Field Museum Gala

Celebrate and support the Field Museum at our annual Gala!

Field Museum Gala 2026

Imagine what it would feel like to stand next to a T. rex. Ponder what flowers smelled like 30 million years ago. See what inspiration you'll find and start turning your ideas into poetry with Eric Elshtain, the Field Museum's first poet in residence.&nbsp;
Join us for a series of weekly events that change how you see the museum—whether you’ve visited once or dozens of times. Encounter objects from our collection. Tour an exhibition. Find our poet in residence at a typewriter station to craft your own poem!
Eric hosts pop-ups most Thursdays from 10am–12pm, in locations across the museum. No prior knowledge of poetry needed. &nbsp;

Poetry Pop-up: The Human Story Begins

Poetry Pop-up: Menagerie of Poetry

Poetry Pop-up: Poetic Mechanics

Poetry Pop-up: Poetry Lives Here

Discover the natural world through poetry at weekly pop-up events featuring the Field’s poet in residence.

Poetry Pop-up

A group gathers at the corner of a diorama case. One man sits a desk with a typerwriter. He looks up to a family of three standing over him. The man in the middle stands with arms around the other two individuals. Both are smiling down at the man seated at the desk. A black box with a glass front holds a rock specimen and is propped up against the leg of the desk.

Poetry Pop-Up

gn92631_149ad-photoarchives_webexport.jpg

Join Eric in Evolving Planet and learn how to use a poem to speculate about our early hominid relatives.

Join Eric in the East Hall to explore the large display case with poetry!

Get your poems into gear! Meet Eric in The Machine Inside: Biomechanics

Illinois Free Wednesday 

Beat the mid-week blues and come visit SUE— the Field is free on Wednesdays for Illinois Residents! 

Illinois Free Wednesdays

Birds of prey are sentinels of environmental health—what shows up in their bodies tells us how pollution is moving through ecosystems and, ultimately, affecting people. This session brings together two long-running efforts to monitor raptors across the region. The Great Lakes Eagle Health Project, led by a collaborative team of state, federal, and academic researchers, studies how contaminants influence eagle health. Field Museum Research Associate Emily Ruhs shares her fieldwork across Wisconsin studying the impact of forever chemicals (PFAS) on the health of bald eagle nestlings. Complementing this work, the Chicago Peregrine Program has tracked the recovery of peregrine falcons—a species once decimated by contaminants like DDT—across the Chicago region for decades. Mary Hennen and Dylan Maddox discuss what monitoring urban peregrines reveals about the health of our shared environment.

Toxins in Talons: Monitoring Great Lakes Raptors

See the latest science firsthand in the Grainger Science Hub.

Meet a Scientist

Young visitors and a museum educator examine a teaching specimen together in the Grainger Science Hub

Scientists, researchers, and collections managers are behind the scenes every day, uncovering new information and taking care of our collection.

During Meet a Scientist, you can find them in the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibition/halls-and-galleries/grainger-science-hub">Grainger&nbsp;Science Hub</a>. They'll discuss their work and share real items from the museum’s collection of nearly 40 million objects. From collections care to field work, and dinosaurs to ecology, there’s a world of science to explore.

Visit the&nbsp;Science Hub on select weekdays for an up-close look at what our researchers do every day.

Join us for a 1-hour virtual professional development where educators will explore the importance of focused field trips, learn strategies for making meaningful curriculum connections, and discover how to plan impactful learning experiences for students.

Focused Field Trips

Join us as we continue our Virtual Professional Development Series! 

Educator Virtual Professional Development Series

Learn how to book and plan purposeful museum visits that maximize student learning.

The Crown Family PlayLab offers PlayLab PlayDates on select Wednesdays and Saturdays. PlayLab PlayDates are drop-in activities, free to museum guests with children ages 2-6, featuring storytime sessions, music, crafts, science experiments, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pre-registration is not required! Sessions take place in the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibition/halls-and-galleries/crown-family-playlab">Crown Family PlayLab</a>.&nbsp;

Program length varies, usually from 20 minutes to 1 hour.

For more information, please see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datocms-assets.com/44232/1771856923-general-playlab-programs-policies-faqs-updated.pdf">PlayLab Programs FAQs</a>. Still have questions? Contact the PlayLab team at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:playlabevents@fieldmuseum.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">playlabevents@fieldmuseum.org</a>.

