Maryland STEM Festival

National STEM Day (ages 5-10)
2025-11-08 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Brunswick Branch, 915 N. Maple Avenue, Brunswick, MD, 21716, United States
Drop in and experiment with our fun STEM toys!
This program is for children in grades K-5 (ages 5-10).

Stem Club: Geometric Shape Art
2025-11-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-11-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Charles County Public Library, 10405 O'Donnell Place, Waldorf, MD, 20603, United States
For this program, we will be learning about how art and math intersect by creating your own geometric shape art!
We offer STEM Club @ La Plata on the first Wednesday of each month.
Note: Please register each child who will be attending separately.
Please email laplataref@ccplonline.org with any questions.

Robot Pumpkin Smash
2025-11-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Carroll County Public Library Westminster location, 50 East Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
Join the Robo-Lions, a team of students, as they fire up their robots for Robot Pumpkin Smash! Find out how long it takes a robot to crack open a pumpkin. This program is a collaboration between PIE3 (Partnership in Inspiration for Engineering Education and Entrepreneurship), Robo-Lions, and Carroll County Public Library.

Math Games: Mancala (ages 8-11)
2025-11-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd,, Elkridge, MD, 21075, United States
Ages 8-11. 45 min. Ticket required. Tickets available 15 minutes before class.
Learn to play different versions the game Mancala and practice your math skills while you play this ancient game of strategy. Make and decorate your own game board to take home and continue the fun!
This class is part of the 2025 Maryland STEM Festival.

Pumpkin Smash at Westminster Library
2025-11-08 13:30 - 15:00 | Westminster Branch, 50 East Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
FRC Team 2199 “Robo-Lions” present their Pumpkin Smashing Robots

Intro to GIMP Digital Art
2025-11-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Quince Orchard, 15831 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, 20878, United States
Learn the basics of the GIMP interface as you customize a rad cartoon cat! For ages 8 to 12.
GIMP is an open-source graphics program—similar to Photoshop, but free! GIMP allows you to create graphics or edit photos using a variety of customizable tools and features. This class will introduce kids to the interface and encourage them to express themselves through digital art! The projects our participants create will be displayed in the library.
This is a pilot program! Two sessions are currently planned, one on October 25th and one on November 8th. At this time, you may take only one class to make sure there is space for everyone! We hope to offer more sessions in the future depending on interest. Adult attendance to assist your child is strongly encouraged, although we won’t have enough computers for adults to participate. Please arrive on time.
This program is for children ages 8 to 12. Registration is required. Sign up online or by calling the Quince Orchard library at 240-777-0200.
Key Terms (to be covered as time allows): layers, transparency, float selection, opacity, color picker, bucket tool, pattern, gradient
The Maryland STEM Festival is a month-long celebration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics designed to advance STEM and STEAM education for children and teens that takes place every fall.
Questions about this program? Contact the Quince Orchard branch at 240-777-0200

STEM at the Chevy Chase Library: Egg Drop Engineering Challenge - Presented by Science Connections
2025-11-08 10:30 - 11:30 | Chevy Chase Library, 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, United States
Calling all future NASA engineers! Join Michelle Bertke of Science Connections to test out your design and construction skills. Learn how NASA engineers landed the most recent rover, Perseverance, on Mars in February 2021. Apply some of the same techniques they used to plan, build, and test out your very own creation. Can you complete the challenge: to protect your raw egg cargo from a 10-foot drop!!
Science Connections specializes in exploring STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) topics with hands-on activities that bring science alive. Each program and activity has been designed with Next Generation Science Standards in mind to ensure that it is not only fun but also educational. We will provide all of the materials for this program.
For 6-10 year olds
Space is limited. Register on our website!
Generously sponsored by the Friends of the Chevy Chase Library
Location: Chevy Chase Library Meeting Room (lower level)
Questions about this program? Contact the Chevy Chase Library at 240-773-9590

