Día de los Huesos (Day of the Bones)

Día de los Huesos is the Texas Science & Natural History Museum's paleontological spin on Día de los Muertos, and it's happening Sunday, November 1, from 1 PM to 5 PM. It's a day that blends science and culture into something playful and educational for visitors of all ages, and the focus shifts from the traditional altars to the secrets of animal skeletons and skulls.

One of the best parts is that you can bring your own found bones and teeth for a paleontologist to identify in person. The rest of the day is filled with hands-on activities: you can decorate paper dinosaur skulls and make paper marigolds and mariposas, which then go into a museum art installation. There are microscopes on hand to look at the delicate details of butterfly wings, and a dinosaur scavenger hunt on the back patio that gives you a chance to win a prize. All those activities are included with admission.

It's a good one to bring kids to, but it works for adults too, especially if you've ever come home from a hike with a strange piece of bone in your pocket and wondered what it actually was. The museum is at 2400 Trinity St, and admission is free. The whole thing runs from 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday, November 1.