COVID-19 FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Marbles Rings

Admission

What are Marbles operating hours and price of admission?

Museum

The museum’s most up-to-date hours can be found here. 

General Admission is $9 (plus tax) for advance tickets for guests ages 12 months and older. Day-of admission tickets are $12 (plus tax).

Tickets frequently sell out and day-of museum admission may not be available. Tickets must be reserved in advance online. Day-of admission begins at 12am.

Terminix “Play Late for Less” offers guests 50% off general admission Wednesday–Friday after 3pm.  

IMAX

Marbles IMAX is currently open Wednesday through Sunday and shows an exciting mix of documentaries and Hollywood feature films. More information on tickets can be found here.

Are advance tickets required to visit?

Museum

Yes, members and guests are required to make a reservation online in advance to visit Marbles.

IMAX

Movie tickets must be purchased in advance of your showtime.

Is there a quieter time to visit?

The museum is busiest on the weekends. Weekday afternoons are typically less busy.  

Do you have partnership discounts?

Marbles participates in the Bank of America Museums on Us program. Learn more.

Terminix "Play Late for Less" is Wednesday - Friday after 3pm and you can receive museum admission tickets at 50% off.

How do I purchase tickets?

All members and guests 12 months and older must make a reservation to visit the museum – tickets are not available to purchase at the Welcome Desk. Please visit our online ticketing page to purchase general admission tickets or to make a reservation as a member.  

After making a reservation, you will receive two emails: a confirmation email and an email with tickets containing a QR code for each guest. On the day of your visit, you must show the tickets either on your mobile phone or printed to gain entrance into the museum. 

Entry times are 30-minute windows for entering the museum. Once you have checked in you can stay and play as long as you wish or until we close for the day. 

If you need help reserving/purchasing a timed-entry ticket, we are happy to assist you. Please contact us at mymarbles@marbleskidsmuseum.org or 919-834-4040.

Can I purchase tickets at the welcome desk?

All tickets must be purchased in advance online. Tickets are limited and may sell out. 

Do I have to create an account?

Yes, you will need to create an account the first time that you reserve tickets. If you are a member or a returning guest, please sign into your account using the email address on file.  

Can we leave and re-enter the museum?

Yes.  Please keep your admission sticker on for reentry. 

What happens if I arrive early or late for my timed entry?

Timed-entry is valid for a 30-minute window. If you arrive early for your 30-minute window, we will ask you to wait until your time slot. If you are late, just head to the welcome desk and we will check you in when you arrive. 

What happens if I cannot use my tickets?

Tickets are non-refundable but can be rescheduled or applied as a credit to your Marbles account if requested at least 24 hours in advance of your entry time. Reply back to your confirmation email to request a credit or contact us at mymarbles@marbleskidsmuseum.org with your order information.  

I have a membership to a reciprocal museum. How do I reserve tickets?

Currently members of other organizations trying to access reciprocal benefits at Marbles are not able to reserve tickets online.

Simply bring a government-issued ID and current proof of membership that must include the reciprocal logos for either the ASTC Travel Passport program or the ACM Reciprocal Network to the museum Welcome Desk to gain admission.

Please note that the ASTC Travel Passport reciprocal program has the following local restrictions. 

  • You must live more than 90 miles away from Marbles.
  • Your membership organization cannot be located within 90 miles of Marbles.

The following organizations are located within 90 miles of Marbles and do not receive free admission through the ASTC program according to their rules.

Not eligible for ASTC reciprocal benefits at Marbles:

  • Museum of Life and Science
  • Greensboro Science Center
  • Imagination Station
  • Morehead Planetarium
  • Imperial Center for the Arts and Sciences
  • NC Museum of Natural Sciences

The ACM program does not have local restrictions.

If you have questions about reciprocity, please visit the ASTC Travel Passport page, the ACM Reciprocal Network page, or contact your home institution.

Questions? Contact us at info@marbleskidsmuseum.org or (919) 834-4040.

What types of payment are accepted at Marbles?

To facilitate contact-free transactions and maintain capacity limits, tickets should be purchased online in advance of your visit. To purchase concessions, credit cards and cash will be accepted. 

Health & Safety

Are masks required?

Face mask are optional for guests, staff, and volunteers at Marbles Kids Museum and IMAX. Please be kind and respect the personal decisons of others.

Will you have masks available for visitors?
We have masks available for guests by request. Guests who wish to wear a mask are encouraged to bring their own. 
Is hand sanitizer available?