Basic Seamanship & Vessel Operations
2025-11-08 10:00 - 17:00 | Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 North Talbot St., St. Michaels, MD, 21663, United States
Learn the basics of seamanship and vessel operations with CBMM’s Shipyard Educator Steve Garrand and Schooner Sultana Capt. Kate Dumhart. Students will gain experience aboard two vessels, a modern outboard powered 16-foot skiff and a traditional inboard powered 29-foot Smith Island crab scrape, plus 1909 crab dredger Old Point. In this class, we will introduce you to the skills needed to gain confidence out on the water and confidence means more fun!
In this class expect to learn:
Basic dock line management, coiling, stowing, cleat hitches and some easy to learn knots, as well as strategies for tying up your boat in different scenarios
The theory and practice of close quarters maneuvering on and off the dock as well as getting on and off the anchor
Strategies for man overboard retrieval
Rules of the Road basics and VHF operations and etiquette
This program is supported through CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council.
Basic Seamanship & Vessel Operations
Date/Time: Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 8-9, 10am-5pm
Location: CBMM’s docks & waterfront
Cost: $300, with a 20% discount for CBMM members

Power Up with Choptank Electric Cooperative
2025-11-08 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-07 10:00 - 17:00 | Wicomico Public Library-Paul S Sarbanes Branch, 122 South Division Street, Salisbury, MD, 21801, United States
Celebrate the Maryland STEM Festival with Wicomico Public Library and Choptank Electric Cooperative! Throughout the month, children of all ages are invited to explore the exciting world of electricity through fun, self-guided activities. Discover how energy is generated, how it travels to your home, and why it matters. Stop by anytime during open hours to learn, play, and get inspired by the power of STEM!

STEM-Fest: Signaling the Future
2025-11-08 10:00 - 16:00 | National Cryptologic Museum, 8290 Colony 7 Road Annapolis Junction, MD, annapolis Junction, MD, 20701, United States
Join the National Cryptologic Museum for the 11th Annual STEM Fest! Explore a world of discovery where science, technology, engineering and math come together!
Get ready for hands-on exhibits, exciting activities and industry experts that will help spark curiosity and creativity!
The NCM is partnering with the Maryland STEM Festival for the 11th consecutive year. It’s a chance to explore the latest innovations in the STEM fields and have a family fun adventure! STEM Fest is free and open to the public. Just drop by!

Western Maryland STEM Festival
2025-11-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Frostburg State University, 101 Braddock Road, Dundalk, Maryland, 21224
There will be STEM activities and demos for everyone featuring Superstar Steve Spangler. Click here for details.

LEGO® Creations
2025-11-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Carroll County Public Library Westminster location, 50 East Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
Want to build a castle? Or a spaceship? Or something totally new and different? Join us for a LEGO® program where you can build whatever you would like! We supply the blocks and you supply the creativity! Bring a grown-up and build together!

For ages 9-14: Mushroom Materials
2025-11-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Baltimore Underground Science Space (BUGSS), 101 N Haven St, Baltimore, MD, 21224, United States
How can we be more sustainable and get over our addiction to plastic? Let’s build with mushrooms instead! Scholarships available! Make sure to register on Eventbrite.
Come join us at the Baltimore UnderGround Science Space (BUGSS) for a fascinating event all about the wonders of mushroom materials! Discover how mushrooms can be used to create sustainable and innovative products. From packaging to building materials, mushrooms have incredible potential. We’ll build our own creations and then test the ability of mushroom materials to float, stack, and withstand pressure!
Scholarships are available! Please email us at info@bugssonline.org to request one.
When: Saturday, November 8 · 10 – 11:30am EST
Where: Baltimore UnderGround Science Space (BUGSS)
101 N Haven St Baltimore, MD 21224
Fee: $17.85
Make sure to register on Eventbrite to secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/for-ages-9-14-mushroom-materials-tickets-1831100373509?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Preschool Science: Forces and Energy
2025-11-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Mt Airy Branch, 705 Ridge Avenue, Mt Airy, MD, 21771, United States
Join us for some pint-sized physics experiments to help us learn about forces and energy!

