This place is a hidden gym. It is tucked away in the heart of downtown Indy. With being downtown, it adopts all of the parking woes that comes with a downtown business. There are parking garages and metered parking available, if you can find it . If you have your choice of the 2, you will come out a lot cheaper. The place is located downstairs in the Panera Bread building. If you are not paying attention, you will miss it. Masks are required by all visitors, even kids. But don't worry, if you forgot or don't have one, they have some available for you. The staff here is very friendly and helpful. So after you get there and pay your admission they give you a bag with a couple of pair of drum sticks and mallets to play the instruments in the place. The bag also contains some very valuable items, ear plugs. They are worth the price of admission alone. Just kidding the place really did not get that loud while I was there. The place has many percussion instruments that can be played by visitors including a traditional drum set, an electric drum set, congos, xylophones, chimes, timpanis, tamborines, cow bells, wood blocks, marimba, and a gong. The self guided tour starts with a huge wall mounted bass drum. If you hit it and stand near it you can feel the waves go through your body. In addition to all of the interactive instruments, they have displays, videos and information boards throughout the place. They also have two sound rooms with drum sets and other instruments that you can experiment with sound in different type of venues. This place is really a fun place to learn. This fully interactive place teaches children about percussion instruments and gives them the opportunity to try them out. It also turns a grown up to a kid wanting to jam out. The museum is kind of small and we were able to thoroughly go through the place in about an hour. The tour ends, where most do....in the gift shop. My little had such a good time that we could not leave there empty handed. So I got a kazoo (what was I thinking) and a shape drum ( again, what was I thinking). Anyway, this a great fun and either an introduction to percussion instruments or just plain fun for percussion enthusiasts. It is definitely worth a visit and is a must see. read more

I took my toddlers here to give them an opportunity to play some music. There were lots of drums and different musical instruments. We came on a great day because there was hardly anyone there. I like how you can even practice inside your own private room while there. There was lots of signage to keep you informed on what kind of musical instruments you were playing and it was kind of like a museum of musical instruments. It was a great time although my toddlers lasted all of about an hour here smh. Older kids would probably play the instruments for much longer than mine did. I would definitely come back but maybe next time with my niece and nephew who are older. read more

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My kids and I had a great time at the Rhythm! Discovery Center on a hot Friday afternoon. We found street parking about a block away and ventured in. We started off waking up anyone who was sleeping in Indianapolis with the giant interactive gongs. The we moved on to the drum circle, the electric drum sets, the low volume band drums, xylophone, chimes and the orchestra drums. I think our favorite though was the acoustical rooms where we rocked on the different drum sets. I also liked seeing the instruments throughout the museum. My favorites was the drums from the band Rush (see pics). It's not huge and we were done in a couple hours. It was a fun afternoon by all. read more

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From a drummer's perspective, my husband described the interactive museum as a great gateway for kids -- or really anyone -- to get into percussion. We spent about an hour going through the different exhibits and playing the instruments. It was Free Museum Day during our visit, which was an added bonus, but we went late enough in the day that we had the place mostly to ourselves. The complimentary earplugs were a nice touch and much needed. Highly recommend! read more

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We went 11/23/2018 and it was great. I forgot to use the discount on here but I felt like we got our monies worth. We spent close to 2 1/2 hrs here. Not that we had too but we had that much freedom and it was not busy at all. We tried a ton of the drums and other instruments. Definitely worth it! read more

Rhythm! Discovery Center - Museums Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Fine place to explore and definitely unique, but the reason it didn't get the final star (for me) is because of its size. Ever wanted to bang a gong? This is your place. Ever wanted to participate in a drum circle, sober :) ? This is your place. How about beat on a HUGE drum, wanna do that? This is your place. Looking to show off your skills at keeping or making a beat? This is your place. Ever wanted to put your hands in some stellar and unique percussion instruments? This is your place. Looking to kill like 60 to 90 minutes at a very unique spot? This is your place. I had the whole family with me, which includes a going-on-seven-year-old that it's beginning to get bored very easily. So that influences this review, TBH can you kill an afternoon here? No. Is it for those sensitive to loud noises? NO! I love percussion. I have/has dated many drummers and drum majors in HS and college. I think it is INSANE if someone cannot naturally hear the rhythm or beat of anything, but I still calm those people friends. So, I REALLY liked this place. As I've been hinting, at this place you may not last tok terribly wrong before your kiddos are bored and/or all the (amazing) noise gives you a headache. My fav? The practice rooms where you can experiment with different acoustics!! read more

