The Strong National Museum of Play felt a little different Friday night. From the flashing arcade lights and sounds of laughter echoing through exhibit halls to the young people crowding round classic Pac-Man machines and air hockey tables, the place was full of a new kind of crowd—not family groups or fourth graders on field trips, but rather college students.
I had the chance to visit the museum’s most recent “College Night,” which gave local students the chance to explore all that Strong has to offer, minus the usual weekend crowds. For many of them, it was a welcome break from papers, exams and deadlines—a chance to unwind and be reminded of what play actually feels like.
Students from St. John Fisher University, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Rochester and other institutions wandered among the displays. Some had phones out to capture the moment, while others kept their phones away to just live in the moment.
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St. John Fisher University students, from left to right, Paige Ryan, Katelyn Solar, Kirsten Webster and Madeline Moslow, pose in a tilted room at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, during the museum’s College Night event.
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St. John Fisher University students Kyler Patrick, left, and Lilly Tripp, right, pose with Elmo puppets at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, during the museum’s College Night event.
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St. John Fisher University student Bella Velasco poses with toy food inside a pretend food truck exhibit at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, during the museum’s College Night event.
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St. John Fisher University students Brianna Finch, left, and Lilly Tripp, right, in the Treehouse exhibit at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. The museum hosted a special College Night event for local students.
I saw groups of students taking selfies with Sesame Street puppets, battling it out in Super Smash Bros. and testing their minds with hands-on, brain-teaser puzzles. The atmosphere felt energetic but relaxed, like the museum had transformed into a massive playground just for us.
What stood out most wasn’t just the games—it was the space itself. An event tailored specifically to college students is rare, and The Strong gave us something amazing: nostalgia mixed with our own community. The museum managed to create a night filled with toys and games, giving us permission to enjoy the things that made our childhoods memorable while also connecting with peers.
The entire event took place after the normal closing time. Exhibits stayed open until 11 p.m., and even some of the food vendors kept serving pizza and snacks throughout the night.
For a few hours, deadlines and assignments took a backseat. Students who had spent the week hunched over laptops were instead cheering each other on at Street Fighter or racing Mario Karts through digital tracks. We were just kids again—laughing over games, marveling at toy collections and realizing how much fun can still fit into our busy college lives.
As the night wrapped up, clusters of students lingered by the exit, chatting about the night. Many said they hoped the museum would host another College Night soon or wondered if there were more events like this in the city.
The Strong’s College Night wasn’t just an event; it was a reminder that play doesn’t have an age limit. For students balancing the weight of classes, jobs and life after graduation, that reminder felt like exactly what we needed.