Families with children ages 2–6 are invited to a free, drop-in PlayDate to celebrate <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/activity/disability-pride-month">Disability Pride Month</a>. This PlayDate will feature activities hosted by our local volunteer partners from Park Lawn. Join us for a fun-filled PlayDate!
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/44232/1784815876-7-29-26-park-lawn-disability-pride-month.webp">

PlayLab PlayDate: Disability Pride Month Celebration featuring Park Lawn

PlayLab PlayDate: Diwali Storytime and Craft

PlayLab PlayDate: Space Storytime with Local Youth Author Jaiyen Bhandari

PlayLab PlayDate: Tully Monster Celebration with Paul Mayer

Drop in to the Crown Family PlayLab for free weekly activities for 2-6 year olds!

PlayLab PlayDates

On select Legendary Late Hours dates, the Museum is open 9am to 9pm (last entry at 8pm).

The Field Museum and Riot Fest are partnering up for a righteous Museum takeover from 5pm-9pm on August 11th, complete with music and some seriously sick specimens, to get you geared up for Riot Fest 2026.
Our fossils are older than dirt and larger than life. Come dig in with the scientists that dig up our fossils.
This event is part of our Legendary Late Hours series, included in general admission. During our Legendary Late Hours, catch SUE the T.rex, the Chicago Archaeopteryx, Tsavo Lions, priceless gems and jade, and more! And be sure to add the Pokémon Fossil Museum and After the Age of Dinosaurs to your itinerary for the full Field experience.
Come after work, after school, or start when we open and stay until we close.
Get legendary at the Field Museum.

Legendary Late Hours

Enjoy extended museum hours from 9am to 9pm, last entry at 8pm.

Enjoy extended museum hours from 9am to 9pm, last entry at 8pm

Legendary Late Hours: Open until 9pm on select dates

Please carefully review our updated policy regarding age requirements for Dozin' with the Dinos attendees.

<ul>
<li>Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted into a Dozin' with the Dinos event. Families and groups with children under the age of 6 may be asked to leave the event without a refund.</li>
<li>Adults may not attend Dozin' with the Dinos without a child between the ages of 6-12. If you attend the event and do not have children in your party, you will be asked to leave the event without a refund.</li>
<li>If you've purchased tickets incorrectly by mistake, you have until 2 weeks prior to the event to request a refund. After the two week period no refunds will be given, and you will not be admitted to the event.</li>
</ul>

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out via email: overnights@fieldmuseum.org or give us a call at 312-665-7525.

Age Policy

See the Field Museum in a whole new light! Families and groups with kids ages 6 to 12 can spend the night at the museum during Dozin' with the Dinos.
Stay up late with scientists as the Field Museum comes to life in games, challenges, and stories throughout the night. Will you dissect owl pellets and identify animal tracks to become the next great wildlife detective? Or, will you embark on a paleontologist's expedition to learn how fossils form? Take on these adventures and more with the Dozin’ Institute for Nocturnal Observations (DINO) on our late-night mission of discovery. Then, grab your flashlight and explore the halls as the lights go out. This is a night at the museum you won't forget!
Tickets to Dozin’ with the Dinos scheduled for September 18th and November 6th will include admission to the Pokémon Fossil Museum. Timed tickets will be assigned to all Dozin’ ticketholders prior to the event. All sales are final.

Dozin&rsquo; with the Dinos is supported by Utz Brands&nbsp;

Acknowledgments

Utz Brands

Dozin' with the Dinos

Media for Before SUE the T. rex, there was ‘Gorgeous George’

Media for Visiting SUE the T. rex: What to Know Before You Go

An adult and two children standing at the skull of SUE the T. rex in it's glass display case..

The smallest of museum visitors can get up close and personal with the largest dinos at our special events.

© Ed Lines, Jr

Settle in for a snooze next to your favorite species at Dozin' with the Dinos!

Science is more fun in your pajamas.