Rhythm! Discovery Center - Museums Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Been here twice now, once with kids and once without. It's a nice little museum, it's just very small so it takes about 30 minutes to read every single sign and sample each instrument. I honestly think it took longer to check in and get our little bag of drum sticks than it did to go through it. I enjoyed the current rotating exhibit about Jewish violins but the rest was just OK. Held my toddler's attention for a little bit and then he was ready for lunch. It's nice to check out if you've exhausted all other local museum options or happen to be in the area, but not really worth making it's own trip. It's also a little tricky to access with a stroller/wheelchair but I figured it out. read more

This is a really cool museum, but fellow parents / caretakers with young children must know one thing: You absolutely cannot touch everything. (And by "you" I mean that child with you who wants to touch everything.) There are roped-off sections in here with friendly signs that say "Do Not Touch," and it can get a little confusing to kids, especially when the off-limits things are right beside the things they are allowed to play with. For me, this meant a lot of the following: "Yes, go ahead and play with that drum!" "No wait, not that drum!" "Ok, you can touch that." "But not that thing that's right next to that!" Sigh. It's kind of stressful. But it's nice that admission is free for kids ages 5 and under, which is exactly the age ranges that wants to touch everything. This museum is kind of small, and we went through the entire thing in about 35 minutes. However, we spent a lot of time in the back area, which is where they keep a whole shelf full of drums, maracas, tambourines, triangles, shakers, and other instruments that make loud noises. This area is set up for children, and you can tell because almost everything is at their eye level, and there are beanbag chairs on the floor to sit in. (There is also a hand sanitizer dispenser there, too, which is another way you know this area is for kids. *Cough* germs *cough.) We had a great time here, but I can't see us coming here more than once a year, if that. Also, the parking here is nonexistent. You basically have to park at the Circle City mall parking garage and then walk. That is the cheapest place to park, at $2 for three hours. There is no designated parking for this museum, and they do not validate. read more

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When you think of a museum, you usually think of somewhere like an art museum, children's museum, etc. It's best to remove that mindset before coming here as it's not at all what I was expecting. This place is more of an experience and an experiential center, as the name suggests. I came during an event. There are lots and lots of informational sections and hands-on stuff for kids and adults alike to learn about the history of drums, their cultural significance, and then get to play with them yourself. Honestly, this place needs to get better at marketing as most people have no idea that it's right below the Panera and underground in downtown Indy. I personally never see any marketing or PR from them so hopefully they can get that going to get more people in. Aside from their lack of getting into the marketing spectrum, it's a fun, very small, center that's worth checking out. Don't forget to check in on the Yelp app for a $2 discount (at least available at the time of writing this review). read more

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Wow! And what a discovery this was! There are so many amazing instruments around, some just to look at, some you can bang and play on, then even sound-proofed rooms where you can play with your band that can't afford practice space, but also can't afford not letting loose and hitting instruments that will be played on your latest hit. Great gift shop. I got a skull-shaped shaped (Orange, even!), slide whistle (yellow), musical spoons (typically played by vagrants, but sometimes at weddings), maracas (teal), tambourine-rattle hybrid object, all under $30. There are giant gongs and tambourines, as well as live performances by groups in town (the one today was composed of local 5th graders and they were very talented at hitting and beating stuff. Impressive, no doubt). Only problem: TOO HOT! Turn up the AC, baby! read more

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This vibrant gem tucked beneath Webber Grill is an interactive learning space. Rhythm! Discovered Center lives up to its. It is percussion museum with historical offerings from various countries and modern technology. I went with a group and we were given a guided tour by an informative and delightful staff person, Brandon. The tour began with the history of the slit drum and ended with private sound proof recording studios to play in plus an area fills of many different percussion instruments to play with. At the conclusion of the tour, a staff person led the group and others in the museum who wanted to participate, in a collective drum circle. If you're looking to learn and to play, this is the place to do it, especially for families and music lovers. read more

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Go here if you want to watch your kid play drums. It's perfect at that. That's the review!

