Fire performances, magic shows, stilt walkers, carnival games, costume contests, food trucks, a beer garden, and much more await visitors to the Virginia Museum of Natural History on Saturday, October 25 from 4 to 10 p.m., when the museum hosts Bonez & Booz, one of the region’s premier Halloween and Fall festivals.
“Bonez & Booz isn’t your typical museum event,” said VMNH Deputy Director Ryan Barber. “At its core, it’s one large party that provides attendees with an exciting, fun and safe Halloween-themed experience. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in costume and spend the evening enjoying all that the festival has to offer. It’s specifically designed to be enjoyed by everyone, from families with young children to adults flying solo.”
Live performances are always a staple of Bonez & Booz, and this year’s offerings will capitalize on the talents of some of the region’s most gifted performers.
“It’s impossible to say which acts visitors will enjoy the most, but this year’s lineup of performances will definitely keep crowds entertained throughout the night,” said VMNH Visitor Services Manager Robbie Hendrix-Wirt. “From the spectacular fire performances of Imagine Circus to the tantalizing magic and illusion shows of Joseph Young Entertainment, Bonez & Booz will keep the party going from start to finish.”
Taking place both inside and outside of the museum, Bonez & Booz will feature a wide variety of stage shows, performances and carnival games outdoors, while utilizing the inside of the museum for the unique experience of a nighttime exhibit scavenger hunt.
“It’s rare that the museum is open to visitors at night and exploring the museum’s exhibit galleries after the sun goes down has a very different vibe,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “This is especially true during Bonez & Booz, when the galleries will be thematically lit as visitors embark on their scavenger hunts.”
Beyond the live entertainment and scavenger hunts, Bonez & Booz will feature an entire lineup of interactive activities, such as carnival games, costume contests, face painting, balloon art, caricature art, and even a Halloween photo booth.
“Bonez & Booz is a unique Halloween event and one that the museum takes extra care to ensure that it’s both fun and entertaining for everyone, from families with young children to adults who are looking for a memorable night out,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “If you’re looking for interactivity, we’ve got you covered. If you’re looking to simply immerse yourself in an incredibly fun Halloween-themed atmosphere, we’ve got you covered, too.”
Each year, visitors of all ages have impressed museum staff with their costume creativity and this year’s edition of Bonez & Booz will once again offer visitors the opportunity to show off their creations by competing in costume contests. Contests are limited to 25 participants per age group and pre-registration is required at least 30 minutes prior to each age group’s start time. Pre-registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Age groups and contest times are as follows:
*Ages 0 to 5: 5:30 p.m.
*Ages 6 to 9: 6:00 p.m.
*Ages 10 to 13: 6:30 p.m.
*Ages 14 to 17: 7:30 p.m.
*Ages 18 and older: 9:30 p.m.
Of course, as a science museum, the museum’s curatorial staff will take the opportunity during Bonez & Booz to highlight some of the most unusual and bizarre specimens that can be found inside the VMNH collections.
“There are well over 10 million specimens inside the museum’s scientific collections and, if you haven’t had the opportunity to tour behind the scenes before, you’re likely unaware of some of the really strange and borderline spooky specimens that are housed inside the museum vault,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “Bonez & Booz gives our curators the perfect opportunity to bring out items that may almost have visitors start to think monsters really do exist.”
The Bonez & Booz Beer Garden and Food Truck Alley will also be available to visitors throughout the event, offering attendees numerous beverage and dining options. Food trucks scheduled to be on-site include Bahama Sno-Shack, D’s Hot/Ice, Factory Roast, Jen’s Cakes with Personality, Kona Ice, Malloy Dogz and Palumbo’s Hoagie House.
Admission to Bonez & Booz is $15 for adults aged 18 to 59 and $10 for children and youth ages 3-17, as well as college students and seniors aged 60 and older. Admission is free for children under 3, museum members, and members of museums and science centers that participate in the ASTC Passport program.
The museum also participates in the Museums for All initiative, offering discounted admission to EBT cardholders. Through this program and additional funding provided by Hooker Furnishings, Carter Bank, and Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, visitors who present their EBT card and accompanying ID at the gate will receive free admission to Bonez & Booz. Free admission applies to the cardholder and up to 5 immediate family members living within the same household.
Bonez & Booz is sponsored by Atlantic Union Bank, Bassett Furniture Industries, Boxley Materials Company, Brightspeed, Carter Bank, Hooker Furnishings, Renewal by Anderson of Roanoke, and The Helen S. & Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust.
Parking for this event will be available off-site and free of charge. The museum will be closed to visitors during its normal operating hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on Saturday, October 25 to prepare for the event. All costumes must be family-friendly. The museum is a tobacco and vape-free campus. Service animals are welcome, but pets are not allowed.
For more information about Bonez & Booz, including a list of performance and activity times, visit www.vmnh.net/events/bonez-and-booz.
