Spooktacular celebration returns Oct. 27 at the Bullock

OCTOBER 17, 2017 (AUSTIN, TX) — Characters are welcome as families explore the Bullock Museum after hours during Spooktacular, a free Halloween celebration on Oct. 27, 2017 from  5 to 8 p.m. Visitors of all ages will enjoy an evening of treats, games, demonstrations, and hands-on art and science activities, in addition to free admission to the museum's three floors of interactive exhibitions.

Families are encouraged to dress as favorite video game characters at this year's event, which is inspired by the Bullock's original exhibition, Pong to Pokémon: The Evolution of Electronic Gaming. Activities and demonstrations will include clay Minecraft character creation, vintage Halloween cartoon screenings, robotic hand controller engineering, color-coded programming, dry ice boo bubbles and a family friendly dance floor.

"Spooktacular is a great way for families to kick off the Halloween weekend," Bullock Museum Family Programs Manager Angela Kennedy said. "Where else can you trick or treat for toys and trinkets, boogie alongside LED dancers, and explore the science and art behind some of your favorite video games? The night should be a memorable one for the whole family."

The Austin nonprofit Girlstart will once again partner with the museum to offer activities that encourage exploration in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), this time with a gaming twist.

"This year at Spooktacular, Girlstart is excited to launch paper witch brooms, explore eerie sounds, program mini robots through a haunted house maze, and more," Girlstart Director of Programs Katelyn Wamsted said. "Girlstart loves to use Halloween to make STEM meaningful for kids and families, and this year we're incorporating activities inspired by the Bullock's Pong to Pokémon exhibit, including designing a video game slingshot and engineering a robotic hand controller prototype."

Spooktacular offers an opportunity for visitors to experience the museum's Texas History Galleries and special exhibitions at no charge. For more information about the museum or the 2017 Spooktacular event, visit TheStoryofTexas.com or call (512)936-8746.

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​​The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, creates experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions that illuminate Texas history, people, and culture, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with a screen the size of Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives, organizations, and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life. For more information, visit www.TheStoryofTexas.com or call (866)369-7108.