Such a fun afternoon! My dad is a drummer, so my family took him here for Father's Day and he had an absolute hay day. You can essentially bang on any surface in this entire museum and get a cool sound from it. There were so many interesting instruments and interactive displays and there was even a mini recording studio you could mess around with in the back. I would definitely recommend going- especially if you take someone who loves drumming (and can teach you a few things). It's a hidden gem. read more

Tucked away one floor beneath Weber Grill and TJ Maxx, Indy claimes fame to the "world's foremost interactive percussion museum". Part Disney attraction part musical oasis, the museum offers something for musicians and non-musicians alike. Highlights: -Drums from around the world and of different eras - my favorite was the drum made with human skin (not in a sick wth kind of way but in a wow! never would have thought to use human skin for an instrument way) -enormous windchime - possibly 9 - 10 feet tall -Disney-like feel (after I commented on this to our tour guide I was informed the designer of the museum has also done some work with Disney - makes sense) -highly interactive - opportunities abound to try your hand at various instruments Notes for reference: -The Center can be used for meetings and gatherings -neat programming opps like drumming circle and make your own drum classes **More of a street-level marketing presense needed. I was informed this is in progress. Great days are on the horizon for Rhythm! Discovery Center. I highly recommend a well overdue visit! read more

Kids of all ages will love is place. Even a big kid like me! I took my three youngsters (12, 8, and 3) here on a Saturday afternoon. From the moment we walked in and saw the virtual harp, I knew we were going to have a good time. And I was right. There is so much to do here. We loved it and I had to drag them out after 3.5 hours. The museum itself is relatively small. I could probably work my through it in about an hour and see everything. For kids, it is a different story. The curators at this museum are smart. They placed interactive percussion instruments at very exhibit and juncture and the kids made sure they played with them all. Our favorites were the ginormous drum, gong, and sound isolation rooms where a full drum-set and other instruments were set up and the kids had an opportunity to be rock stars. Near the isolation rooms is an area where every type of percussion instrument imaginable is available for you or your little ones to play. A few remaining thoughts: - this is a great place to go to let kids "get it out of their system." I actually encouraged them to play louder. - don't go if you have a headache or are sound sensitive. This place can get loud. - we had the place to ourselves for awhile. While this was nice, it worries me. We need places like the Rhythm! Discovery Center in Indy! So spread the word! They have been here for three years and I only recently heard about them. - the Weber Grill is directly above and the smells of grilling permeate throughout the museum. I got hungry! - the price seemed reasonable at $21 for the four of us. $9 for adults, $6 for kids, and 5 and under are free. My kids and I really enjoyed this place and we will be going back soon! read more

Rhythm! Discovery Center - Sounds pretty good! - Museums Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Took my 5- and almost 7-year-old kids here over Christmas break. I'd say we spent maybe an hour inside, perhaps a bit less. The little kids had a blast playing in the drum circle area, and the big kid (ahem, me) also thought the electronic drum sets were really fun. You may leave there wanting to take drum lessons like I did. Definitely worth checking out ... before you go, do a google search to look for discount admission coupons. read more

Looking for something different to do on a rainy day? Check out the Rhythm Discovery Center! This is a wonderful place to take children and let them bang the giant gong and literally let loose in the sound proof booth without getting yelled at. No kids? No worries, they're not necessary for a good time here. In fact, if rugrats give you the heeby jeebies, you'll likely enjoy yourself most on a quiet weekday. I enjoy the history shared with each display and having the chance to explore new sounds without being a music prodigy. You'll find something new and interesting around every corner. I particularly enjoyed the room with all the hand instruments on the shelves. read more

