The 17th Annual BFK Children's Parade, presented by @thedacare , will be here before you know it! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 22, register your group, and start planning your costumes or theme. During last year's parade, families dressed as movie characters, princesses, superheroes, and much more. We're looking forward to seeing what costumes you create this year!
To learn more and register, visit /childrens-parade
In just 2 weeks, this space will transform into Power Up, our new energy-themed exhibit sponsored by @usventureinc ! Installation is just around the corner—we can't wait to see the exhibit come to life and explore it with you once it opens on Saturday, May 30
Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to opening day! To learn more about Power Up, visit /2026/04/power-up-exhibit
Planes, Cranes, and Automobiles is this Saturday, May 16 from 9am - 4pm! During this transportation-themed day at the BFK, we're using Rigamajig pieces to build vehicles. Experiment with different designs and test how your creations roll and turn.
And that’s just one of many transportation-themed activities happening throughout the day! To learn more, visit /upcoming-events
Our next Teen's Night Out is Tuesday, June 2 from 6 - 8pm! Join us for Summer Bash, where teens will kick off summer with a night at the BFK. Throughout the evening, they will have the opportunity to explore the museum, build lava lamps in The Lab, and make friendship bracelets in The Studio. There will also be time to enjoy a snack from our snack bar, socialize, and make new friends!
This is a free event, but registration is encouraged. To register, visit /65215/Teens-Night-Out-Summer-Bash
Join us on Sunday, May 17 for our next Sensory Superstars! Between 9am and 12pm, the museum will provide a lower-sensory environment, including dimmer lighting, no music, and certain exhibits turned off. This program is FREE for families in the Autism community.
To learn more, visit /sensory-superstars
Get ready to stomp, roar, and explore! In collaboration with @myhistorymuseum , we're turning downtown Appleton into a prehistoric playground on Saturday, June 6. Join us at the BFK from 9am - 4pm for a day of dino‑themed activities, sponsored by Festival Foods, like a dino scavenger hunt, digging for dinosaurs in kinetic sand, building erupting volcanoes, and more.
At the History Museum at the Castle, meet paleontologist Amelia and get hands-on with real fossils from 10am – 12pm and 1 – 3pm. Touch dinosaur bones, ask your burning paleontology questions, and dig into the past!
Activities at each museum are free with the paid price of general admission. Make your visit to the BFK easy by purchasing advanced general admission tickets at /admission-tickets
We’re rolling out the fun with Planes, Cranes, and Automobiles this Saturday, May 16 from 9am - 4pm! During this transportation-themed day at the BFK, we're exploring motion, momentum, and what makes vehicles (and other objects) move! Build a track for your vehicle, use ramps to get it rolling, and experiment with different ways to keep it on course.
This is just one of the many themed activities we have planned! To learn more, visit /upcoming-events
Power Up, our new energy-themed exhibit sponsored by @usventureinc , opens in less than a month! To get ready for its opening, we've started exploring energy concepts through activities such as building simple electrical circuits to illuminate light bulbs.
Power Up will help us dive deeper into these topics as families activate different energy stations around the exhibit, test ideas, and discover how energy powers a community. The exhibit will open to the public on Saturday, May 30. To learn more, visit /2026/04/power-up-exhibit
Today is Science of Magic Day at the BFK! In celebration of Appleton’s Year of Houdini, members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 398 are teaching fun, easy‑to‑learn illusions that kids can practice with family and perform for friends. Plus, families are enjoying live magic shows and hands‑on, magic‑themed activities in The Studio and The Lab.
The magicians from the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 398 are here until 1pm—so there’s still time to join the fun and discover your inner magician. We'll see you soon!
Join us for our next Welcome Baby Connecting Event this Saturday, May 9 at 9am! First 5 Fox Valley’s Help Me Grow will lead a presentation on prioritizing your mental health and managing stress as a parent. This free event will also offer opportunities to share experiences, socialize, and connect with other families.
Plus, attend this Connecting Event and receive a FREE membership to the BFK! Learn more and register at /welcomebabycommunity
Science of Magic Day at the BFK is this Saturday, May 9! In celebration of Appleton’s Year of Houdini, we're hosting a day of hands‑on magic from 9am - 4pm. Discover how science can be used to create magical results, like leak-proof bags, a liquid that acts like a solid, and more. Experiment, explore, and be amazed at what magic you can create!
Plus, magicians from the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 398 will join us from 9am - 1pm to teach families tricks and perform live magic shows. To learn more about Science of Magic, visit /upcoming-events
Are you looking for a fun way to represent your organization this summer? Sign up to participate in the 17th annual BFK Children’s Parade, presented by @thedacare , on Wednesday, July 22! During this parade through downtown Appleton, organizations such as sports teams, school groups, businesses, etc. can form a group to showcase who they are through creative costumes, signs, and non-motorized floats.
Start forming your group today, and register to participate in this free annual tradition at /childrens-parade
