Bonez and Booz to haunt VMNH October 24

October 14, 2026

Fire dancers, magic shows, stilt walkers, carnival games, costume contests, food trucks and a beer garden are just some of the attractions set to take over the Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH) on Saturday, October 24 from 4 to 10 p.m., when Bonez & Booz returns for an evening of Halloween thrills.

One of the region’s premier Halloween celebrations, Bonez & Booz transforms the museum and its grounds into a lively destination filled with entertainment, hands-on activities and plenty of spooky-season spirit. Whether attending with family, gathering with friends, or looking for a memorable night out, visitors can expect an experience that goes well beyond the typical museum visit.

“Bonez & Booz might not be the type of event you typically associate with a natural history museum,” said VMNH Deputy Director Ryan Barber. “At its core, it's one large party that provides attendees with an exciting, fun and safe Halloween-themed experience. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in costume and spend the evening enjoying all that the festival has to offer. It's specifically designed to be enjoyed by everyone, from families with young children to adults flying solo.”

Live Entertainment Keeps the Party Going

From dazzling fire performances to incredible illusions, this year's entertainment lineup promises to keep the energy high throughout the evening.

“Our aim is to keep visitors entertained throughout the evening and into the night," said VMNH Visitor Services and Events Manager Robbie Hendrix-Wirt. "We believe this year's lineup is set to make that happen."

Audiences can look forward to the spectacular fire performances of Dakota Fox and the captivating magic and illusion shows of Joseph Young Entertainment, along with an array of additional performances and activities taking place throughout the museum grounds.

Outside, visitors can catch the live shows, test their skills at carnival games, and soak up the festival atmosphere. Inside, the museum offers a different kind of adventure: a nighttime scavenger hunt through its exhibit galleries.

“Walking through the exhibit galleries at night feels like a completely different experience than during the day," said Hendrix-Wirt. "Adding Halloween sights and sounds, along with a scavenger hunt, really makes for a literal night and day difference."

Costumes, Creativity and Hands-On Fun

There will be plenty of opportunities to do more than just watch the action. Visitors can enjoy face painting, balloon art, caricature drawings, a Halloween photo booth, as well as costume contests that celebrate the creativity of festivalgoers of all ages. From 4 to 8 p.m., visitors can also enjoy a wide variety of interactive carnival games and trick-or-treating.

“Bonez & Booz has a little something for everyone, whether you're bringing the kids for a night of Halloween fun or gathering your friends for a memorable night out,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “Want to jump into the action? We've got games, activities and plenty of opportunities to get creative. Prefer to wander, soak up the spooky atmosphere and enjoy the show? We've got you covered there, too. However you like to celebrate Halloween, Bonez & Booz is the place to be for a frightfully fun time.”

Costume contests will be held for five age groups, with participation limited to 25 contestants per group. Advance registration is required and must be completed at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start of each contest. Registration is first-come, first-served at the souvenir T-shirt station near the general admission gate.

Contest times are as follows:

Ages 0–5
5:30 p.m.

Ages 6–9
6 p.m.

Ages 10–13
6:30 p.m.

Ages 14–17
7:30 p.m.

Ages 18 and older
9:30 p.m.

Of course, all costumes must be family friendly.

A Little Science, a Little Mystery

As a natural history museum, VMNH has no shortage of unusual discoveries tucked away in its scientific collections. Bonez & Booz offers a chance to bring some of those stranger specimens into the spotlight, giving visitors a glimpse of the curious — and occasionally creepy — side of science.

“With more than 10 million specimens in the museum’s scientific collections, there’s no shortage of strange, surprising and downright spooky things hiding behind the scenes,” Hendrix-Wirt said. “Many visitors have little idea what lurks inside our collection vaults, but Bonez & Booz gives our curators the perfect excuse to bring out some of their most bizarre specimens. These are the kinds of specimens that might make you look twice, raise a few goosebumps, and wonder if monsters really do exist.”

Food, Drinks and Festival Favorites

Guests can take a break from the festivities at the Bonez & Booz Beer Garden and the Bonez & Booz Food Truck Alley, where a variety of food and beverage options will be available throughout the event.

Food trucks and vendors include:

• Bahama Sno-Shack


• Blondies BBQ


• Buttercream & Blessings Bakehouse


• D's Hot/Ice


• El Tilin


• Factory Roast


• GOT Lemonade


• Jen's Cakes with Personality


• Kona Ice


• Malloy Dogz


• Smokin' Blaze BBQ

Admission and Visitor Information

Admission to Bonez & Booz is $15 for adults ages 18–59 and $10 for children and youth ages 3–17, college students, and seniors ages 60 and older. Children under age 3, VMNH members, and members of participating museums and science centers enrolled in the ASTC Passport program receive free admission.

VMNH also participates in the Museums for All initiative, which makes museum experiences more accessible to families receiving food assistance. Thanks to the program and additional funding from Hooker Furnishings, Carter Bank, and the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, visitors who present an EBT card and accompanying identification at the gate will receive free admission for the cardholder and up to five immediate family members living in the same household.

Bonez & Booz is sponsored by Bassett Furniture Industries, Brightspeed, Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, Hooker Furnishings, Renewal by Andersen of Roanoke, The Helen S. & Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust, and Virginia Tourism Corporation.

Free off-site parking will be available for event attendees. The museum will be closed to regular visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, to prepare for the evening festivities.

VMNH is a tobacco and vape-free campus. Service animals are welcome, but pets are not permitted.