A children’s museum isn’t always just for kids. Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum hosts a variety of events and programs throughout the year for adults looking to tap into the nostalgia of their youth. 

Play is something we learn as we age, through our experiences and personalities, and sometimes it’s important to be reminded of what brings us joy at the most basic level.  

“Fresh oxygen – that’s what play is,” Cas Holman wrote in her 2025 book, Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity. “It breathes new life into us.” 

Explore & More has announced the return of “Fore & More,” an after-hours event for adults on Nov. 7, which will transform the museum into an 18-hole miniature golf course. Tickets are on sale at exploreandmore.org. The event will feature light fare, a cash bar with a signature drink, and other delights, plus the chance to act like a kid in the No. 5 children’s museum in the country, according to USA Today. 

“The connections we can build as adults through hands-on play are critical, especially in this day and age, when we spend so much time scrolling on our phones,” Val Drapeau, Explore & More’s Education Director, said. “What adult wouldn’t want to experience the thrill of making a hole-in-one at the most entertaining place in Western New York?” 

 

In addition to special events like “Fore & More,” the museum offers adults the chance to explore the power of play through professional development and team-building sessions led by Explore & More’s professional educators. Around the holidays, companies have even rented the museum for private parties. For adults at Explore & More, the possibilities for fun are limitless.