Sprockets Play Group
Drop into a local play group that is a part of the Help Me Grow initiative of Northwest Education Services. Play group will include story time, snack, free play, and STEAM activity.
Spooky Science Festival
Calling all families to join us at The Hoops at Grow Benzie for a scary-good time! Join us for a day of exploring many of this season’s chills and thrills by diving into the science behind them.
Potion Making Station
Pumpkin Trebuchet
Dry Ice Blasters
Cognition Animal Ambassadors
“Franken-Fish” Printing
And much more!
Festive light refreshments will be available and we encourage costumes!
Current Community Partners include:
Benzie Conservation District
Hilltop Coffee & Ice Cream
Benzie Shores Library
Benzonia Public Library
Virtual Reality *SPECIAL NOTE*
Cognition will be offering the Driving or Flight Simulator only today.
We are mobilizing our VR set-up to be at our Halloween Hangout.
Virtual Reality *SPECIAL NOTE* (Copy)
Cognition will be offering the Driving or Flight Simulator only today.
We are mobilizing our VR set-up to be at our Halloween Hangout.
Halloween Party
Enjoy some chills and thrills with your friends Halloween night while at the historically eerie Granary building.
Teens only.
Sprockets Play Group
Drop into a local play group that is a part of the Help Me Grow initiative of Northwest Education Services. Play group will include story time, snack, free play, and STEAM activity.
Pokémon Party
Come learn, play, show off and trade the ever popular Pokémon card game!
During this event, we encourage participants to embrace the Japanese tradition of involving stuffed animals in activities, known as 'Nui-katsu' or 'Stuffed Toy Activities'. This practice emphasizes people sharing experiences and activities with their plush toys and stuffies, integrating them into various aspects of life as companions. Please feel free your Pokémon or non-Pokémon stuffed character to the event!
A special thanks to our friend Ryan from Backstage Hobbies & Games for sharing his passion with our community and for providing the opportunity to explore this exciting world.
Sprockets Play Group
Drop into a local play group that is a part of the Help Me Grow initiative of Northwest Education Services. Play group will include story time, snack, free play, and STEAM activity.
Please note that our 2nd monthly Sprockets Play Group is scheduled a week earlier due to Thanksgiving.
Cognition After Dark
Need a date night? Or have you always been curious to see what we’re all about? All adults are welcome for a night of exploring, creating, and playing!
Sprockets Play Group
Drop into a local play group that is a part of the Help Me Grow initiative of Northwest Education Services. Play group will include story time, snack, free play, and STEAM activity.
Sprockets Play Group
Drop into a local play group that is a part of the Help Me Grow initiative of Northwest Education Services. Play group will include story time, snack, free play, and STEAM activity.
Please note that our 2nd monthly Sprockets Play Group is scheduled a week earlier due to Christmas.
St. Ambrose Renaissance Faire
Step into a day of feasting, merriment, and old-world revelry at St. Ambrose’s Renaissance Faire! Cognition will be there, mixing it up at our potion stand.
Visiting Snake Day
Sssss-wing by to welcome our special visiting snake friends! We will have 10 guest snakes of all shapes and sizes visiting Cognition Center. A special thanks to our friend Tom King for sharing his passion with our community and for providing the opportunity to explore the world of these often misunderstood creatures.
Program is included with admission. No outside snakes please.
Sprockets Play Group
Drop into a local play group that is a part of the Help Me Grow initiative of Northwest Education Services. Play group will include story time, snack, free play, and STEAM activity.
Beulah Fall Festival
Benzie County Fall Festival is happening once again in beautiful downtown Beulah. Cognition will be present at The Granary with a few festive activities including the pumpkin trebuchet, Granary Tours, and more!
Come learn more about an exciting opportunity for Cognition’s future, that we are still actively fundraising to make it happen. With more space, we can offer more exhibits, programs, field trips, and experiences for all ages. We need supporters, advocates, and doers, LIKE YOU, to help us build what comes next.
Fun events throughout Beulah’s downtown for Benzie County Fall Festival 2026 may include:
Pumpkin Decorating
Trick or Treat Bag Decorating
Pat Harrison ‘Lord of the Gourd’
Haunted Darcy Library
Sidewalk Chalk Art, Kids Games, Face Painting
Park & Shine Classic Car & Motorcycle Show
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides
Snake Feeding Day
Saturdays are food days for our snake friends. We will have a demonstration on how our snakes feed. For some children this may be scary but it also can be educational.
No obligation to observe.
St. Philips Fall Family Festival
St. Philips Episcopal Church is hosting a Free Fall Family Festival Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 11AM-3PM. Activities will include a bounce house, cake walk, arts and crafts, a petting zoo by Cognition Science & Discovery Center, photo op, free lunch, and much more!
Sprockets Play Group
Drop into a local play group that is a part of the Help Me Grow initiative of Northwest Education Services. Play group will include story time, snack, free play, and STEAM activity.
Planetarium Shows at COG
Tickets included with admission
Blast off and explore the galaxy in our state-of-the-art dome planetarium that’s a part of our Earth and Space Lab.
Our digital system offers an immersive 360-degree adventure for all ages. Enjoy comfortable seating, exceptional sound, and a customized journey of stunning visuals guided by a knowledgeable presenter.
