Getting ready for Thanksgiving Point.

• Free sensory backpacks at the admission desk, first come, first served; you leave a valid driver's license or keys while you use one.
• Sensory maps mark loud, bright, dim and quiet exhibits, and the social story names the usual quiet spaces.
• The museums are closed Sundays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and close at 4 pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

• Admission to each museum, in person or online: adults $27 or $24, youth 13 to 17 $22 or $19, children 3 to 12 $20 or $17, seniors 65+ $24 or $21; ages 2 and under and Thanksgiving Point Members are free. The All-Access Pass (all seven venues for one day) is $39 adults, $33 youth, $29 children and $36 seniors. Museum of Ancient Life and Butterfly Biosphere admission is time-ticketed with limited availability, so buy ahead.
• Every Kid Counts: bring a SNAP or WIC card and a photo ID to the Guest Services desk. Dependent children ages 3 to 12 in the household are free, and teens and adults in the household are $9 each, for up to six people. In person only, Monday to Saturday during regular hours; blackout dates may apply for special events such as Luminaria, and it doesn't include The Carousel. Groups of 20 or more get 20% off regular admission (in person or by phone at 801.768.2300; blackout dates apply).
• All sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges for special events, no rain checks and no price adjustments. If an event is cancelled, tickets are exchanged for future tickets of equal or lesser value. Every attendee needs a ticket, including children.
• Outside food and drinks aren't allowed (the social story says a water bottle is fine), along with glass containers, airhorns, laser pointers, skateboards and scooters. All items are subject to search before entry. Children must always be supervised by a caregiver over age 16. Pets and emotional support animals aren't allowed inside; service animals are welcome if they are trained and under control, are checked in at the front desk before entry, and don't go into exhibit areas where other animals may be put at risk.
• Staff: Guest Services wear blue shirts and check visitors in, Education Explorers wear red shirts and play with visitors, and Security wears tan or green shirts. To report a minor injury, call Thanksgiving Point Security at 801-592-9133; for a serious injury, call 911.
• Wheelchairs ($10) and strollers ($5) can be rented at all five Discovery Centers, subject to availability, and not in the last 90 minutes before closing. There are family restrooms in the Rainforest and in the hallway out to the Discovery Garden.
• The social story says the museum is least crowded in the evenings, 6 to 8 pm; that applies outside November 25 to December 31, when the Museum of Natural Curiosity closes at 5:45 pm.
• Luminaria 2026, the holiday lights at Ashton Gardens (3900 N. Garden Drive), runs November 12, 2026 to January 9, 2027, closed Sundays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It's a separate ticket with entry times every 15 minutes; prices vary by date, and all sales are final. Exchangeable Tickets are the only ones that can be changed on the day; call or email before your event. Regular tickets can be exchanged up to 24 hours ahead for a $10 fee per transaction (no exchanges for groups of 20 or more). Exchanges depend on an equally priced date and time being open, a higher-priced ticket means paying the difference, and there are no exchanges once tickets sell out. Exchange online, by phone at 801.768.2300, or at the reception desk in Butterfly Biosphere, 10 am to 5 pm. It includes the Merry Mosaic, a light and music show with a 120-foot Christmas tree. Plan at least an hour and a half.

Call

801.768.2300 Thanksgiving Point Guest Information801-592-9133 Thanksgiving Point Security (minor injuries)

Source: thanksgivingpoint.org