Closed Mondays

Up Late with the Sphinx

Two kids looking at hieroglyphics in the Egypt Gallery.

Calling all scouts and families! Have you ever wanted to explore the museum galleries after dark? Join us during Up Late with the Sphinx for an evening filled with games and gallery activities. Drop into a hands-on workshop and make something special to take home. Finish your evening with a flashlight tour through the museum. Each ticket includes a special Penn Museum patch. This program is best suited for children ages 6-12.

An Epic Evening of Family Fun

  • Travel the world after dark on a flashlight tour of the galleries.

    Two children inspecting the Margarita Panel with flashlights.
  • Touch replica artifacts and ask questions at a Cartifacts station.

    Two children at a cartifacts station.
  • Make-and-take! Drop into hands-on workshops to create something special.

    A little girl at a crafting table, working with straws and masking tape.
  • Challenge the family to a game of Mancala, one of the oldest games in the world.

    A parent and child playing a game.
  • Take home a souvenir Sphinx patch to show off your awesome adventure!

    The Up Late with the Sphinx scouts badge.

Upcoming Dates

January 18 5:00 - 10:00pm Get Tickets
February 8 5:00 - 10:00pm Get Tickets
March 1 5:00 - 10:00pm Get Tickets

Up Late with the Sphinx is scheduled for 5:00-10:00 PM. A full schedule of activities will be shared with participants upon arrival.

Children must be between the ages of 6 and 12 years old.

Pay lots are in the vicinity and metered parking is available on some streets nearby. The parking garage adjacent to the Museum on Convention Avenue is called Lot 7. We do not validate. See Getting Here for more detailed directions. Penn Museum does not own either garage and therefore is not responsible for their rates and regulations.

All museum galleries will be open during this event. The Flashlight Tour through the Museum will take you through several galleries in the dark. Please bring your own flashlight.

The Museum will not be providing food during the event. You are welcome to bring your own snacks or bag dinner for the evening. Your snack should be labeled with your name and placed in the Group Dining area when you arrive. The Museum does not have refrigeration for snacks. Vending machines are located in the Group Dining area. Vending machines accept $1.00 bills, coins, and cards. Food is only permitted in the Group Dining area.

The event will continue as planned unless the University of Pennsylvania decides to close due to weather. Closing is extremely rare but can happen. Please call 215.898.MELT (6358) if you are unsure if the University is closed due to snow. In the unlikely event the Museum finds it necessary to cancel an event, a full refund will be made.

Notify a staff member or a security guard if anyone in your group gets sick or hurt.

Yes, participants may leave early if needed.

Each group will be required to maintain a ratio of one adult supervisor per five child participants. Children must always be accompanied by an adult chaperone.

A chaperone must be at least 21 years old. Teenage siblings do not qualify.

You will receive an email confirmation immediately after you register online. Please print out your email and bring it to check-in on the date of your event. For group registrations please note that you will be told your payment deadline when you register.

Yes, but no candles are permitted. All food must be labeled and placed in the Group Dining area when you arrive. You will need to provide all plates and utensils. Snacks may be eaten between 7:45 pm and 9:00 pm. The Museum does not provide refrigeration.

The Museum does not have one consistent temperature throughout the whole building and each gallery is different. We recommend coming prepared with layers of clothes so you can adjust to your own comfort level.

You are only a Penn Museum member if you have an official Penn Museum membership card as well as a membership number.

A World of Discovery Awaits

Whether your child is a budding artist, archaeologist, or explorer, Scout Programs at the Penn Museum give kids a window onto the world that they can open anytime, either in our galleries or at home with their families.

More Scout Programs