Standard

Premium

Tour

Ultimate SUE Sleepover 

All Dozin&rsquo; with the Dinos tickets include a sleeping spot in the&nbsp;exhibitions, discounted parking, admission to select ticketed exhibits,&nbsp;general admission to the Museum the following day, an evening snack, and a&nbsp;continental breakfast. Upgrade to sleep near the dinos in&nbsp;Evolving Planet, or SUE with the Ultimate SUE package!

Groups of 15 or more can get discounted tickets with all standard amenities&mdash;learn more and register via the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjoMYuxAVCgGvcpVOEwSKU7AfaHKvPlLU2Erv3h50mrp2Lcw/viewform">Group Info Form.</a>

All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable.

2026 Tickets Packages

Welcome to Dozin' with the Dinos at the Field Museum

Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park

Purchase a meal voucher ahead of time for a discounted rate of $20. Meal vouchers include a main dish, side, and dessert. Menu will be provided closer to the event date. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available upon request.

All ticket sales are final. For the safety of all guests, please do not wear costumes that cover your face or include prop weapons of any kind.

Please email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:adults@fieldmuseum.org">adults@fieldmuseum.org</a> or call 312.665.7303 with any questions.

Huzzah, and may fortune favor thy order.

For one enchanted evening, the hallowed halls of the Field Museum will transform into a realm of myth, merriment, and discovery for a 21+ Renaissance-inspired celebration unlike any other.
Upon arrival, guests shall join one of four noble orders — Science, Record, Research, or the Dissemination of Knowledge — the founding muses upon which the museum was built, and rally behind their Champion of Discovery throughout the evening’s festivities. By participating in activities, demonstrations, and challenges across the museum, guests will earn tokens for their order in a friendly competition to determine who shall be crowned Master of the Sciences at evening’s end.
From mead and brewing to medicinal herbs, metallurgy, and the study of mythical creatures through history and folklore, each corner of the museum offers new wonders rooted in science and history to uncover.
Gather your friends, dress for the occasion, and prepare for a night of merriment, mystery, and discovery throughout the museum.&nbsp;
All permanent exhibitions will be open for the duration of the event. Tickets include light snacks, beer and wine. Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase.&nbsp;

Field Faire: A Knight at the Museum 

Game Night: The Scientist’s Secret

Museum After Hours

Hear ye, seekers of wonder, scholars of the arts, and revelers of science and sorcery—

Visitors reacting to seeing jarred specimens at an event.

Tickets

<spanhelvetica neue",arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;color:#222222;"="" data-sheets-root="1">Families with 2-6 year olds are invited to a free, drop-in program celebrating the Diwali season. Join us and our special guest, Parul L. Bhandari, author of Shine a Light on Diwali, at 11am for a festive read-aloud and crafts!</spanhelvetica>

Families with children ages 2–6 are invited to a free, drop-in PlayDate celebrating space! Young author Jaiyen L. Bhandari will share his book inspired by his love for space. Join us for an author read-aloud as we celebrate the cosmos with stories, creativity, and fun!

Join us in the Crown Family PlayLab for a free, drop-in PlayDate celebrating the official designation of the Tully Monster as the Illinois State Fossil on Aug 31, 1989.
Families with 2-6 year olds are invited to a free, drop-in, storytime session hosted by the Field Museum Geology Collections team to honor this unique creature. Join us for a fun-filled PlayDate with stories and more!

Tully Monster Reconstruction

Media

&nbsp;Purchase a meal voucher ahead of time for a discounted rate of $20. Meal vouchers include a main dish, side and dessert. Menu will be provided closer to the event date.&nbsp;

All ticket sales are final. Please email us at adults@fieldmuseum.org or call 312.665.7303 with any questions.&nbsp;

Join us for a 21+ evening celebrating games around the world, woven together with a museum-wide mystery.&nbsp;
Try your hand playing ancient board games from around the world - The Royal Game of Ur, Nine Men’s Morris, and more! From games tied to ritual and the afterlife to those built on strategy and chance, discover how play has connected people across civilizations for thousands of years and influenced games we still play today.
But this game night comes with a mystery.&nbsp;
As the evening unfolds, you'll uncover clues left behind by an anonymous scientist who believed a hidden secret was concealed within the museum. Follow the trail, solve puzzles hidden throughout the exhibits and game lounges, and piece together the mystery.&nbsp;
Will you uncover the truth behind the scientist's secret?
All permanent exhibitions will be open for the duration of the event. The Pokémon Fossil Museum and After the Age of Dinosaurs will not be open. Tickets include light snacks, beer and wine. Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase.&nbsp;