We visited Rhythm! Discovery Center on our last trip to Indy, and my son still has not stopped talking about it. I hadn't heard much about Rhythm! Discovery Center before my visit, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I had no idea that this place is largely interactive. My 3-year-old had a blast - and I did too! There were so many percussion instruments. Instruments made of wood, skin, and metal. We tried them all! We must've banged on every drum, shaken every tambourine, and played every xylophone in the place! We really loved the interactive tribal-like circle featuring the many percussion instruments created right at home by The Leedy Drum Company, a company that began in Indiana. Their Interactive Area was also a lot of fun - I can see many field trips having a good ol' time here. So many instruments to choose from. Believe me, my son tried them all! Probably our favorite parts of the museum were the sound-proof rooms that allowed you to play a real drum set and be as loud as you wanted to be - we felt like rock stars! Handy Tip: Visit Rhythm! Discovery Center late in the day. We arrived about an hour and a half before closing and had the entire place to ourselves. I'm sure it's very noisy at peak times. read more

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So we randomly ran into this little gem while killing time downtown Indy with our kiddos . Its a great little spot to let your kids explore and let loose. They get to be as loud as they want, while also getting a great learning experience with different instruments . Pros-kids 5 and under are FREE ! Both my 5 and 3 year old had a great time, and really engaged with what they had to offer. Cons-This isn't really a con BUT they have a lot of really cool instruments that are on display, vintage type of stuff (really cool for us adults to see), except it's also just out in the open where my kids didn't understand why they could touch "these" but not "those" ... So like a said not a con ... *Just putting it out there for parents with young kiddos . If you are ever walking around the mall, definitely a place to check out, great for all ages ! read more

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More cow bell!!! I must confess, I came here once before when it was overrun with children, and it seemed like a very boring place. On my next visit, I figured out what all the fuss is about. This is a super fun INTERACTIVE museum. So...find a time to go when there aren't a million adorable little ankle biters playing on the drums. Grab some sticks and go to town! Some bonuses: - cool gift shop with interesting percussion-related toys - historic drums - GIANT drums - two soundproof rooms where you can wail away on a full drum kit, bongos, steel drums, and a xylophone read more

A hidden gem in the heart of downtown Indy, The Rhythm Discovery Center is a treat to all your senses! Visually both stimulating and soothing, you will see percussion instruments you never dreamed exist. If you are more tactile, there are many displays that are "please touch and play." Your auditory senses will find a tone or beat you enjoy. Try a drum circle... There are few things I can think of that get rid of workplace stress (other than exercise) better than participating in a drum circle. Whether you are a single person or a family with children of any ages, I recommend you take some time to explore this fun spot! I know I will go again when I have the opportunity. read more

Rhythm! Discovery Center - Drums come in all shapes and sizes, who knew? - Museums Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Lots of fun for little ones to have at many different types of percussion instruments. Love their freedom to explore and learn! My only wish was that they would have done an organized activity with our group. But it's said that its all self guided unless you have more than 20 in your group. But even an organized quick example of he circle drums would have been nice. We will be back at some point. Fun exploring! read more

Rhythm! Discovery Center - Museums Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This is the most underrated museum in the city, and although that absolutely needs to change, it sure makes me feel lucky that I got to take my students there. Our tour guide, Rob Funkhouser, immediately captivated students with experiential explorations of percussion. Students immediately dove in, touching and trying everything at the encouragement and behest of their tour guide, who clearly took genuine joy in their curiosity. It was an amazing opportunity for even my most shy and introverted students to let loose and discover in a safe and nurturing environment. What's more, the Center offers a lot of opportunity for low income schools to tour the museum at a discount or for free. I can't think of another city that has a museum this unique that's accessible to students at all economic levels. If you're an educator, don't miss the chance to introduce this place to your students. And if you're not, go anyways. It's a blast. read more

Great place for all ages! My 2 year old and I had a blast with all the percussions! The lady at the desk was very friendly and welcoming! We will definitely be visiting again! read more

Rhythm! Discovery Center - Museums Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Great fun for kids to touch/feel. Great for adults (for same reasons!) and to get exposure to a wide range of percussion instruments.

