A children's museum in Irvine built like a small city, with free Neurodivergent Family Nights after closing (lights dimmed, sounds off, 250 guests at most, registration required), calming items on request, a quiet space and a photo social story.
Sensory supports. Free Neurodivergent Family Nights, calming items.
Hours
Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Members can come early, 9 to 10 am, Wednesday to Saturday (subject to change). Open on Mon Nov 23 2026 and Tue Nov 24 2026 for Thanksgiving break, and on Mon Dec 21 2026, Tue Dec 22 2026, Mon Dec 28 2026 and Tue Dec 29 2026 for winter break. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Neurodivergent Family Nights: 5 to 7 pm on the dates below.
“On these nights, we dim lights in the museum, turn off sounds, and offer a limited capacity of 250 guests.”
“Staff are happy and ready to assist with providing various materials including noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys, sunglasses and weighted materials for your convenience.”
“Upon request the following calming items are available: headphones, weighted animal-shaped shoulder pads, weighted vests, sorting and patterning activities.”
“In the first aid room, I can be in a quiet space. There are weighted materials, headphones, books, and a place to rest.”
Pretend City describes Neurodivergent Family Night both as monthly and as the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month; the nights it lists right now are the dates on this page. Registration opens two weeks before each one.
The museum's social story is a photo walk-through from parking to the goodbye parade, and there's a 3D virtual tour on its Virtual Tour/Our Social Story page. Questions or ideas about Neurodivergent Family Night: call (949) 428-3900.
The front lobby at check-in (the social story says it may be loud)not stated
Dispatch (loud noises can be heard here)not stated
The Amphitheater (it can get loud, with bright colored lights)not stated
The Goodbye Parade at closing (music plays; headphones are fine)not stated
Quieter, in Pretend City's words
The first aid room, a quiet space with weighted materials, headphones, books and a place to restquiet zone
Emotions and Me, a calm and relaxing spacequiet zone
Admission: children $22, adults $22, seniors $20, military and family $20, babies up to 12 months free, members free. Members don't need a reservation.
Museums for All: $5 per person for up to four visitors with an EBT or WIC card. The adult cardholder must be there with matching ID, and the rate is for general admission only, on tickets bought at the door.
All children must be with someone 16 or older. No adults may come in without a child; an adult who needs to enter without one is walked through by staff.
Pretend City is an electronic-free zone: no laptops or other electronic devices in the City.
The museum asks guests not to bring any food with peanuts or other nuts. If anyone in your group has cold or flu symptoms, it hopes you'll visit on another day.
Please leave your stroller in the stroller parking if you can, and take off shoes in the Shoe-Free Zones. Follow the capacity limits posted in the exhibits.
Doors to the outside sound an alarm when opened, and a staff member watches the front door. Staff wear blue shirts and blue hoodies. Restrooms are in the hall by the front desk and by the water area, and family restrooms are in the eating area.
Parking is free in the lot or behind the building, with more street parking on Bunsen and Hubble. The museum is off the 405 and 5 freeways near the Irvine Spectrum.
Members can add a therapist or the therapist's agency to their membership at no extra cost; the therapist shows an agency card and personal ID. Memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable.
You can host a birthday party on a Neurodivergent Family Night: 2 and a half hours in a private room, 25 guests in all, booked at least two weeks ahead through g2g@pretendcity.org.