See the Field Museum in a whole new light! Families and groups with kids ages 6 to 12 can spend the night at the museum during Dozin' with the Dinos.
Stay up late with scientists as the Field Museum comes to life in games, challenges, and stories throughout the night. Will you dissect owl pellets and identify animal tracks to become the next great wildlife detective? Or, will you embark on a paleontologist's expedition to learn how fossils form? Take on these adventures and more with the Dozin&rsquo; Institute for Nocturnal Observations (DINO) on our late-night mission of discovery. Then, grab your flashlight and explore the halls as the lights go out. This is a night at the museum you won't forget!
Tickets to Dozin&rsquo; with the Dinos scheduled for September 18th and November 6th will include admission to the Pok&eacute;mon Fossil Museum. Timed tickets will be assigned to all Dozin&rsquo; ticketholders prior to the event. All sales are final.

All Dozin&rsquo; with the Dinos tickets include a sleeping spot in the&nbsp;exhibitions, discounted parking, admission to select ticketed exhibits,&nbsp;general admission to the Museum the following day, an evening snack, and a&nbsp;continental breakfast. Upgrade to sleep near the dinos in&nbsp;Evolving Planet,&nbsp;or SUE with the Ultimate SUE package!

Groups of 15 or more can get discounted tickets with all standard amenities&mdash;learn more and register via the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjoMYuxAVCgGvcpVOEwSKU7AfaHKvPlLU2Erv3h50mrp2Lcw/viewform">Group Info Form.</a>

All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable.

Join us for a professional development book club over the course of three dates on:
<ul>
<li>Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 2:00pm–4:00 pm CDT at Restoried Bookshop | 4613 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago IL 60625</li>
<li>Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | 2:00-3:00pm CDT virtual on Zoom</li>
<li>Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | 10:00am-12:00pm at Field Museum &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Join a cohort of 20 educators for a three-part learning experience exploring Filipino history, identity, and storytelling through literature, dialogue, and place-based learning.
Together, participants will read Wild Song by Candy Gourlay and Mabuhay!, a graphic novel by Zachary Sterling, that brings Filipino history and culture to life for younger readers. Through guided discussions, educators will examine themes of colonialism, migration, resilience, belonging, and representation while considering how these stories can enrich classroom practice and support culturally responsive teaching.
The series will begin with an in-person gathering at Restoried, Chicago's only AANHPI-focused bookstore, where participants will build community and launch their reading journey. A second virtual session will provide space for deeper discussion and reflection on Mabuhay! The experience will culminate at the Field Museum, where educators will connect Wild Song to material culture and history through a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Philippine Heritage Collection.
By moving between books, community spaces, and museum collections, participants will gain a richer understanding of Filipino narratives and explore new ways to engage students with stories that illuminate the intersections of history, identity, and belonging.
<h4>Program Format</h4>
<ul>
<li>Session 1: In-person at Restoried Bookshop, meet and pickup both books</li>
<li>Session 2: Virtual Meet to discuss Wild Song</li>
<li>Session 3: Meet in-person at the Field Museum to discuss Mabuhay and for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Philippine Heritage Collection</li>
</ul>
Audience: Grades 3–12 educators, librarians, and education professionals interested in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander histories, literature, and culturally responsive learning experiences.
<h4>Registration Includes</h4>
<ul>
<li>2 books: Wild Song and Mabuhay</li>
<li>Access to all three sessions</li>
<li>Materials</li>
<li>Light breakfast and parking at Session 3 at the Field Museum</li>
<li>Behind the Scenes Tour of the Philippine Heritage Collection</li>
</ul>
Registration will remain open until July 9th or until full.
<div>Educators will receive Illinois Professional Development Credit (CPDUs) for any sessions attended. It is not required to attend all three sessions to join.&nbsp;</div>
Questions? Contact Ria Pretekin, <a href="mailto:rpretekin@fieldmuseum.org">rpretekin@fieldmuseum.org</a>&nbsp;

Field Museum Connections: AANHPI Stories &amp; the TEAACH Act programming is made possible with the generous support of the Cyrus Tang Foundation.

