Español

Preparethe placeget us ready

Getting ready for the Little Shop of Physics Open House.

A free, one-day science festival at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, with more than 300 hands-on experiments. It draws thousands of people, and the organizers invite families with sensory needs to ask for accommodations.

Jump to the plan ↓

Know before you go. The Open House doesn't list sensory hours or a quiet room, but it invites families with sensory needs to ask for accommodations. Here's what it says.

Hours

Sunday, March 7, 2027, 10 am to 4 pm. Free.

Lory Student Center, 1101 Center Ave Mall, Fort Collins 80521 (3rd floor)

Directions

What to expect

  • Crowds

    “Each year, thousands of people gather at the Lory Student Center for a day of exciting, hands-on science.”

  • Light

    “Never No Summer Ballroom: The Dark Room. Step into the dark and discover the magic of holograms, lasers, and glow in the dark!”

  • Sound

    Ballroom D is “Light & Sound”: “Explore the science of light and sound.”

  • Space

    The Open House is “in the CSU Lory Student Center, on the 3rd floor,” with presentations in the Lory Student Center Theatre and outdoor activities on the West Lawn.

  • Access

    “Most parking is free on weekends, but please check signage.” Lots include Engineering and Morgan Library.

  • Asking ahead gives the organizers time to plan. Say what usually helps your kid, like a quiet place to reset or a less busy time.
  • With more than 300 experiments, it helps to pick a few rooms ahead instead of trying to see everything.

In their own words: lsop.colostate.edu. Checked Sun, Oct 25, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us · How we check

Visual schedule

Science Day

  • Drive to the college
  • Park the car
  • Try the experiments
  • Eat a snack
  • Take a break
  • Walk to the car
  • All done
Make it yours →

Ask before you go

  • sensory hours or a quieter time of day
  • a quiet room
  • sensory kits or headphones to borrow
  • which hours are least busy
  • how loud the presentations are
  • whether strollers fit in the rooms
More about CSU Little Shop of Physics Open House
  • It's free and open to the public, for ages “from pre-K to gray.”
  • There are “over 300 interactive, homemade science experiments,” arranged by theme in separate ballrooms.
  • Printed guides are handed out at the event, and there is an electronic version too.

Louder, darker or brighter

The Dark Room (Never No Summer Ballroom) (dark on purpose, with holograms, lasers and glow in the dark)not stated
Ballroom D: Light & Sound (experiments with light and sound)not stated

Quieter

  • The Lory Student Center food court is open during the event.
  • South College Garage and Lake Street Garage are other parking options. Bus routes, including the MAX, serve CSU.
  • Presentations take place in the Lory Student Center Theatre, and the finale is outside in the Sutherland Gardens, weather permitting.
Email
cherie.bornhorst@colostate.edu Accommodations

Source: lsop.colostate.edu