOD Executive Director Dr. Wren

Did we mention they have winning raffle tickets inside?

Zoom Honk Smash, Sat Oct 3, 10:30 to 3:30, Capitola Mal

09/29/2026

This Saturday, come get up close and explore the vehicles that keep our community moving!

Climb aboard a fire engine, check out the Sheriff's Department drone truck and bomb squad vehicle, meet the autonomous farm robots from Bonsai Robotics, explore a Metro bus, and so much more!

Don't miss our Pumpkin Smash Raffle, where our VIP pumpkin smashers Rep. Jimmy Panetta, County Supervisor Manu Koenig, and County Office of Education Superintendant Faris Sabbah will drop pumpkins from 35 feet in the air with winning raffle prizes hidden inside.

Stop by our b**r garden and BBQ, or grab tickets for the Fun Zone.

Did you know over 30% of visitors to the Children's Museum of Discovery rely on subsidized admission? Every dollar raised Saturday helps ensure all families have affordable access to learn and play at the only museum in the county devoted entirely to children and families.

Zoom Honk Smash: Touch a Truck
Saturday, October 3 | 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Capitola Mall | FREE Admission

09/25/2026

Want to see what happens when you smash pumpkins from a 40' bucket truck?

Join us at Zoom Honk Smash Touch a Truck on October 3rd!

Thank you to The Santa Cruz County Office of Education for sponsoring our event!

Address

1855 41st Avenue, Suite C-10
Capitola, CA
95010

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18313165200

Website

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