This October, the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery (MOD) is taking its mission beyond the museum walls and into the parking lot.
On Saturday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., MOD will debut Zoom Honk Smash: Touch a Truck, a free, family-friendly festival that transforms the Capitola Mall parking lot into a giant hands-on playground filled with the trucks, tractors, and heavy equipment that keep our community moving.
Children can climb behind the wheel of a fire engine, explore the cab of a concrete mixer, drive a real tractor, and even check out the inside of a SWAT van. Throughout the day, local first responders, construction crews, and vehicle operators will be on hand to answer questions and share their work with curious kids and families.
“We hope to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of essential workers,” says Program Manager Jamie Lafollette.
One of the event highlights is the Pumpkin Smash, where massive pumpkins will be hoisted high into the air and dropped onto a marked zone below, exploding in a dramatic and messy spectacle. Families will have the opportunity to support the museum by participating in this crowd-pleasing activity, with fun prizes awarded after each drop.
Thanks to Kaiser Permanente, MOD is also bringing their popular Teddy Bear Clinic to the event, where Cabrillo College nursing students will guide kids through pretend checkups for their stuffed animals. This play based program reduces fear and anxiety, making kids more comfortable in medical settings. This year’s clinic will also include a real ambulance for kids to explore, helping demystify emergency medical care through the power of play.
In keeping with its mission to make learning accessible for all families, MOD is offering a special gift for Medi-Cal eligible households. Thanks to a grant from Central California Alliance for Health, families with at least one adult enrolled in Medi-Cal will receive a free stuffed otter and a one-year museum membership, extending the impact of the event long after the day ends.
Zoom Honk Smash will also feature custom slime-making with a construction theme, glitter tattoos, and interactive play zones for kids of all ages. Real tractors from the Agricultural History Project will be available for kids to drive. Food trucks will be serving up meals throughout the day, and adults can relax with a cold drink in the on-site beer garden while the kids explore.
To ensure all families feel welcome, the event will begin with a sensory-friendly hour from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., featuring reduced noise levels and a no-honking policy to create a more comfortable environment for children with sensory sensitivities.
Though this is the festival’s first year, MOD hopes Zoom Honk Smash will become a beloved Santa Cruz tradition. Since opening in 2014, the museum has been a local hub for interactive science, art, and play-based learning, serving over 50,000 visitors annually. More than a quarter of those families benefit from discounted admission programs.
Zoom Honk Smash is more than just a day of fun. It is part of MOD’s broader effort to bring playful, hands-on learning experiences into the community. Donations and sponsorships raised through this event directly support the museum’s exhibits, educational programming, and access initiatives, helping ensure that all children in Santa Cruz County can experience the joy of discovery, regardless of background.
“We want this to be something every family in Santa Cruz looks forward to,” Jamie Lafollette says. “It’s free, it’s accessible, it’s joyful, it’s exactly what Santa Cruz needs.”
Zoom Honk Smash takes place Saturday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Capitola Mall parking lot, next to the Target parking garage. Admission is free. A sensory-friendly hour will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, visit www.sccmod.org/zhs or call (831) 316-5200.
