Twice a month on Thursdays, the Liberty Science Center transforms into an adults-only hangout. Located at 222 Jersey City Boulevard in Jersey City and known as LSC After Dark, these themed parties take over the usually kid-friendly museum and guests can enjoy drinks, dancing, laser shows, and so much more. We recently checked out the Wine-O-Saurs event and let’s just say it was an experience. The next after-dark events are already scheduled for October 6th and 20th, as well as November 17th. Keep reading to learn all about the food, fun, and field-trip vibes at LSC After Dark.

(Photo Credit: Liberty Science Center)

What You Need to Know About LSC After Dark

Liberty Science Center hosts these parties on the first and third Thursdays of each month. These events are 21 and up and IDs are checked at the door. The first Thursday is the more relaxed event. Telescopes are set up outside and expert scientists give free Space Talks during the night. The third Thursdays are themed – Wine-O-Saurs and 90s Night are two popular ones – and feature a DJ and dance floor (yes, at the science center). Both nights include food, drinks, and access to the entire museum. 

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Online tickets cost $22 per person ($17 for members) and are $3 more at the door if they aren’t sold out. Planetarium shows can be added for an additional fee and these usually fit the theme. At 90s Night, for example, guests can enjoy a 90s Mix Laser Show. We went to Asteroids: Discovery, Danger & Dinosaurs during Wine-O-Saurs and it felt like we’d been transported back to a school field trip — in the best possible way.

When purchasing a ticket, you’ll need to select your entrance time – 6:00PM, 6:30PM, 7:00PM, or 7:30PM. The party ends promptly at 10:00PM so keep that in mind when deciding when to arrive.

It’s a short walk from the light rail to the LSC, but parking is also free during the After Dark events. If you take a Lyft or Uber, just be prepared for a bit of a wait at the end of the night.

Food & Drinks

(Photo Credit: Liberty Science Center)

This is a 21+ event and there are multiple pop-up bars scattered around LSC serving wine, beer, and smoking cocktails. There’s a bar set up in the entrance way but we recommend making a beeline outside to Bones’ Backyard Bar. Out here, you’ll get more of a beer garden vibe with yard games like giant Jenga — plus, you can pretend to be a paleontologist and dig for dino bones.

Food stalls are set up around the dance floor and you can expect themed bites, like Pterodactyl Wings, plus snacks like popcorn and funnel cake. All of the food and drinks are available at an extra charge.

What to Expect

^HG writer Stephanie Brown at Wine-O-Saurs

We attended the Wine-O-Saurs event back in August, and as soon as we checked in, we knew it was going to be a blast. Right away, there’s a bar, photo wall, temporary tattoo station, and a person dressed up in a dinosaur costume walking around. This was the third Thursday of the month and the DJ was already going strong when we got there at 7:00PM. People hit the dance floor all night and there was even a T-Rex dance-off at one point.

While there was some Jurassic Park cosplaying going on, most people were not wearing a costume for the Wine-O-Saurs event. But if that’s your thing, go for it! There are tons of photo-ops around the museum and getting into costume could make for some great Insta content.

All four floors of the museum are open and you can bring drinks with you as you wander from exhibit to exhibit. Sipping a margarita while exploring a science center without any kids around felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s almost unbelievable that this is offered twice a month. 

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The Wild About Animals exhibit features piranhas, naked mole rats, snakes, and curious creatures. Brain Games was especially fun and there’s something about crawling through the Infinity Climber that really makes you feel like a kid again. Once it gets dark, take a peek at the view from the 4th-floor observation deck.

As soon as it hit 10:00PM, LSC employees spread out across the exhibits and kindly asked everyone to make their way to the exit. On our way out, we were already planning our next visit. With so many different themes, it would feel like a whole new experience each time.