Halloween fun meets a year of discovery at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH), where families can celebrate Ohio’s native wildlife at Museum Family Day: Owls & Howls on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests will also be invited to explore new, more affordable ways to experience the museum all year.

One of the coyotes living at the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden.Hoot like an owl or howl like a coyote for CMNH’s special Halloween event. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes while they celebrate Ohio’s native animals with the museum’s Animal Ambassadors.

The celebration also features wildlife-inspired crafts and activities, fun photo opportunities at a custom selfie station, animal talks, and Owls & Howls bingo.

Families can enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the museum—a festive way to discover Ohio’s native wildlife. All activities are included with general admission.

Children ages 12 and under who wear costumes will receive free CMNH admission and a special trick-or-treat item. Tickets for the free admission offer must be purchased in person. Please note that full face coverings, costume masks, and toy weapons are not permitted inside the Museum.

Beaker, the Barred OwlThe Halloween festivities coincide with the museum expands its membership program, which introduces new options designed to make its exhibits, programs, and science experiences more accessible and affordable. The new Student, Individual, and Access memberships offer more ways to explore the museum throughout they year.

The new membership lineup includes $35 annual Student memberships for currently enrolled college and university students; $25 Access memberships for eligible households; and $75 Individual memberships for one adult.

• The Student membership ($35 annually) offers unlimited museum admission, along with planetarium shows, 3D movies, reciprocal admission through the Association of Science and Technology Centers, member pricing on programs and events, Museum discounts, and parking benefits. Students must purchase the membership in person and present a valid student ID.
• The Access membership ($25 annually)provides admission for up to four people in eligible households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and includes benefits such as planetarium shows, 3D movies, reciprocal admission at participating science and technology museums, member pricing on programs and events, museum discounts, and member parking. Eligibility follows the existing Museums for All admission program. Eligible visitors can purchase the membership in-person with a valid SNAP/EBT card.
• The Individual membership ($75 annually) provides unlimited admission for one adult, along with reciprocal admission benefits, member pricing on programs and events, museum discounts, parking benefits, and a digital membership card.

Two of the three barn owls—Tadar, Castor, and Pollux—who live in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden.Eligible educators include those working in public and private schools, homeschool settings, colleges, and universities. Verification is required, and discounted memberships can be purchased in-person at the museum's Welcome Desk or over the phone at (216) 231-4600.

Wickedly good deals
Visitors who want to keep exploring CMNH or the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden after Owls & Howls can apply their event admission toward the purchase of a CMNH membership—turning a single day of Halloween fun into a full year of discovery.

The museum also offers another way for local families to visit at no cost. Residents of Cleveland, East Cleveland, Brooklyn, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, and Warrensville Heights receive free admission on Saturdays and Sundays through the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Community Days program. Proof of address is required.

For Owls & Howls tickets and event information, visit the museum’s ticketing page.