My girlfriend and I went to visit Circle Center Mall when we realized we were close to this place. It's a little expensive but if you enjoy playing musical instruments it was a lot of fun. They had xylophones orchestral drums private drum rooms where you can listen two recordings of other people that were playing drums earlier and a lot more. This would be a great spot to take a large group that was into music or to take your kids if you're stuck in Indianapolis for a day. We were able to walkthrough and play Everything available in about 25 minutes, as it's a little small but still a lot of fun. read more

I brought my niece here to play in the kids zone so I didn't get a chance to really take in all of the different drums on display. It was very loud, as you can imagine, but there are a lot of different drums available for kids to play. They also have individual rooms for adults to rock out! I recommend stopping in here if you have anyone interested in percussion! read more

Full disclosure: I'm a drummer, which made me a kid in a candy store at the Rhythm Discovery Center. My trip here was part of an already musical weekend, as I was in Indianapolis for the Drum Corps International World Championships. For me, the opportunity to play the hands-on exhibits - and much of the museum was hands on - would have been worth the price of admission. The actual exhibits, which currently include the history of the drumset, were cool as well, and included sets from famous drummers/bands. The museum itself is the brainchild and showpiece of the Percussive Arts Society, and is worth a visit for any drummer, novice to master or anyone who appreciates all that percussion instruments have to offer. If you're the sort that thinks buying one's child a drumset is the ultimate offense, this may not be the museum for you. read more

It's worth a visit. I'm glad we checked it out. It's got some great information and neat history. The unrestrained kids beating on all of the interactive displays was a bit much. Their parents were making no attempt to actually teach them anything. read more

It's a very interesting museum where you get to interact with instruments. There's a wide variety and an area for kids to play and make some noise...I mean music. My little one enjoyed the experience. I just wish it was bigger since I felt like I was done touring the whole thing in an hour or less. Another point is that when I was driving to look for it...I had to go in circles since it was a little hit or miss kind of a thing. There was a sign outside but it wasn't visible enough for me. read more

Rhythm! Discovery Center - My future rocker - Museums Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This is a terrifically fun and noisy exploration of percussive sound, music, and instruments! It is located below the Weber Grill and Panera, and the trickiest part of the visit was determining the best parking at a relatively reasonable rate. Once inside, it was a blast! There was a wide variety of instruments, some of which I had never heard of or seen before. Two that really intrigued me were the drum kit made entirely of Legos and an instrument that was made from 678 pounds of meteorite! There are dozens of options to try out throughout the center! The exhibits provide both historical and instructional information about instruments and music, plus has a number of instruments played on stage by various musical groups on display. The Groove Space is the ultimate hands-on area, with cubbies packed with a huge variety of instruments, plus two practice rooms set up with drum kits and giant cymbals to try out. There's a great interactive screen in this area that lets you learn more about each instrument and get a video instruction on how to play each one. A fun place to visit! read more

This place is amazing!!! There's a small fee to enter but I think it's totally worth it. My family loves music, my 5 year old daughter especially....she's always wanted to be a percussionist and this place just made her dreams come true. And I don't know who had more fun...her or my husband. Anyways if you're downtown Indianapolis and have some time to spare check this place out. Lots of fun, hands on experience, amazing staff and all the drum education you want read more

One of my favorite museum experiences ever. Need more cowbell? They've got it! What a great stress reliever to wander around and experience percussion instruments and learn to appreciate them. read more

Would not honor a coupon. Bad public relations. Walked out. There were six of us. One child would have been free. The others would have paid. There were only two people inside. They could have honored it. Will not go back. read more

Never really knew what this place was about. Decided to try it out with my 2 year old on Sat since there was free admission for national Smithsonian Museum day. This is a cool little interactive museum of percussion instruments, great for kids but also fun and interesting for adults. Since this was a special day, I presume it was busier than usual, which meant it was really LOUD! My son (and I ) were quickly overwhelmed by the noise level. Even though we were banging on the instruments, it was hard to hear. Some of the interactive display pieces are Humongous! I think my child was pretty intimidated. If you're not chasing around a darting toddler, take some time to read the history and info on the pieces, watch videos, try your hand at making your own music, check out the private rooms in the back and participate in the drum circle! There's a toddler-friendly area with lots of cubbies full of different handheld instruments and seat cushions. Also stop in at the store to check out cute little gifts. I saw some contented parents there with boys who were letting loose on some of the drums. Also saw obviously experienced percussionists sampling the displays. I'd like to go back when it's a little less crowded (quieter!) and try out some more stuff, and maybe I'll bring some earplugs just in case! read more

