12th annual
Maryland STEM Festival
2026 theme · Artificial Intelligence
8
days to go
Thursday, October 8, 2026
The Festival begins Friday, October 16 at 6:00 a.m. Eastern.
Published event spotlight
Explore the Festival
Ripen the MeriSTEM, Inc.
Make Slime & Test Strange Materials
Ripen the Meristem, Inc. (RTM) is thrilled to invite families throughout Cambridge, Dorchester County, and surrounding communities to our FREE Eats & Experiments STEM Series at the Dorchester County Public Library! Join us as we explore the wonders of science through four exciting activities: 🟢 Make Slime & Test Strange Materials — October 8 🧪 Make Color-Changing, Foaming, & Fizzing Chemistry — October 22 🍬 Make & Test Candy & Food Experiments — November 11 🧬 Extract Real DNA & Test It With Forensic Tools — November 15 Each session will feature a different hands-on experiment led by a real scientist, Chenere P. Ramsey, PhD, giving children and adults an opportunity to learn, discover, and have fun together! ✅ FREE and open to the public ✅ Pre-K through 12th grade students and adults welcome ✅ All experiment materials and refreshments provided ✅ Attend one session or all four! 📢 Advance registration is required, and space is limited!
#Biotech #Chemistry #play #STEM
Help us improve next year’s Festival. Share your experience in our attendee survey.
2026 Maryland STEM Festival
October 16 – November 15
Maryland STEM Festival brings hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math experiences to students, families, educators, and communities across the state.
Look at what is happening!
Choose a topic to find upcoming Festival events.
Building, Engineering & Making
111 upcoming events
Computers, AI & Robotics
102 upcoming events
Art & Creative STEM
67 upcoming events
Chemistry & Physics
49 upcoming events
Biology & Health
42 upcoming events
Nature, Animals & Environment
37 upcoming events
Space & Earth Science
33 upcoming events
Math & Problem Solving
18 upcoming events
Maryland STEM Ambassador Program
STEM Ambassador Program
Even if you missed the July 27th meeting, we will still welcome Middle and High School students to our Ambassador Program. Learn about being a Maryland STEM Festival Ambassador here. Email us at Phil@marylandstemfestival.org to join the program or with questions.
12Th Maryland STEM FESTIVAL
OPENING CEREMONY
October 15Th 6-8pm
Join us for an evening of STEM activities & demos at the UMCP Student Union
Meet R2D2 and other Droids & Robots
Our Mission
We’re Here To Make STEM Happen!
A Month Long Celebration!
The Maryland STEM Festival is a month-long celebration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics that takes place every Fall. In 2026, we’ll be bringing hundreds of events focused on fun, interactive science learning opportunities. Students, families, friends, STEM professionals, teachers, and volunteers will all enjoy events taking place throughout Maryland.
Highlights The Impact Of Science!
The Festival highlights the educational, cultural and financial impact of science in this state. Through hands-on activities, talks, lab tours, nature experiences, expos, exhibits and performances, the Festival engages a wide range of public audiences while inspiring future generations.
Cultivates A Positive Environment!
This Festival cultivates a positive environment that inspires children to pursue science-related careers and encourages businesses to invest in Maryland. The Festival energizes our state’s efforts to respond to these challenges.
Upcoming Events
Don’t Miss Out On Our Upcoming Events
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October 8, 2026 · 6:00 pm–8:00 pm
Network and socialize with fellow biopharma, academic, and government professionals at our Maryland Bionetworking Summit—a bioscience-focused series designed to highlight our area’s unique life science ecosystem and to promote interactions between its diverse stakeholders. This in-person evening event will consist of a networking social with refreshments, followed by a talk at the Biomedical Sciences and…
Best For: High School, AdultsEvent Location Type: In-PersonOrganizer: UMBC – Shady GroveVenue: UMBC-Shady Grove -
October 8, 2026 · 6:30 pm–7:45 pm
Ripen the Meristem, Inc. (RTM) is thrilled to invite families throughout Cambridge, Dorchester County, and surrounding communities to our FREE Eats & Experiments STEM Series at the Dorchester County Public Library! Join us as we explore the wonders of science through four exciting activities: 🟢 Make Slime & Test Strange Materials — October 8 🧪…
Best For: Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, High School, AdultsEvent Location Type: In-PersonOrganizer: Ripen the MeriSTEM, Inc. -
October 9, 2026 · 11:00 am–4:00 pm
Celebrate World Space Week by making a solar system mobile.
Best For: Preschool, Elementary SchoolEvent Location Type: In-PersonOrganizer: Gaithersburg Community Museum -
October 10, 2026 · 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Join us for The Code for Change’s Digital Inclusion & Technology Fair on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Trinidad Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, MD! This FREE, family-friendly event will feature virtual reality, gaming, drone demos, mini tech trainings, career resources, giveaways, and more. We’re also welcoming sponsors, vendors, and community…
Best For: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, AdultsEvent Location Type: In-PersonOrganizer: The Code for ChangeVenue: Trinidad Baptist Church -
October 10, 2026 · 11:00 am–3:00 pm
Explore what STEAM stands for while also fostering cultural awareness of Native American Heritage. Explore the concept of the medicine wheel, cardinal directions, the lunar calendar (through the book Thirteen Moons on a Turtle’s Back), and natural patterns/ cycles. Though the activity is mostly self-guided, staff members will be present to answer any questions or…
Best For: Elementary SchoolEvent Location Type: In-PersonOrganizer: Montpelier Historic Site and Museum -
October 10, 2026 · 11:00 am–4:00 pm
Celebrate World Space Week by making a solar system mobile.
Best For: Preschool, Elementary SchoolEvent Location Type: In-PersonOrganizer: Gaithersburg Community Museum
Meet Our Sponsors
Testimonial
What Our Attendees Say
The Maryland STEM Festival hosts events for people of all ages, backgrounds, and areas of STEM. Learn more about our mission on the About Us page.
Elementary School
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“I made rockets, I got to pet a snake, and I got to make a tower out of paper straws to hold up a pumpkin!”
Middle School
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“It was very fun! I learned about robots and how they are made. I liked how a lot of the stations were hands on and interactive.”
College Graduate
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“I like that everyone gave anecdotes on how they got into Cybersecurity and gave tips on how people like me can get into Cybersecurity.”
Support Us
Support Maryland STEM Festival 2026
Your support helps bring hands-on STEM learning to communities across Maryland.
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