Children gasped and grabbed their parents’ hands as two cylinders of orange-and-purple-colored hydrogen peroxide foamed to the brim and spilled off a stage set up in front of the Downtown Aquarium on Sunday.
The oozing blobs of steaming bubbles slowed, and the kids inched closer to listen to the “mad scientist,” who was fanning away smoke from the “Foam Factory” experiment.
“Do you think that was magic, or was that science?” asked Susan “Symbiosis” Emily, a performer or “scientist” with the international entertainment company Mad Science.
“Science!” the crowd of parents and children responded.
The aquarium in Denver is holding its fifth annual Halloween Kids Fest, which will continue Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Children who come in costume get half-price admission to the exhibit, which is dotted with trick-or-treat stations manned by employees dressed as witches and princesses.
The spooky fun includes painting mini-pumpkins, riding a haunted train and participating in Halloween science experiments from the mad scientists.
Mad Science aims to teach children about chemistry and biology in an entertaining and informal way, said Emily, who is studying marine biology.
“It’s a really fun way to get them excited about learning and Halloween at the same time,” she said.
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-1223, mmitchell@denverpost.com or
