Museum by Moonlight Benefits the Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Collection

Museum by Moonlight is an annual event that provides a fun night of fundraising and exploration at the Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Collection. Proceeds benefit both museums and help them expand their outreach and provide world-class STEAM-based educational opportunities.

Klonoa and Huepow race to the Museum’s entrance when they hear a cry for help from a young girl.

Dress Code: Casual Dress

Museums by Moonlight is an elevated fundraising gala for two extraordinary Stanford art museums—the Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection. This one-of-a-kind evening of cocktails, dinner, and dancing supports the museums’ mission to bring new visitors through their doors; strengthen relationships with existing supporters; nurture rescued animals; and expand access to their world-class collections.

Casual dress is a relaxed and comfortable style of clothing that is appropriate for most social occasions and does not require a tie or formal footwear. This style is often considered to be a middle ground between smart casual and business informal, and is ideal for after-work socializing or first dates.

For women, blouses in nice fabrics with interesting details and collared or button-up shirts (long or short sleeves) are the best options. You can also add a blazer or sport coat for extra dressiness. For pants, chinos or dress pants are the best choices, and dark wash styles without visible signs of wear are preferable. For shoes, flats or loafers are safe choices, while pumps or heeled sandals are better suited for more formal occasions.

Doors open at 7:00pm

Museum by Moonlight is the Museum’s biggest FUNdraiser and is adults 21+ only. Enjoy a variety of bites and drinks from local providers while you explore all five floors of the Museum including Scooby-Doo Mansion Mayhem, Take Me There: Greece, American POP, and beyond! Plus, challenge yourself to navigate The Amazing Maize Maze under the stars. The entire Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience is also open for 7.5 acres of outdoor sports fun!

Klonoa and Huepow are called upon to help a young girl who claims her moon has been divided into pieces by a group of artists. The duo quickly find themselves ensnared in the artwork, fighting their way through different worlds within the Museum to restore the moon to its full glory. The show usually starts an hour after doors open (the time listed on your ticket) which allows for a sound check and opening band. This also gives the artist you showed up to see an opportunity to warm up their voices before they hit the stage.

Event begins at 8:00pm

In an effort to make the Museum accessible to as many people as possible, the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum offers free hours, or Moonlight Hours, on the third Thursday of each month from 5-7 pm. Since the reopening of the Museum in 2008, more than 27,000 visitors have taken advantage of this opportunity to visit the Museum without paying admission.

This 21 and older event allows guests to explore all five floors of new and classic exhibits, while enjoying food samples from local restaurants and adult libations. Museum by Moonlight also features improv performances from ComedySportz Indianapolis and the return of the Chocolate Slide, which has been transformed into a Willy Wonka-inspired wonderland complete with a river of candy.

All funds raised during this annual event empower MOSH to continue expanding its outreach; maintaining its permanent collections; funding core and traveling exhibitions; nurturing its rescued animals; providing world-class, STEAM-based educational opportunities; and more. To view sponsorship packages, click HERE.

Admission is free

Whether you have kids or not, a night at Museum by Moonlight is a fun way to spend an evening with friends. It’s a great opportunity to explore the five floors of the museum while enjoying food specials and drinks. The money raised through this event helps the museum hold down the true cost of admission, offer reduced and free admission for families, and fund programming and interpretation.

Join us for an evening of music, food, and cocktails to benefit the Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Collection at Stanford University. The fundraiser, which takes place only every two years, begins with cocktails in the Rodin Sculpture Garden and proceeds to a sumptuous dinner and dancing in the Cantor’s galleries. The event also supports the museum’s Annual Fund, which holds down the true cost of admission and provides reduced and free admission for families. The fund also allows the museum to expand its outreach, maintain and fund core and traveling exhibitions, nurture rescued animals, and provide world-class, STEAM-based educational opportunities.