Windows, Mirrors, and Stories: Exploring Filipino Literature to Teach Identity and Culture

Teaching Through Storytelling: Coast Salish Weaving and Woolly Dogs

Join us in person at the Field Museum for a professional learning experience and workshop!

Professional Development for Educators

Ask our poet-in-residence to compose a poem for you about your favorite scientific objects or ideas. Find Eric in Stanley Field Hall.

Educator Open House

Join us for an exciting professional development opportunity for Pre-K-12th grade educators.

Educator Open House 2026

Early Morning: The Pokémon Fossil Museum 

Early Mornings

Early Morning events

Join us at the Field Museum on&nbsp;Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 10am-12pm for Teaching Through Storytelling: Coast Salish Weaving and Woolly Dogs.
In this session created especially for Early Childhood teachers, hear from Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun (Snuneymuxw) about storytelling and the importance of the woolly dogs for the Coast Salish people. Then, learn more about Coast Salish weaving by experiencing our new Early Childhood <a href="https://fieldmuseum.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eaf2429b25c9bd9768bfd6a32&amp;id=739ff71d70&amp;e=380e3ff4ac">Woolly Dogs field trip class</a> for yourself!
<h4 dir="ltr">Educators will</h4>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Understand: That weaving tells a story and that storytelling in the Coast Salish community is a powerful means of conveying knowledge and preserving culture.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Do: Practice weaving and listen to a story about the woolly dogs and their importance to Coast Salish people.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Feel: Prepared to utilize best practices in early childhood learning to make the unfamiliar familiar.</li>
</ul>
Registration is open to formal and informal educators of all levels, though activities for this session are most applicable for PreK-Grade 1 teachers.&nbsp;
Illinois Educators will earn 2 hours of Professional Development for attending this two-day training.
<h4 dir="ltr">Your registration includes</h4>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Materials
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Light breakfast
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Parking&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
Looking to be more environmentally-friendly? You can find public transit options <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/page/directions-parking">here</a>.
Registration will remain open until Tuesday, August 4, 2026, or until full.
Program questions? Contact Samantha Chapleau, <a href="mailto:schapleau@fieldmuseum.org">schapleau@fieldmuseum.org</a>.

Learn about the Coast Salish woolly dogs and how storytelling is a powerful means of conveying knowledge and preserving culture.

<h3>Standards Alignment</h3>

<h4>Skyline:</h4>

<ul>
<li>
PreK Social Science
</li>
<ul>
<li>
Unit 4: Me and My World
</li>
</ul>

<li>
Grade K
</li>
<ul>
<li>
Unit 1: Getting Along Together
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
Unit 4: From the Past to the Future
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Grade 1: Living, Learning, and Working Together
</li>
<ul>
<li>
Unit 4: Past, Present, and Future
</li>
<li>
Unit 5: The Work We Do
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Illinois Social Studies Standards Geography: SS.1.G.3. Compare how people in different types of communities use local and worldwide environments to meet their daily needs.
Illinois Social Studies Standards History: SS.K.H.1. Compare life in the past to life today, including the points of view of diverse groups of people
Illinois Social/Emotional Development Standards: 31.A.ECa show empathy, sympathy, and caring for others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
Social Justice Standards Diversity 8: DI.K-2.8I want to know about other people and how our lives and experiences are the same and different.

Join this week's session as Grace Burgin from the University of Illinois Chicago presents the talk&nbsp;Mate Choice in Phlox Wildflowers.

Events

July 29, 2026

Wednesday, July 29

Wednesday, July 29

July 30, 2026

Thursday, July 30

July 31, 2026

Friday, July 31

Friday, July 31

Events

Filter controls

Events by date

July 29, 2026

Wednesday, July 29

Tags for Illinois Free Wednesday

Wednesday, July 29

Tags for PlayLab PlayDate: Disability Pride Month Celebration featuring Park Lawn

July 30, 2026

Thursday, July 30

Tags for Poetry Pop-up: Poetry Lives Here

July 31, 2026

Friday, July 31

Tags for Legendary Late Hours

Friday, July 31

Tags for Toxins in Talons: Monitoring Great Lakes Raptors