Maryland STEM Festival

Craft & Chat Fridays
2025-10-17 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Hancock War Memorial Library, 231 Hancock Veterans Pkwy, Hancock, MD, 21750, United States
On the 3rd Friday of every month, the Hancock Library will sponsor a program at the Hancock Senior Center. Each month will feature a different activity and healthy snacks. Please contact the Library or the Senior Center for more information.

STEM Day Pumpkin Fun
2025-10-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Carroll County Public Library Taneytown, 10 Grand Drive, Taneytown, MD, 21787, United States
Join the STEM Day fun at the library! We’ll explore pumpkins with lots of measuring, weighing, counting, and sorting activities!

MD STEM Fest Reading Challenge
2025-10-17 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.

Night at the Planetarium - Visible Energy: The Science of Light
2025-10-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-16 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-14 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Harford County Public Library, 629 Edgewood Road, Edgewood, MD, 21040, United States
Use the darkness of the planetarium to explore the origin, properties, and uses of light energy in the universe and our modern lives. Registration required, and opens two weeks prior to the event. Please call 410-612-1600 to register.

Opening Ceremony
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Capitol Technology University, 11301 Springfield Road, Laurel, Maryland, 20708
The Festival opens with an evening of fun, exciting STEM activities. There will be a pizza and a visit by R2D2 The Ceremony will be in McGowan Academic Center, Building 6, at Capitol Technology University. Click here for details

CodeBloom - The 1st Bloom
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Unallocated Space, 1029 Benfield Blvd, Millersville, MD, 21108, United States
Ready to learn to code? This 8-week course is a fun, play-based introduction to Python for students in grades 6-12! Through group activities, worksheets, and online challenges, we’ll show you how the skills you already have can be used to build a foundation in coding! Please sign up at this link beforehand: https://forms.gle/GnipJNjfmzng9QSw8 . We can’t wait to meet you!
GOAL: Our goal is to democratize access to tech for underserved and underrepresented communities. We empower students through coding education, provide seamless transition support, and foster a lifelong community that helps build well-rounded, impactful tech leaders. Let’s plant the skills to grow careers!
THINGS TO BRING: Laptop + Charger, Confirmed access to Google Account
SKILL LEVEL: Introductory to intermediate
PRESENTER: Sam Mosley. Please reach out to me with any question before, during, or after the course at sam.mosley AT codebloom.org 🙂

Classes on 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13. 11/20

Tween STEAM Club: Cloud Hunting
2025-10-16 15:30 - 16:30 | Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Branch (Hagerstown), 100 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740
Fun and educational STEAM projects for kids aged 9 to 12. This month we’ll build a cloud hunting viewer and learn about different types of clouds. Registration requested but not required.

Solar Ovens & Takehome S'mores
2025-10-16 15:00 - 16:00 | Kent County Public Library, 21258 Rock Hall Avenue, Rock Hall, MD, 21661, United States
Young engineers, come build a solar oven that’s just the right size for making s’mores!
We’ll provide all the supplies and teach you how a solar oven works. You’ll take home the oven you build and the ingredients to try it out by making s’mores.
Please note: We will not be making or eating s’mores at the program.
Space is limited and registration is required.

3D Artwork
2025-10-16 15:00 - 16:00 | Perryville Branch Library, 500 Coudon Blvd., Perryville, MD, 21903, United States
Enjoy all things 3D! Try out our new 3D pens to make unique sculptures and play with the Meta Quest 3 to get the 360 art experience. Grades 6-12.

Coding with Python - A Six-Week Course
2025-10-15 16:30 - 17:30 | potomac library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, MD, 20854, United States
The Richard Montgomery High School robotics team, Rocket Robotics, is excited to offer a free, 6-week coding course for middle school students, designed to introduce beginners to the fundamentals of programming and spark interest in programming and robotics. This hands-on course will cover the fundamentals of coding using one of the most popular programming languages, Python. Students will receive guided instruction over the 6-session course which will help them understand key concepts (such as basic Python syntax, working with and manipulating data, control structures like loops and if statements, and creating reusable methods) and prepare them to further advance their coding skills.
Experienced high school mentors will guide the participants, providing personalized support and encouragement. With each session building on the last, students will not only gain a solid foundation in Python programming that they can apply in robotics and other coding projects, but also the confidence to explore further in the world of technology and robotics. Whether you’re new to coding or looking to strengthen your skills, this course will provide a supportive and engaging environment to get started with Python.
Students are requested to bring their own laptop computers if possible. If they cannot, a limited number of laptops will be available for student use during the course.
Class is offered on 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19

Great Scientists Series: Isaac Newton
2025-10-15 16:00 - 17:00 | Smithsburg Library, 66 W. Water St., Smithsburg, MD, 21783, United States
Join us to learn about scientists that changed the world, their lives, and achievements. Each session will include hands-on activities. This month we will learn about Isaac Newton. Please register online.

Makerspace Wednesday: Vibrobots
2025-10-15 16:00 - 17:00 | Enoch Pratt Free Library, 1531 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21217, United States
Get ready to build something that buzzes, spins, and zooms! In this hands-on workshop, tweens (ages 9–12) will design and build their own vibrating mini-robots using simple materials and real motors.