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Had lots of fun at the rhythm discovery center this week. I'd recommend it for groups with younger kids or those interested in drums. We had 3 adults and 3 kids age 3 - 7. Great hands on chances to play with all sorts of percussion instruments. Kids and adults enjoyed. Very nice Low key, relaxed environment. We also enjoyed the more typical museum like informational displays, but the hands on areas were the most popular with our group. For just adults could be a quicker walk through, and it does not take to long just to see it all. But our group was there for approx 3 hours and left due to hunger, not that we were done playing. I would suggest going with intent to explore, take time to experiment with each instrument as desired and enjoy. We will keep in mind to bring out of town guests as a way to spend 1/2 a day. Gift shop was interesting and unique items as well. read more

Incredible! It far exceeded my expectations. I came on a Saturday with a 7 and 4 year old. The huge Remo drum head and Zildjian gong right up front kind of intimidated my older girl but it didn't take long before she was banging away on whatever she could find. The place has an awesome mix of historical artifacts, educational opportunities, and just plain hand on fun! I was really surprised at how much stuff there was to play with and the fact that there weren't snobby employees everywhere mediating the activities. It's totally self guided and the guy at the front desk was very cool. The sound simulator rooms are really neat. Seeing drum sets by some of the greats kind of took my breath away. I've seen them at the R&RHoF before but here they are so close you can see every scratch on the heads and every nick in the cymbals. You could touch them - but don't! :) I would enjoy this place with or without kids. Come out and support this amazing museum / playground. read more

What do you do with a mixed group of family including adults and rowdy children on a cool cloudy fall day in Indianapolis? Hand them drumsticks and mallets when you take them to the Rhythm! Discovery Center in downtown. The Center, under the sponsorship of The Percussive Arts Society, offers you sights and sounds of all things percussive. From oriental gongs to kettle drums, xylophones to electronic drum kits, a drum circle to chimes, sleigh bells to tambourines, Rush's golden R40 kit of 2015 to Louie Bellson's double bass kit, Rhythm! gives voice and a joyful noise to musical history. Even better, if you (young or old) like to bang on things, this is the place to do it. Rap the Chinese gong into reverbrations. Pick up the sticks and beat out a tattoo on an electronic full kit. Sit in on a drum circle that may have others joining and leaving as you all try and weave a beat. Take up the mallet and strike a blow for mellow. Our third grader and kindergartener raced through the displays pounding out beats on instruments from Africa, the Caribbean, America and neighborhood garages. One entire wall of glassed-in instruments dangled the temptation of military drums and wood, leather, and other animal skins shaped into percussion instruments of the world. And we weren't even there on a weekend when they have several special demonstrations on Saturday. On request, you may even arrange a behind the scenes instrument tour. I especially like the modest gift shop which doesn't have quite enough childish temptations to bleed you dry. Admission: adult $12, senior $8, student $9, child 6-16 $6, 5 and under free. Open Monday and Wednesday-Saturday 10 -- 5, Sunday 12-5, Tuesday closed. read more

I don't understand how this place is in business. I walked through with my 3 kids on a Thursday afternoon - we banged on all the drums, shook some instruments and made a ton of noise. That lasted for about 15-20 minutes and then we asked what more there was to do and were told that was it. Basically if your kids have ever done a music class at school, they'll get the same experience. Otherwise it's a huge waste of money. read more

Just went today... a good place for kids to get rid of energy and a lot of interactive exhibits. There are a lot of historical and cultural lessons here that are very interesting, but it's tough to hear some of the exhibits with videos because of all the background noise. If there are a lot of kids there, I would avoid going there if you have a headache or have sensitive ears. You can probably get through the whole thing in about an hour if you don't have kids. With kids it's probably worth at least two hours, which might be a good diversion if you have others that are shopping across the street at Circle Centre. Another thing that I was disappointed in was the web site said they would have occasional demonstrations in the drum circle, but there were none while we were there. It was fine for what our kids got out of it, and I enjoyed watching a man from Africa make musical instruments. I don't know how much repeat value there is and I probably wouldn't pay full price to go there, but we might go again in 6 months or so if they have another deal come up before then. read more