People frolicking in a ball pit.

Color Factory

I guess you could say that we’re immature…frankly, we prefer the term “in touch with our inner child”, but so be it. It should then come as no surprise that we’re crazy about an installation called Color Factory in Soho.

Color Factory is a collaborative interactive exhibit that debuted in San Francisco in August 2017, and eventually came east a year later. There’s a whopping 20,000 square feet of brand-new participatory installations of colors that designers, illustrators, poets, musicians, and other creative types have collected around the city.

As you walk through the sixteen rooms of the exhibit (all tours are self-guided), each installation flows into the next. At the entrance, you’ll find a mass of rainbow streamers. Head into the orientation room and you’ll be treated to a selection of colorful My-Mo mocha ice cream.

That’s right–ice cream. In fact, part of the fun of the installation is the swag. (Lipstick, macarons and candy are all included in the price of admission.) Photo stations are scattered throughout, and visitors are given a card that they can swipe at the photo points and like magic, the photo is sent immediately to their email. (Don’t worry, photogs, you can take your own pics–phones and cameras are still welcome.) There’s a disco-themed dance floor, a floating balloon room and puke-inspired art (don’t judge). The recurring theme throughout is color…a riot of vibrant color.

The highlight of the whole shebang is the massive ball pit at the end. Visitors can dive into and play in 500,000 sky blue balls. I mean, come on, how fun is that? It’s like a bouncy house that grownups can enjoy!

The exhibit is open every day 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets cost $38 and can only be purchased online. Bring a photo ID with your ticket so they know it’s really you!

Image via Facebook