National Air and Space Museum Hosting All-Night Party

For the first time since its opening in 1967, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will host an all-night party to celebrate its 40th anniversary on July 1, 2016.

The “All Night at the Museum” event will kick off after a performance by the U.S. Air Force Band and remarks by figures in aviation and space.

In addition to live music, tours, family activities and film screenings, the museum will feature new digital displays and a mobile experience in its central gallery space, the Milestones of Flight Hall. This renovation — the first since the museum’s opening — was made possible by a $30 million donation from Boeing. As such, the gallery was renamed the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall.

The public also helped crowdfund one of the museum’s new exhibits, raising $500,000 on Kickstarter to get Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit out of storage and on display.

General admission is free, but tickets for a 21-and-over reception will go on sale next month and include an open bar, gallery hopping and discussions with special guests. Anyone who cannot attend can take part in the celebration via a live webcast.