Save the Date: 2015 Philadelphia Science Festival, April 24-May 2

Are you looking for some fun and live around the Philadelphia area? Look at some of the fun things you can do with the kids! This year there are 72 events for families and most of them are free! Below I have highlighted some crowd favorites and particularly kid-friendly events. Keep in mind that there are a ton of other events and activities for all ages [or a girls night out!], so I've also attached the 2015 Program Guide for you to peruse at your leisure.  Also, feel free to check out the Science Festival website by clicking here. And, although most of the family events are free, some require pre-registration as spots do tend to fill up quickly. Science is fun! The kids will have a blast here and so will you!

Check out the 2015 Program Guide here

Astronomy Night – Fri. April 24 – 7:30 p.m. – Various locations

What’s something universities, community centers, cemeteries and wildlife refuges all have in common? A beautiful view of the starry night sky! Grab a blanket and join the biggest stargazing party in the region as local astronomers at 25+ sites throughout the region provide a tour of the cosmos.

Discovery Day – Sat. April 25 – Various start times and locations

There’s something fun for every member of the family at each of these outdoor science extravaganzas.  Participate in an awesome exercise session that will work your muscles and your brain in Chestnut Hill, meet local scientists and STEM students in Clark Park, create your own fizzy rockets in Hunting Park, celebrate Earth Day at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and have a blast at the ultra-messy, ooey-gooey, slimy and oozy Mess Fest at Smith Memorial Playground.

Science Night at the Ballpark – Sat. April 25 – Gates open at 5:05 p.m. – Citizens Bank Park

Root for the Phillies as they take on the Atlanta Braves! Watch the game under the lights, join the Phanatic for a science themed dugout dance, and explore exciting sports-themed science activities on the first level concourse!

Explorer Sunday – Sun. April 26 – Various start times and locations

Explorer Sunday is an exciting – and busy! – day of the 2015 Philadelphia Science Festival made up of 19 family-friendly events throughout the City, suburbs and South Jersey. Explorer Sunday encourages families to explore a single area of interest in-depth at an event held by an individual partner organization. Different from Discovery Days, which involve multiple partner organizations
exhibiting in one location, Explorer Sunday events are held by individual partner organizations offering exclusive, behind-the-scenes access and feature programming not typically available to the general public on an everyday visit. Some exciting Explore Sunday events to look out for include:

• DNA (Cell)fie Station – Sun. April 26 – 10:00 a.m. – University City Science Center, Department of Making + Doing: Take your selfie to the next level and create a one-of-a-kind family portrait. Use a digital microscope to photograph and examine your cheek cells, hair follicles and even your DNA!  Walk away with pictures that capture the real you. 

• Explorer Sunday at Rowan University. – Sun. April 26 – 1:00 p.m. – Various locations at Rowan University: It’s a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) celebration! Enjoy hands-on activities for all ages, exciting demonstrations, and experience virtual reality like never before. Explore science through world cultures and history, design and play your own video games, watch a show in the Planetarium and see how computer science and engineering informs art. Plus, take an immersive, 3D tour through the heart, brain, and the cells of your body at Rowan University’s high tech CAVE system at the New Jersey Tech Park!

• Atlatls: Physics of the Hunt – Sun. April 26 – 2:00 p.m. – Penn Museum: Experience how our ancestors developed the Atlatl, one of the earliest hunting technologies that utilized our understanding of physics. Participate as Penn experts illuminate the history of this ancient hunting device and see more items from the museum’s collections. Make your own darts and practice throwing with a modern atlatl. How good of a hunter are you?

Robot Build Day – Sun. April 26 – 10:00 a.m. – NextFab Studio

From wiring LED’s to making conductive dough to learning how 3D printers create solid objects, it’s a day all about what it takes to build a real robot. Come explore the many shapes, sizes and functions of robots as you learn how to make your own.

Science Carnival on the Parkway – Sat. May 2 – 10:00 a.m. – Ben Franklin Parkway

The Philadelphia Science Festival’s signature event. GET NERDY on the Parkway with your friends, family and science lovers from all over the region. It’s a jamboree of fun featuring more than 150 exhibitors offering family-friendly experiments, games and a packed line-up of live entertainment.  Gaze at the sun [safely!], meet zoo animals, explore the science of sports, grab a bite from your favorite food trucks, and celebrate all things STEM at the final event of the Festival season!