A Giant Bubble and a Lesson in Physics Come to Villa Parke Library

Some of the best science lessons are the ones that pop. On Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m., the Pasadena Public Library brings “Bubblemania” to the Villa Parke Branch Library, a hands-on show that turns soap films and rainbow spheres into a lesson on the physics that holds them together.

Audiences will see shimmering waves of soap film, square bubbles and giant bubbles while learning about reflection, refraction and surface tension. The grand finale attempts something memorable: a dozen volunteers from the audience standing together inside a single giant bubble.

The performance is one stop on the library’s summer reading program, a season of free events rotating through branches across the city. Geared toward children ages 5 to 12, “Bubblemania” pairs spectacle with real scientific principles — the kind of demonstration that sends young visitors home asking how a wall of soapy water can wrap around a person without bursting.

Villa Parke Branch Library sits within the Villa-Parke Community Center in central Pasadena, a longtime neighborhood gathering place. The event is free and open to families, and no purchase is required.

“Bubblemania” will take place Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m. Villa Parke Branch Library, 363 E. Villa St., Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 744-6510 or visit cityofpasadena.net/library. Admission is free; recommended for ages 5 to 12.