Continuing a 20-year Bay Area tradition, the original Balloon Drop at Chabot Space & Science Center returns virtually with a colorful daytime countdown.
When it’s 12 p.m. in Oakland, it will be 2021 somewhere on the planet. To mark the occasion, Chabot will ring in the New Year with a Virtual Balloon Drop New Year Celebration. The event will include exciting STEM activities, a dance party, a family-friendly toast and the classic live balloon drop spectacle.
Chabot’s Balloon Drop began as an approach for families to celebrate the New Year without keeping children awake past their bedtimes. Keeping the party fun and safe for learners of all ages, Chabot’s Virtual Balloon Drop New Year Celebration will be hosted on Zoom this year, starting at 11 a.m.
“As the oldest balloon drop celebration in the Bay Area, this tradition is one of the most magical events that Chabot hosts. Our goal is to make it happen for the hundreds of families that spend New Year’s with us every year,” said Visitor Experience Director, Liz Austerman.
The virtual celebration allows for attendees to participate in the festivities from home. Guests will receive a STEM Activity Kit with materials to complete engaging science challenges from Nano@Stanford, Stanford XLab teams and Chabot’s own Galaxy Explorers. STEM Activity Kits include materials to make your own catapult, create planet models, experiment with magnets and try a balloon drop engineering challenge.
The final countdown will include a special toast for the whole family, as well as a dance party. At 12 p.m., Chabot will ring in the new year with a colorful live balloon drop.
Virtual Balloon Drop New Year Celebration will crown a year of online STEM programming at Chabot Space & Science Center. Chabot has offered more than 75 free virtual programs since the Center closed for general admission in March due to the COVID-19 crisis.
“Now more than ever, we realize the importance of science during this crisis,” said Austerman, “We are seeing a real need for fun and accessible STEM programming. Virtual programs have been a great opportunity to learn with our community and provide a platform for science.”
Weekly virtual programs have included Virtual Telescope Viewings, Live Science! Shows, historic launch watch parties, as well as many workshops and talks by local scientists. As a vital resource for families and teachers especially, these events have been viewed more than 200,000 times.
Chabot Space & Science Center plans to reopen in June 2021, and is committed to offering accessible virtual STEM learning opportunities while preparing for reopening.
Tickets for the Virtual Balloon Drop New Year Celebration include admission to the virtual event, STEM activity kits, party items and shipping. Ticket prices are $20-$50, with a discount for Chabot members. Anyone who joins or renews as a Chabot member before December 14 will receive a free event ticket, party items and STEM Activity Kit.
General registration begins December 1.
About Chabot Space & Science Center
Chabot Space & Science Center is a non-profit institution and community resource located on 13 trail-laced acres in Redwood Regional Park in Oakland amid the largest stand of coastal redwoods in the East Bay. Chabot features a 241-seat full dome planetarium, interactive and hands-on exhibits, space artifacts, a giant screen theater, a Challenger Learning Center, and the only research-level telescopes regularly available to the public for weekly live viewing in the Western United States. Chabot’s mission is to inspire and educate learners of all ages about the Universe and Planet Earth.
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