Pumpkin Smash at Mt. Airy Library
2025-11-08 09:30 - 11:30 | Mt Airy Branch, 705 Ridge Avenue, Mt Airy, MD, 21771, United States
FRC Team 2199 “Robo-Lions” presents their Pumpkin Smashing Robots

MD STEM Fest Reading Challenge
2025-11-08 09:00 - 23:30 | Online
Discover the fun of STEM through stories and hands-on challenges! Complete STEM-themed activities and read books to fill your bingo board.

TAB November Solar Printing Kit
2025-11-08 01:00 - 03:30 | Chevy Chase Library, 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, United States
At the Chevy Chase Teen Advisory Meeting we will be making Solar Printing Kits. The kits and instructions to make the solar prints will be available at the library for pick up.

Hip Hop Finfest Volume 4: When Money Makes Change
2025-11-07 19:00 - 21:00 | MD
Hip Hop FinFest Volume 4: When Money Makes Change
Join us for the 4th Annual Hip-Hop FinFest concert on November 7, 2025, at 7 PM ET LIVE from New York City or Livestream virtually!
We will share the top 3 student finalists’ winning songs and announce the winner, live!! The concert will include live musical performances, freestyle battles, money lessons, and a keynote to show you how your money can make a difference.
MC’d by Dyalekt, Pockets Change’s Director of Pedagogy and winner of the 2025 PASEsetter award for excellence in after school education.
Hip Hop FinFest is:
? A youth song competition where the top 3 finalists get cash prizes (1st – $1,000, 2nd – $500, and 3rd – $250) and a SONY Studio in a Backpack valued at over $1300
? A community concert where the top 2 finalists get an all expenses paid trip to NYC and perform their song to an enthusiastic crowd
? A chance to have Hip Hop legends give you feedback on your music and songwriting skills
? A groundbreaking arts & finance program for schools and organizations
? An opportunity for educators to connect with their students on a deeper level
? A program that puts youth front and center as the voices of tomorrow on one of the most crucial topics in our lives: MONEY

Paranormal Librarians
2025-11-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Charles County Public Library, 10405 O'Donnell Place, Waldorf, MD, 20603, United States
Join us at the La Plata Branch after hours for a hands-on ghost hunting experience! Participants will learn the methods used by professional paranormal researchers, including how to operate equipment such as EMF detectors, spirit boxes, dowsing rods, audio and video recorders, and trigger objects.
We’ll begin with an overview of how the tools work and best practices for conducting a respectful and thorough investigation. Then, once the library has grown dark, we’ll explore both the downstairs meeting room and the upstairs adult section, using what we’ve learned to investigate possible paranormal activity.
After the investigation, participants will rotate through stations to review audio and video recordings, analyze data, and practice techniques for documenting—or debunking—potential findings.

AI IRL: Real Talk for Teens
2025-11-07 16:00 - 17:00 | Quince Orchard Library, 15831 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, United States
AI IRL: Real Talk for Teens is a four-session discussion series built around real AI headlines. Each session starts with a short news story, separates fact from myth, introduces one practical skill to try, and opens the floor for conversation guided by teens’ questions.
Participants build practical, responsible AI habits: verifying claims and sources, recognizing bias and misinformation, writing task-appropriate prompts, crediting AI assistance when required, and protecting privacy online. The final session includes a look at AI’s environmental impact, tying into this year’s Maryland STEM Festival theme of ENERGY.
Each session stands alone, so participants can attend any or all and leave with something they can use right away for schoolwork, early work experiences and resumes, creative projects, or daily life. Phones and laptops are welcome, and snacks are provided.
Event runs from 10/22 through 11/12

Solar Powered Paper Houses
2025-11-07 15:30 - 16:30 | Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Avenue, Berlin, MD, 21811, United States
Craft a simple solar-powered paper house with a solar cell and
LED and discover how sunlight turns into electricity!

