Do you want to experience a night you’ve never seen before? At this year’s Ignite the Night on October 1st, 2026! This night is filled with unbelievable fun and excitement. Inspired by this year’s theme, Power Up, twelve teams will ignite their imagination and craftmanship through play. They must collaborate with their teammates to design and build extraordinary sculptures using an array of loose parts, with twists and turns along the way. In a competition to spark their inner child, who will win? Join us as a spectator to find out what happens on Ignite the Night!
WHAT IS IGNITE THE NIGHT?
For one night only, teams will compete to build bold, electrified sculptures that capture the essence of power, energy, and innovation.
This is an exclusive event you will not want to miss. Adults get the chance to unlock their creativity, become kids again, and experience a night where imagination has no limits.
Each group will work together, using creativity and strategy to electrify the judges. The more funds each team raises, the more luxurious materials and expert assistance they can access throughout the competition.
Most importantly, Ignite the Night supports the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota and our mission to ignite the natural curiosity of every child in a dynamic, awe-inspiring environment. Your ticket helps make hands-on play, exhibits, programs, and accessible Museum experiences possible for children and families in our community.
Be Part of the Action: Activities for Adults!
Spectators are an essential part of the Ignite the Night experience, cheering on teams, exploring interactive elements, and enjoying the energy of the competition from start to finish. Whether building, observing, or socializing, everyone is immersed in the action. Spectator tickets are $100 each and include light appeitzers. A cash bar is also available for adult beverages, and we even have exclusive cocktails (including zero proof options) to match the Power Up theme! Here is what you can look forward to:
- Watching teams build, problem-solve, and bring their big ideas to life throughout the night
- Games and interactive fun for spectators while teams are building
- Light appetizers and a cash bar
- Voting for the People’s Choice Award
- Meeting new people while supporting a great local cause
- Free play at the Museum after the awards are announced
What to Expect
Throughout the evening, guests can recharge in immersive spaces like the Electric Lounge and Power Bar, where neon-colored cocktails, dramatic lighting, and visual effects amplify the high-voltage atmosphere. Meet new people in a night of laughs, extravagant ideas, and an adult only experience, catered to you!
It is a night of laughs, extravagant ideas, friendly competition, and an adults-only Museum experience created for the grown-up kid in you. From start to finish, Ignite the Night: Power Up will feel like stepping into a dynamic world where creativity, technology, and community collide.
Teams will have the opportunity to win awards, fundraise, and even “pause” a team from building for up to 15 minutes to add an extra layer of strategy and excitement to the event!
Agenda
The event takes place from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026
- 5:00pm – Teams begin to arrive
- 5:30pm – Cocktail Hour with light apps and a cash bar
- 6:45pm – Show
- 8:00pm – Judging and Special Performance
- 8:30pm – Announcement of Winners
- 8:45pm – Free Play
Why We Love This Event
Gathering friends, colleagues, and community members to celebrate camaraderie for a great cause is what makes Ignite the Night so special.
Hosting Ignite the Night creates a place for adults to play, connect, and support the Museum together. It is a fun way to meet new people, network, cheer on local teams, and experience the Museum in an entirely new light.
At the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, we are committed to creating a safe, welcoming environment where children and adults can learn, explore, and play. Support from Ignite the Night helps bring new exhibits, programs, and opportunities to life while advancing access for families throughout our community.
Thank you to Our Event Sponsors
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, committee members, volunteers, event partners, teams, and of course our wonderful staff!
Their commitment, creativity, and countless hours of planning, fundraising, preparation, and behind-the-scenes work make Ignite the Night possible. Together, we are creating an unforgettable evening while supporting the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota and the exhibits, programs, and play experiences that serve children and families throughout our community.
Power Up for a Great Cause
Ignite the Night: Power Up! is almost here, and we cannot wait to see the Museum transformed for this one-of-a-kind adults-only experience. Join us for an evening of bold ideas, friendly competition, delicious food and drinks, free play, and plenty of high-voltage fun.
Your spectator ticket is more than a night out. It is an investment in the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota and the children and families we serve through hands-on exhibits, meaningful programs, and the power of play.
Grab your friends, cheer on your favorite team, cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award, and help us power what is next at the Museum! We hope to see you on October 1st!
