Events and News
The Gillespie has events year-round. Monthly Science Cafés feature presentations on a range of science and environmental topics, and monthly Science Saturdays offer hands-on educational fun for scientists of all ages.
Stay tuned right here and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest info on upcoming Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 museum events!
Fall 2025
August 22 - Great Southeast Pollinator Census
Join the count in the Volusia Sandhill restoration area, 2 p.m. on the museum grounds! In cooperation with the University of Georgia Extension, this citizen science opportunity sponsored by the Gillespie Museum will help protect the southeast's pollinators one count at a time! On campus event is for Stetson students only, but we encourage everyone else to join the count in their own backyards! See https://gsepc.org/ for more info. Cultural credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
September 18 - Science Cafe
Rescuing the River of Grass with Eve Samples, Executive Director, Friends of the Everglades; 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social. More info (reservations encouraged!) Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
September 20 - Science Saturday
Journey to Space! 10 a.m. - noon; Join us for demonstrations and hands-on astronomy activities to kick off the new school year! More info (reservations encouraged!) Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Science Saturdays feature special museum exhibits and family-friendly activities.
September 24 - Exhibit Opening & Gallery Talk
Treasures Out of the Attic! Come see our newest exhibit featuring lost treasures and fascinating oddities that our curation team recently uncovered from the depths of Gillespie Collection storage! 4 p.m. Viewing and Gallery Talk by curator Nicholas Pearson; in the museum. More info (reservations encouraged!)
October 16 - Science Cafe
Fantastic Fungi! with Scott Ostuni, DNA Sequence Validator, Fungal Diversity Survey; 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social. More info (reservations encouraged!) Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
October 18 - Science Saturday
Mostly Green Halloween - Our annual family-friendly fall fair! 10 a.m.-noon; Outdoor activities, crafts, & explorations. Costumes encouraged! More info (reservations encouraged!) Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Science Saturdays feature special museum exhibits and family-friendly activities.
October 18-31 - Halloween at the Gillespie!
During Mostly Green Halloween Science Saturday (see above) & regular daily hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Trick or Treat, Haunted Cave, and Spooky Stones – Come venture into our haunted limestone replica cave, trick or treat at the front desk, and see our special spooky stones mini-exhibit, if you dare! For "kids" of ALL ages. Costumes encouraged! More info. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
November 1 - Florida Native Plant Sale
Florida Native Plant Sale; 9:30 a.m.-noon at the Rinker Environmental Learning Center (RELC), adjacent to the museum; hosted by the Cuplet Fern Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. More info.
November 6 - Science Cafe
Climate Change and Green Infrastructure Adaptation with Dr. Jason Evans, Executive Director, Stetson's Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience - IWER; 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social. More info (reservations encouraged!) Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
November 7 - Bluebird Box Party
Help build and set up bluebird houses, and learn more about bluebirds and Stetson Audubon's bluebird initiative! In the Rinker Environmental Learning Center (RELC), adjacent to the Gillespie Museum. Co-sponsored by Stetson Audubon. Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
November 15 - Science Saturday
Founder's Day Celebration! 10 a.m.-noon; It's the Gillespie Museum’s 67th birthday! Join us for some fun rock and mineral geologizing! More info (reservations encouraged!) Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Science Saturdays feature special museum exhibits and family-friendly activities.
November 25 - Thanksgiving Drop-in Event
Awesome Autumnal Activity! All day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Everyone is welcome to stop by the museum today during regular hours for a fun, festive, fall-themed take-home craft activity and scavenger hunt! More info.
December 2-5 - Holiday Sale at the Museum Shop
During regular daily hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Holiday sale at the Gillespie Museum Gift Shop – Stop in to buy a mineral ornament or some sparkly stocking stuffers! Come check out our cool selection of jewelry, books, crystals, and other specimens, science activities, and much more to really Rock Your Stockings this holiday season! More info. Store discounts for museum members - join today!
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Spring 2026
January 22 - Mineral Music
Join us for the Stetson debut of Digital Arts Professor Chaz Underriner’s experiential music piece ***sparkles*** inspired by the Gillespie Museum’s mineral collection! Coffee and dessert reception at the Gillespie Museum at 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. presentation by the composer followed by a screening of the multimedia performance.
Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
February 7 - Nellie Gillespie Exhibit (at MOAS*)
Learn about one of the Gillespie Museum founders at the Daytona MOAS's International Day of Women and Girls in Science celebration! 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Museum of Arts & Sciences (*352 S. Nova Rd., Daytona Beach)
February 10 through 13 - Valentine's Week at the Gillespie
We LOVE Rocks & Minerals! Visit the museum this week during regular hours to make a Rockin' Card, and to find something shiny for your Valentine in our newly stocked gift shop! Read more about Valentine's Week.
February 19 - Science Cafe
Florida Natural History Highlights with Dr. Martin Main, Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Professor, and Florida Master Naturalist Program Leader, University of Florida; 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the museum, 5:30 for snacks/social. More info and RSVP!
Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
February 21 - Science Saturday
We LOVE Wetlands! 10 a.m.-noon;
Enjoy fun, hands-on activities celebrating our wetlands! Look at microscopic aquatic creatures up close, explore the importance of Florida’s wetlands, do a fun wetland-themed craft, and more. More info and RSVP!
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Science Saturdays feature special museum exhibits and family-friendly activities.
March 12 - Science Cafe
Strange Creatures from the Ice Age with Katie Wedderstrand, Educator at the Daytona Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS); 6 p.m. in the RELC adjacent to the Gillespie Museum, 5:30 for snacks/social. More info and RSVP!
Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
March 18 - Shark Fest Drop-in Craft & Activity
All day, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Before you head to the beach for spring break, stop in to the museum to discover the ocean’s most famous predator, SHARKS! Hunt for sharks teeth, make a necklace to take home, and learn some fun facts that will make you shocked about sharks. No registration required! Fun for all ages! Read more about our Shark Fest.
March 21 - Science Saturday
4th Annual Gillespie STEAM Festival! 10 a.m.-noon; Join us in celebrating everything Science Technology Engineering Arts & Mathematics! More info and RSVP!
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Science Saturdays feature special museum exhibits and family-friendly activities.
March 28 - Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival
Catch Gillespie Museum director Kristen Marshall Mattson presenting at the annual Florida Wildflower and Garden Festival in downtown DeLand! Details to come; for more information check out the Mainstreet DeLand website.
April 9 - Science Cafe & Exhibit Opening
Minerals of the Tristate Mining District with Dr. Sam Upchurch, Professional Geologist and former Professor and Chairman of the Geology Department at the University of South Florida - Join us for the exhibit opening, followed by a presentation by the exhibit’s curator and collector, Dr. Upchurch; 5:30 p.m. in the museum. More info and RSVP!
Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
April 18 - Science Saturday
Earth Day at the Gillespie! 10 a.m.- noon; Our annual celebration of the planet & its wonders! More info and RSVP.
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Science Saturdays feature special museum exhibits and family-friendly activities.
April 24-27 - City Nature Challenge
Join the Gillespie Museum, Stetson University, the West Volusia Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, and many others in our area in an exciting global challenge to observe and record wildlife from April 24-27, 2026. Help us document the amazing WILD organisms in parks and green spaces all across Volusia County using the iNaturalist app! Observe & identify plants and animals in your city or with us here on the museum grounds! More details to come!
Cultural Credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.
May 18 - International Museum Day
Join the Gillespie Museum as well as other DeLand museums in celebrating International Museum Day with museum bingo! Visit as many local museums as you can to fill up your bingo card and win a prize. More details to come!
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