Moment of Zen
Posted 10/16/2018
Advance Group Sales and Birthdays
New for 2019! Due to the current construction schedule, the Boonshoft Museum will be offering group admission birthday parties! This will allow us to accommodate all families that wish to celebrate their special day with us, as well as various community groups and other weekend daytime visitors.
Advance Group Sales for Weekends
$90 for a minimum of 12 people, plus $9 per additional person
- Members and children under 3 years of age are admitted free of charge. Must present current member cards or ID at the time of admission.
- Two (2) free chaperone tickets per ten (10) paid admissions. (Note that this is the 12 person minimum.)
- Admission from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Groups must schedule check-in time at booking.
- Whole museum access.
- Must be scheduled 10 business days in advance. Drop-in groups must pay regular admission rates at the Guest Services Desk.
- Must pay booking fee in advance: a minimum of ten (10) paid admissions, plus any room or program reservations, in full.
- Additional admissions must be paid upon arrival to the museum by the client in one payment, less any free admissions. Individuals cannot pay for admission separately at the advance rate.
Looking for a weekday field trip or group visit? Click here to learn more about our Education programs.
Group Admission Birthdays
$190 for a minimum of 12 people, plus $9 per additional person
All of the above, plus:
- 2 hour Bieser classroom reservation for up to 50 (subject to limited availability)
- Birthday Hat for the Birthday kid
- Stickers and wristbands for the party attendees
- Digital Download for a Museum scavenger hunt
- Hamper to store coats and belongings while in the museum
Interested in booking a date? Complete the online inquiry form.
FAQ
Q. Do I have to be a member to book group admission?
A. No, you do not need to be a member to book group admission.
Q. When do I have to book my group?
A. All group admissions must be booked 10 business days in advance to ensure proper staffing. Drop in groups will have to pay regular admission at the Guest Services Desk.
During peak booking season (September to April) party bookings in Bieser classroom may book to capacity 6-8 weeks out.
Q. Are there places for non-birthday groups to eat in at the museum during the winter?
A. Bieser will be available for use with birthday party group admissions only.
Unfortunately there are no other group dining areas indoors at the museum. The Food Chain area is for groups of 10 or less only. There are picnic grounds outside for use during good weather. You can choose to leave for lunch and return later. There are many restaurants close to the museum that can host larger groups.
Q. What do I need to do to secure my date?
A. You need to sign a contract and pay for a minimum of 10 admissions and any room rentals or add-ons in full. You will pay the remainder less any free admissions (members and children under 3) upon arrival at the museum.
Q. How many children can I bring?
A. We ask that you follow the museum’s guidelines of 5 children to 1 adult. For this reason we provide 2 free chaperone tickets per every set of 10 purchased admissions. If using Bieser, the posted room capacity is 50 people total.
Q. What times are available for members to reserve Bieser as part of their visit?
A. Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. or 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Q. Can we bring decorations?
A. You can only bring decorations if you reserve Bieser as part of your party. You will not be able to have more than 30 minutes of early access and 15 minutes for cleanup, so it is recommended that set-up be minimal. The museum does not allow helium balloons, confetti, glitter, sparklers, fog machines, “poppers,” or piñatas at any time.
Q. Where do we go when we arrive?
A. Hosts and guests will enter through the Education Lobby entrance to the right of the Front Entrance. They will check in with staff at the Education Lobby Desk to pay for any additional admissions and check in members. Members will still be responsible for showing their membership card and photo ID. Hosts are responsible for passing out all wristbands to their guests after making payment. Parties arriving before they have access to Bieser will have to keep any belongings or decorations either in their vehicle or in their provided hamper. Each party will have one (1) dedicated hamper for this purpose.
Q. Why can’t you offer your flat rate anymore?
A. During 2019 the museum will have several ongoing construction projects that may disrupt the visitor experience. Birthdays were impacted in several different ways. The number of available time slots, rooms, and overall guest volume were all perceived as customer service challenges. Aligning birthday parties with the group admission process will help the museum better monitor attendance, appropriately staff for volume, and offer more families the opportunity to celebrate at the museum.