Frankenstein Science
2025-10-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Perryville Branch Library, 500 Coudon Blvd., Perryville, MD, 21903, United States
Explore the science of Dr. Victor Frankenstein with monstrous multidisciplinary science experiments! Ages 6-11.

Punkin Chunkin Launchers
2025-10-15 14:30 - 15:30 | Kent County Public Library, 21258 Rock Hall Avenue, Rock Hall, MD, 21661, United States
Early dismissal at school? Drop by and spend the afternoon at the library!
Featured activity: Punkin Chunkin
Using popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and mini candy pumpkins, young engineers will design and test a punkin chunkin launching machine at this hands-on boredom-defying event.

Here Comes the Sun: Earth’s Energy Source
2025-10-15 14:30 - 15:30 | Pocomoke Library, 301 Market, Pocomoke City, 21851, United States
Without the sun’s energy, life on Earth would not exist as we
know it. Join us to learn all about our solar system’s only star. Registration Required.

Advanced STEM Club: Cell Biology
2025-10-15 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 the functional components of different types of cells!
We offer Advanced STEM Club @ La Plata on the third Wednesday of each month.
Note: Please register each child who will be attending separately.
Please email Sarah Anderson at sanderson@ccplonline.org with any questions.

Sensory Scientists
2025-10-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Edmondson Avenue Branch, 4330 Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21229, United States
Little ones will become Sensory Scientists as they explore the world through touch, sight, smell, and temperature. From experimenting with ice cubes to dancing on textured tiles, it will be a fun-filled morning of sensory play!

The Science Guys: Spooky Science Show
2025-10-14 16:00 - 17:00 | Chesapeake City Branch Library, 2527 Augustine Herman Highway, Chesapeake City, MD, 21915, United States
Explore spooky science experiments with the Science Guys of Baltimore! Learn the science behind dense, thick, and eerie fog, make the call of a screeching owl, create bubbling potions, challenge yourself with optical illusions, and MORE! Ages 6-14.

Open Explore - Hispanic Heritage Month
2025-10-12 10:00 - 16:00 | 3 Bethesda Metro Center, 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD, 20814-5329, United States
ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS: HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!
Papel Picado: Light and Layer | Maker Arena
Experiment with translucence and pattern-making as you create intricate designs out of paper! This iconic Mexican tradition is an integral part of celebrating Día de los Muertos.
Loom Weaving | Textile Studio
Discover the ancient art of loom weaving! Use square looms to recreate traditional patterns from Inca, Nazca, and Moche cultures while exploring their lasting impact on regional art and culture.
Minecraft Education: LatinxExplorers Showcase | Maker Playground
Latin Explorers uses Minecraft to highlight real-life Latina role models like Gloria Estefan and Dr. Ellen Ochoa. Play along with us at the Museum and take home a parent guide and certificate to continue the adventure.
MEET A MAKER: Dr. Ana G. Martinez-Becerril | 1 – 3 PM
Unfurl the world of ferns with Dr. Ana, a Mexican scientist dedicated to preserving and protecting Mexico’s rich botanical heritage.

Chemistry in the Library- "The Hidden Life of Spices", Ages 7+
2025-10-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Glenwood Branch, : 2350 MD-97, Cooksville, MD, 21273, United States
Join a chemist from the American Chemical Society for a hands-on program on the chemistry of spices. Program is appropriate for ages 7 and up (grades 2-12). Students aged 7-8 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration opens September 27, 2025, at 9 AM.
This class is part of the 2025 Maryland STEM Festival.

STEM Challenge Kit: Newton's Disc Spinner
2025-10-10 10:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-09 10:00 - 19:00 | Smithsburg Library, 66 W. Water St., Smithsburg, MD, 21783, United States
Stop by the Smithsburg Branch and pick up the STEM Challenge Kit for October. It is Newton’s Disc Spinner. While supplies last.

Wind Powered Car Construction
2025-10-08 16:30 - 17:30 | Enoch Pratt Cherry Hill Branch, 606 Cherry Hill Rd, MD, 21225, United States
The Maryland STEM Festival is right around the corner! Flex those STEM muscles and join us at Cherry Hill as we assemble our own wind powered cars. All supplies will be provided. Registration is encouraged. Call 410-396-1168 to register.

FrankenSTEAM: Dough Creature
2025-10-08 16:30 - 17:30 | Ocean City Library, 10003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD, 21842, United States
Spark your creativity by designing your very own dough
creature with a touch of electricity. Come learn about
circuits, conductive versus inductive, and get a taste of the
story of Frankenstein

Incorporating STEM into Lights on for Afterschool Events Webinar
2025-10-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Getting ready for Lights On Afterschool?
MOST is hosting a webinar for OST programs to introduce Genomics Learning Journeys activities you can run during Lights On Afterschool community events. Expect ready-to-use curriculum with low-cost materials, facilitation tips and more.
? Register: https://bit.ly/LightsOnGenomics
