Balloon Museum Offers Austinites the Chance to Pay $45 to Sit in a Giant Ball Pit

Oh joy, another immersive art experience has descended upon Austin, because apparently, we don’t have enough places where adults can pay $45 to relive their childhood ball pit traumas. The Balloon Museum’s Let’s Fly exhibition promises to redefine how Austinites experience art, which, let’s be honest, mostly involves Instagramming in front of something shiny before sprinting to the nearest overpriced coffee shop.

At the heart of this multisensory extravaganza is Mariposa, a 26-foot butterfly sculpture that, according to the press release, invites visitors to swing beneath its wings. Translation: You’ll awkwardly shuffle under a giant bug while strangers judge your lack of rhythm. And if that’s not enough, there’s Hyperstellar, where you can dive into a pool-sized ball pit—because nothing says cosmic wonder like the lingering scent of hand sanitizer and the existential dread of wondering who last touched those plastic orbs.

But fear not, parents! This is a family-friendly experience, meaning your children can scream at top volume while you silently calculate how many mortgage payments you just sacrificed for the privilege of watching them fling foam balls at strangers. And let’s not forget the thought-provoking pieces from 19 acclaimed international artists. Will they provoke thoughts? Absolutely. Thoughts like, Why did I pay $45 for this? and Is there a manager I can speak to about the lack of complimentary champagne?

Tickets are available online, because nothing says limitless possibility like a non-refundable $34 charge for your toddler to nap in a corner. So hurry, Austin! Before this pop-up deflates faster than your New Year’s resolution to appreciate modern art.