St. Ambrose Barn Dance benefitting Cognition
The 2026 Barn Dance at St. Ambrose Cellars is happening Saturday, September 19th from 2–9pm, and St. Ambrose is turning their lawn and barn into a full-on celebration of live music, great drinks, fresh-grilled food, and community.
This year, a portion of Barn Dance sales will benefit Cognition Science & Discovery Center, a children’s center located right in Beulah that offers hands-on experiences where kids can learn, explore, create, and have fun. By joining the Barn Dance, you’ll not only enjoy an unforgettable day at the Cellars—you’ll also help support our organization continue serving children and families in our community.
Snake Feeding Day
Saturdays are food days for our snake friends. We will have a demonstration on how our snakes feed. For some children this may be scary but it also can be educational.
No obligation to observe.
Planetarium Shows at COG
Tickets included with admission
Blast off and explore the galaxy in our state-of-the-art dome planetarium that’s a part of our Earth and Space Lab.
Our digital system offers an immersive 360-degree adventure for all ages. Enjoy comfortable seating, exceptional sound, and a customized journey of stunning visuals guided by a knowledgeable presenter.
Planetarium Shows at COG
Tickets included with admission
Blast off and explore the galaxy in our state-of-the-art dome planetarium that’s a part of our Earth and Space Lab.
Our digital system offers an immersive 360-degree adventure for all ages. Enjoy comfortable seating, exceptional sound, and a customized journey of stunning visuals guided by a knowledgeable presenter.
Closed for Cleaning and Staff Apprectiation (Copy)
The center will be closed while we do some much needed deep cleaning and rearranging as well as a staff appreciation day. We will reopen on the 16th. See you then!
End-of-Summer-Finale
Join Cognition staff for an extra special day of celebrating “locals’ summer” while saying hello to the start of fall in Northern Michigan. Enjoy some of the Cognition’s tried and true favorites as well as some unique activities to celebrate the bridging of these seasons.
Animal Ambassadors Earth & Space Lab Maker Space Brain Games Popcorn Harvest Station Floral Art Station And more!
Closed for Cleaning and Staff Apprectiation
The center will be closed while we do some much needed deep cleaning and rearranging as well as a staff appreciation day. We will reopen on the 16th. See you then!
Snake Feeding Day
Saturdays are food days for our snake friends. We will have a demonstration on how our snakes feed. For some children this may be scary but it also can be educational.
No obligation to observe.
Snake Feeding Day
Saturdays are food days for our snake friends. We will have a demonstration on how our snakes feed. For some children this may be scary but it also can be educational.
No obligation to observe.
Summer Social @ The Hoops
Our Summer Social is happening tonight at the Hoop Houses, and we are ready for weird art, summer night vibes, pizza, music, mini soccer, animals, and a whole lot of hanging out.
This special after-hours event is for ages 15–18, so share this with your friends, your favorite young peeps, and anyone who needs a fun summer night out.
Summer Social
7–10 PM
$10 entry fee
Staff will be on site.
Come create, connect, and hang out with us.
Snake Feeding Day
Saturdays are food days for our snake friends. We will have a demonstration on how our snakes feed. For some children this may be scary but it also can be educational.
No obligation to observe.
Planetarium Shows at COG
Tickets included with admission
Blast off and explore the galaxy in our state-of-the-art dome planetarium that’s a part of our Earth and Space Lab.
Our digital system offers an immersive 360-degree adventure for all ages. Enjoy comfortable seating, exceptional sound, and a customized journey of stunning visuals guided by a knowledgeable presenter.
Family Fun Day @ Grow Benzie
Family friendly activities with art, guest animals, farm projects, and so much more!
Located at Grow Benzie at the Hoop houses
Suggested Donation $5 per person
Snake Feeding Day
Saturdays are food days for our snake friends. We will have a demonstration on how our snakes feed. For some children this may be scary but it also can be educational.
No obligation to observe.
Snake Feeding Day
Saturdays are food days for our snake friends. We will have a demonstration on how our snakes feed. For some children this may be scary but it also can be educational.
No obligation to observe.
Family Fun Day @ Grow Benzie
Family friendly activities with art, guest animals, farm projects, and so much more!
Suggested Donation $5 per person
Snake Feeding Day
Saturdays are food days for our snake friends. We will have a demonstration on how our snakes feed. For some children this may be scary but it also can be educational.
No obligation to observe.
Summer Social @ The Hoops
Our Summer Social is happening tonight at the Hoop Houses, and we are ready for weird art, summer night vibes, pizza, music, mini soccer, animals, and a whole lot of hanging out.
This special after-hours event is for ages 15–18, so share this with your friends, your favorite young peeps, and anyone who needs a fun summer night out.
Summer Social
7–10 PM
$10 entry fee
Staff will be on site.
Come create, connect, and hang out with us.
Microscope Mondays
Every Monday we will bring out the microscope to see the tiny world around us.
Mrs. Cheyenne will be available for guided experiences with our Electron Microscope.
Planetarium Shows at COG
Tickets included with admission
Tip into Uranus’s sideways rotation and blue-green atmosphere before journeying beyond our galaxy to Andromeda, a trillion-star spiral beauty on a collision course with our Milky Way.