Will Cody, of Mad Science Pittsburgh, demonstrates the interaction of different chemicals to children at Alameda Park with the classic Diet Coke and Mentos science experiment.

At Alameda Park Thursday evening, Will Cody sent a rocket shooting into the air, squeezed an egg into a beaker glass and sprayed the crowd with a bottle of Diet Coke.

And he did it all with a few simple ingredients, many of which he said he purchased at a grocery store.

“It's all science enrichment programs for elementary students,” said Cody, the owner of Mad Science Pittsburgh. “This is probably the fourth or fifth time we have been here, and the kids always have fun.”

Cody's “fire and ice” presentation was part of Alameda Park's Outdoor Discovery series, which brings a new free activity to the Odd Fellows Gazebo every Thursday evening.

Matthew Miller said he was amazed at the bubbling effect produced when Cody combined dish soap with dry ice, and his sister, Ryanne Miller, said her favorite part of the show was when Cody lit a fire with the dry ice.

“We do hands-on 'wow' science to try to get the kids engaged,” Cody said.