There are hand sanitizer stations located throughout the museum and theater for use by guests. The best way to prevent germ spread is to wash your hands frequently.  

The theater provides santizing wipes upon entry for guests.

How does Marbles clean exhibits and play items?

Marbles strives to keep all play items and exhibit touch surfaces clean throughout each day of play. Soft play items are washed at high temperature in a commercial clothes washer. Hard play items are sanitized in a high temperature commercial dish machine. “Tasted Toy” bins are located in each exhibit, which guests can use to place tasted props. All exhibits have three sets of identical play items which are exchanged after cleaning throughout each week.

Exhibit surfaces are cleaned with an FDA-registered disinfectant which is listed as safe for use in an educational environment. 

A member of my group is feeling sick, can they visit the Museum or IMAX today?

No. We ask that if you or anyone in your group are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, please visit another day.  

How can I access emergency services while at Marbles?

Our staff are trained in basic first aid and CPR. Staff are not medically trained. For assistance, reach out to the nearest staff member or alert the Welcome Desk in the museum lobby. Marbles does not provide common over-the-counter medicines. There are pharmacies located near Marbles if needed. 

Three Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) are located on campus, one in the museum, theater, and Play Annex buildings. Marbles staff are trained in the use of the AED devices. 

For medical and emergency assistance, please call 911. Phones are available at the Welcome Desk in the museum lobby and in the first aid room across from the lockers in the lobby. 

Getting Here

What are the public transportation options?

Bus
GoRaleigh provides bus transit throughout Raleigh as well as R-LINE service in Downtown Raleigh. The GoRaleigh Station is conveniently located one block from Marbles between South Wilmington and South Blount streets and East Hargett and East Martin streets. A system-wide transit map can be found here.

Train
The Raleigh Amtrak Train Station is located at 510 West Martin Street, eight blocks (15-minute walk) from Marbles.

What are the parking options?
Check out the Downtown Raleigh Alliance parking guide for options. Marbles does not own any downtown parking lots.
What is your address?

Marbles Kids Museum is located at 201 East Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh, at the corner of Hargett and Blount, across from Moore Square. Find us on Google Maps.

Membership

Where can I learn more about becoming a Marbles member?
Membership FAQs can be found here.

Food And Drink

Do you have a restaurant or cafe?

Yes we do! 
Bean Sprouts Cafe, located next to the IMAX theater, features good and good-for-you dining options. The café’s award-winning menu empowers kids to make their own healthy choices with whimsical foods prepared into fun shapes and sophisticated sandwiches, soup and pizza options will delight both children and adults.

What are the café's current hours? 
Monday – Friday: 10am – 3pm 
Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 4pm 

Can I order online? 
You can order online for pick-up at the café. View the menu and place an order.

A small selection of snacks and drinks are also available for purchase in the museum store. 

Shopping

What is available in the museum store?

The museum store has a mix of innovative, educational and whimsical children's merchandise. The store's toys and games are specially picked to complement the play in our exhibits. A small selection of snacks and drinks are available for purchase. 

Do you have to pay museum admission to shop?

Admission is not required to shop.

Do you have a museum store?

Yes we do. The museum store is open during museum hours.

Birthday Parties

How can I celebrate a birthday at Marbles?
Birthday party FAQs can be found here.

Learn more about our Private Play Parties here.

ASTC and ACM

Do you participate in the reciprocal program with ACM and ASTC?

Marbles is proud to partner with The Association of Children's Museums (ACM) and The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC). 

Currently members of other organizations trying to access reciprocal benefits through ASTC or ACM are not able to reserve tickets online at Marbles. Please email info@marbleskidsmuseum.org or call the museum at (919) 834-4040 to find out how to access these benefits.

Please note that the ASTC Travel Passport reciprocal program has local restrictions. 

  • You must live more than 90 miles away from Marbles.
  • Your membership organization cannot be located within 90 miles of Marbles.

The following organizations are located within 90 miles of Marbles and do not receive free admission through the ASTC program according to their rules:

  • Museum of Life and Science
  • Greensboro Science Center
  • Imagination Station
  • Morehead Planetarium
  • Imperial Center for the Arts and Sciences
  • NC Museum of Natural Sciences

If you have questions about reciprocity and local restriction rules, please visit the ASTC Travel Passport page or contact your home institution.

ACM Reciprocal Network benefits can be accessed anywhere, as they have no local restrictions.

Plan Your Visit

Learn More