Bubbles turn into art, science at Rockford museum

ROCKFORD – Bubbles floating in the air, shimmering past excited faces, bring back memories of lazy summer days in the garden. But they’re fun in the winter, too.

Geoffrey “Merlin” Akins, magician and bubbleologist, will be at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, showing his talents in the field of bubbleology during the 2009 Bubble Festival.

He’ll be making bubbles inside bubbles, bubble snowmen, a square bubble and bubble ice cream cones.

“If you’re looking for something unique ... look no further,” Akins said in a news release. “I do a whole show with ordinary soap bubbles. It’s fun, inspiring, educational and will captivate both children and adults alike.

After the show, those attending won’t need to leave the world of bubbles behind. The Discovery Center has an interactive Bubble-Palooza Playground just waiting for children to make bubble walls, bubble wands, frozen bubbles and body bubbles.

The Discovery Center also has other special programs planned for March.

From 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 7 and 1-4 p.m. March 8, visitors can take part in Dino Days. The event promises live dino demonstrations, as well as hands-on crafts.

From 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 23-27, the center offers Spring Into Science, featuring science demonstrations and daily activities.

But visitors don’t have to wait for a special program to stop in at the Discovery Center. There are two floors to explore. On the ground floor, look for amusement park science exhibits, simple machines, recollections video, color and light, chemistry, weather, a planetarium and bubbles.

Upstairs, explorers will find themselves in a radio studio and TV studio, a robotics lab and an early childhood area. They can learn about math puzzles, health and the body, electricity and magnets.

With more than 250 exhibits, everyone is bound to find something of interest. Who thinks of amusement parks as being science? They do at the center. Those who enjoy soaring over roller coasters or gentle rides on a Ferris wheel will be able to find out more about these rides. They’ll even have a chance to roll up their sleeves and “Create-A-Coaster” or check out the Momentum Machine.