Incredible Science

Incredible Science is running at Windows on the World in downtown Raleigh, and it's one of those easy things to drop into if you're already downtown. It's a half-hour of science experiments and demonstrations, with the topics changing from day to day and usually leaning into physics and chemistry. It's a walk-up program for ages 7 and up, so you just show up—no registration required.

Windows on the World is on the third floor of the Nature Exploration Center, which is part of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at 11 West Jones Street. The museum is the largest natural history museum in the Southeast and an affiliate of the Smithsonian, and it's split across four floors of exhibits, live animals, gift shops, and cafés. The Nature Exploration Center is where you'll find the Arthropod Zoo and the SECU Daily Planet, a 70-foot-diameter globe with a three-story theater. The Nature Research Center adds a 10,000-gallon aquarium and the Brimley Memorial Library. One of the big draws is the world's most complete Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur, known as the 'Terror of the South.'

Because the museum is so large, you can easily make a whole afternoon of it. You can catch the demo and then wander through the exhibits, visit the animals, or spend some time with the dinosaur. The exterior is also one of the city's most popular Instagram spots, so it's a good place to stop for a photo before or after you head inside.

Incredible Science runs Wednesday through Friday at 1:30 PM and Saturday at 12:30 PM and 2 PM, through December 26, 2026. It's free.