Bay-lieve It Or Not: Bay Science For Tweens & Teens
2025-11-07 14:30 - 15:30 | Lexington Park Libary, 21677 FDR Blvd, Lexington Park, MD, 20653, United States
Learn more about how Oysters help the Chesapeake Bay with help from the Calvert Marine Museum including a live Oyster demo and a look at how acidification impacts the Bay ecosystem.

Chemistry Magic Show and Mathstravaganza
2025-11-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Stevenson University Manning Academic Center, 11200 Gundry Ln, Owings Mills, MD, 21117, United States
Join us for a Maryland STEM Festival event at Stevenson University.
Enjoy an afternoon of science and math fun for all ages.
The Chemistry Magic Show (2–3 PM) will showcase the magic of chemistry through demonstrations that make ordinary materials behave in extraordinary ways.
The Mathstravaganza (3–4 PM) features hands-on math demonstrations that makes problem solving come alive. Explore the Monty Hall problem with jelly beans, create fractal patterns through the chaos game, experiment with bubble surfaces, investigate probability with Buffon’s needle using Pixy Stix, and more!
Free and fun for everyone. Come explore the magic of STEM with us at Stevenson University.

Carnival Chaos
2025-11-07 14:00 - 15:30 | Edgewood Library, 629 Edgewood Road, Edgewood, MD, 21040, United States
Students will build miniature versions of classic carnival games, such as mini-golf, bowling, pinball, and more. They will program their games in block code.

Risky Business: Fraud and Scam Protection
2025-11-07 13:00 - 14:00 | North Carroll Library, 2255 Hanover Pike, Hampstead,, MD, 21704, United States
Online activity plays a big role in your everyday life—and knowing how to navigate it safely is more important than ever. In this engaging session, explore how common internet habits can open the door to unwanted risks, and more importantly, how simple changes can help protect your personal information, privacy, and peace of mind.
This class is brought to learners through a partnership between the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council (CTIC) and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Together, we’re equipping our community with the tools to stay safer online.
Using real data from Carroll County, this session will help you:
Understand the local impact of scams, fraud, and phishing
Recognize common red flags in texts, emails, and calls
Learn simple steps to protect your personal and financial information

Little Scientist Storytime
2025-11-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg, MD, 20879, United States
Come listen to stories, rhymes and songs all about different science concepts for little ones! Then stick around as we explore and experiment with activities that highlight early literacy skills during this special extended storytime!
Ideal for ages 18 months to 5 years with a parent or caregiver.
Parents/caregivers MUST accompany children under the age of 8 during the program.
Questions about this program? Please contact Gaithersburg Library at 240-773-9490.

Homeschool Recess
2025-11-07 10:30 - 12:00 | La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Avenue, La Plata, MD, 20646, United States
Meet the Mobile Library at Pisgah Park (6645 Mason Springs Rd, La Plata, MD 20646) for outdoor fun and games. In November, we will look to the skies and learn about birds and birding!
***Please note: In the event of inclement weather, this event could be canceled. For more information, please refer to our Events Calendar at https://www.ccplonline.org or contact the Mobile Library at 301-456-4333 or Mobilelibrary@ccplonline.org.

Energy and Psychology
2025-11-07 10:00 - 13:00 | Stevenson University Manning Academic Center, 11200 Gundry Ln, Owings Mills, MD, 21117, United States
Students of the Psychology Department of Stevenson University (North Campus, MAC building lobby) will be showcasing posters that describe various ways energy is related to psychology. Specifically, the biological and clinical implications of energy will be presented in poster format from 10 am to 1 pm on Friday, November 7, 2025. All are welcome to attend, ideal for high school and homeschooled students! The event is in the Manning Academic Center (MAC) Building, main lobby, adjacent to the concierge desk
