Bubbles equal magic. It is one of life’s simplest formulas. Simply stated, joyfulness and stickiness are the only two things you can possibly feel when you are surrounded by floating spheres. Of course, from the moment that you accidentally spilt a container of viscous, faux-soapy fluid on the front of your shirt as a child, you have probably convinced yourself that blowing bubbles, while undeniably fun, is barely science and certainly not art. If so, you have been living a cruel lie. In truth, bubble creation can be a blissful means of scientific study and artistic expression. If you want proof of this fact, all you need to do is come on down to the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana for BubbleFest XVI; an annual celebration of the delicate airborne balls that is so cool, well, there’s been XV previous ones.

Headlining this yearly springtime fete is internationally lauded bubble maestro Deni Yang, proud possessor of the Guinness World Record for largest bubble, which checked in at a whopping 170 feet. Patrons of all ages can watch Yang do his thing at the Mega Bubblefest Laser Show; an intriguing special event that combines his virtuosic bubble making skills with lasers, lights, sounds and special effects to create a show that is equal parts Lawrence Welk, David Copperfield, and Pink Floyd. Thrill to the sight of Yang creating bubbles that are alive with spinning and bouncing movements, filled with smoke, square, trapped inside other bubbles, sculpted into shapes, and even produced with nothing but his bare hands. And if your kid is lucky and well-behaved, he or she may get the chance to come up on stage and be placed in a bubble, as well. Not permanently, though. They’d be hard to get back in the car that way.

In addition to Yang’s soapy feats of derring-do, kids and adults will have ample opportunity to play and interact with bubbles, all while learning about math and science in a sneaky bit of museum genius. Guests can use the Science Center’s various learning stations to create whimsical items such as bubble mini-walls and bubble domes as they absorb information about such important mathematical and scientific elements as elasticity, geometry, air pressure, and surface tension.

There will also be scores of entertaining action outside the Science Center’s legendary cube to keep your interest from floating away and/or popping. An impressive inflatable play zone, interactive science-based activities, and a bevy of water spheres will be around to entertain the young, while the young at heart can satisfy the kind of appetite that only a bubble deluge can work up by munching on grub served up by some of the area’s finest food trucks, including Lobsta Truck, Dogzilla Dogs, and The Lime Truck. To top off the experience, the attraction “Me in a Bubble” enables people of all ages to have their photo taken while they stand as a prisoner of sorts within the slippery confines of a giant bubble.

The combination of staged spectacle, interactive science, and yummy vittles – not to mention a virtual metric ton of bubbles – makes Bubblefest XVI an event where it is easy for you to feel some measure of childlike happiness, even if you aren’t a child. After all, at the end of the day, well, we’re talking about bubbles. You know, magic. What’s not to love?

[cbs-foursquare business="Bubblefest XVI" address="Discovery Science Center" address2="2500 North Main Street" city="Santa Ana" state="CA" zipcode="92705" phone="(714) 542-2823" url="http://www.discoverycube.org"]

WHEN:
March 31-April 22

TIME:
9:00 AM—9:00 PM (Mega Bubblefest Laser Show Runs at Various Times During the Day)

COST:
$19.95

"The Balls" at the Discovery Science Center, AKA "Eurydice."

So yeah, while I am all about supporting science and the arts, our paying about $40 to go and watch “the balls” sculpture for an hour or two just wasn’t in the monthly budget. That and our proximity to the museum (not right around the corner from our house, two whole freeways actually, ha) along with T’s range of interest in the variety of exhibits (not much thus far) didn’t warrant me to run and get us an annual membership on the spot either.

However, this time we went back and experienced a completely new and wide-ranging Discovery Science Center; it’s amazing what a difference a few months can truly make as far as a child’s growth, curiosity, and attention span. First off, we met up with some friends who are members, so T’s buddy talked up a few of the things he liked seeing and doing before we even got inside, so that got T excited to see what his friend liked to do (nice). Second, when we went to pay for our admission, my friend – a member – got us in for quite a nice discount. Turns out when a non-member enters with a member friend, admission per person (adult and child price) is just $10 each. That meant we saved about 50 percent off our day right there, which was a much better deal than the AAA discount I would have used. Third, the kids ran directly into the heart of the place, whizzing by “the balls” without even stopping, so no delay upon entry. I was so relieved – not that I didn’t want T to see and enjoy one of his favorite things, but I was just glad not to have to worry about him (and me) getting stuck in another rut of the same-old same-old.

Ride a Zamboni at the Discovery Science Center.

I was so happy T had such a good time during the outing. However, after reviewing all that he got to see and do during his two-and-a-half-hour visit, it was easy to see why he had so much fun. There is a huge dinosaur dig and exploration area outdoors for kids to walk and climb through (for older kids there’s a game where kids can earn coins for certain finds, too, so all-ages truly). Up above the dinosaur area outside a huge rocket hovers overhead, where kids can set a countdown clock and blast off into space. Inside there’s a safari exhibit where kids can climb around on rocks and slides and even ride in a jeep with helmets and a CB radio (T loved this one, a lot). Upstairs kids can drive a Zamboni and learn about the science of hockey.

"Race to Recycle" game at the Discovery Science Center's "Eco-Challenge" exhibit.

Next to that was a “race to recycle” game, where players are directed to sort selected pieces of trash zooming by on a conveyor belt and drop them in their recycle or trash chutes. Depending on how many pieces a player sorts correctly, their truck races forward toward the end of the route against the other players’ trucks; the first truck to make it to the end wins (all for fun of course). We also played a grocery store game, a home conservation game, and walked through an entire wing devoted to water conservation. I believe all of the last exhibits and games I mention are part of the Center’s Eco-Challenge exhibit, which is temporary as are many of their themed displays (see DSC’s website for a list of the rotation dates ahead of time).

Rocks, a conveyor belt, and preschoolers... thanks, Discovery Science Center!

The last exhibit we came across was a rock-mining pit, which was set up a lot like a gold dig. Rocks filled the different sections of the pit and the kids put the rocks on the conveyor belt to move them into another area of the pit. Another area of the exhibit included scales to weigh the rocks and other things to measure and compare the rocks to one another. I think there was probably some other game going on here (I did notice some pictures painted on the floor in parts of the pit, so maybe a scavenger hunt of some sort?), but our kids were having a blast just moving the rocks and turning the conveyor belt. Why wouldn’t they though – it’s a rock pit, and our kids are preschoolers. Genius really.

And of course, T went back and watched “the balls” – but honestly for only about two minutes. I asked him if he was all done, and he just said yep, and moved along. The end of an era, folks, and a little bittersweet in a way really (sniff).

As our time ended, I once again was in a dilemma on whether or not to upgrade our entry into annual membership, but decided against it again. It wasn’t because we didn’t have a good time – because we had a blast – but again because of the distance from our house and not knowing the next time we might be going back. But this I do know: T finally has other things to ask me about than Bubblefest when it comes to the Discovery Science Center… and he now also knows the place by its full and proper name versus just calling it “the balls place.”