2026 Activations.
Hands-on experiences that brought STEM to life — try the gear, run the experiments, meet the people building what comes next.
I-Street Mobile Labs
Traveling labs that required a separate free timed-entry ticket — three rolling classrooms of real-world science and manufacturing.
The Curiosity Cube™
Step inside a traveling science lab to run hands-on synthetic biology experiments — led by working MilliporeSigma scientists themselves.
The Future of Making, On Wheels
A traveling lab packed with the real machines shaping advanced manufacturing. Try the equipment, see the work, and meet the careers that build everything around you.
The ACE Mobile Lab
Ever programmed a robot or run a welding machine? Code a robot, operate a robotic welder, watch a CNC mill machine parts in real time, and discover how a 3D printer turns digital designs into objects you can hold.
Festival Floor — The Square
Drop-in booths across the Expo floor, covered by the free Festival ticket. Locations marked by letter.
FeaturedAReflexes, Dog Tags & the Navy's Robot Dog
Test your reflexes on the Reaction Drill, earn a custom engraved dog tag, and watch the Navy's robot dog in action. See how the U.S. Navy defends freedom at sea — and the careers that power it.
NMake It Yours
Spin our wheel, hold real precision-made parts, and discover the skills powering America's most advanced manufacturing — from welding to machining to additive printing. Win prizes along the way.
HThe Digital Cadaver
The Anatomage Table is a fully interactive 3D digital cadaver. Explore every system of the human body at the highest level of medical accuracy — no scalpel required.
IRadio Contact With Space
Interact with radio technology, send pictures over the airwaves, learn Morse Code, and build your own ARISS light. Discover how students connect live with astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
PFour Ways to Play
Reveal a secret message, design a UV-reactive bracelet, master the physics of a rattleback, and win prizes in science trivia. Four ways to play, all in one stop.
EDesign It. Fly It.
Step into an engineer's shoes — design, build, and test your own aircraft for distance and accuracy. Tweak the design, launch again, and chase the perfect flight.
CSnap Circuits Challenge
Build and connect circuits to make components work — then troubleshoot when they don't. It's exactly how Boeing engineers design and integrate the electrical systems that power aircraft.
KMix, React, Make Your Own Lava Lamp
Watch substances collide and separate as you build your very own lava lamp. It's the same chemistry and materials science behind real careers in engineering and the lab.
MEngineer Clean Water
Engineer your own miniature pipe and filtration systems. Talk to working water engineers. See how clean water actually gets to your tap — and what it takes to keep it that way.
RStep Into Science in VR
Dive into an immersive virtual reality experience — then complete all three Boeing activities to earn a take-home lab kit and keep the science going long after you leave.
SNASA STELLA in Your Palm
Meet STELLA — NASA's Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment instrument. This open-source, low-cost handheld puts NASA's satellite science into your palm.
F5-Minute Invent Challenge
Draw a Who + What card, then race to prototype a solution. Build, sketch, or craft — then show off your invention. Stop by once or keep coming back for a new challenge.
BFind the Malware
Bring a USB and put it to the test in a live MetaDefender Kiosk scan, then go head-to-head with real phishing scenarios built to fool the pros. Walk away with prevention-first security skills.
DDrone Races & Robotics
Watch drones race inside the cage. See robotics programs in action through global competition highlights and hands-on demos. The future of teamwork, one robot at a time.
JYour Future in Chips
Semiconductors power everything that moves, connects, and innovates. See a live ChipPath demo and activate your own account to build a resume, find training, and explore real careers.
QDesign a Wind Turbine
Test your own wind turbine blades against real fans — adjust angle, shape, and speed to maximize energy output. Plus free Smithsonian giveaways, games, ebooks, and more.
LDesign, Build, Improve
Take on real engineering challenges pulled straight from the MEERA classroom curriculum. Explore how products are designed, built, and refined — and pick up problem-solving skills.
GInvent With the Chomp Saw
Spark an idea with a SCAMPER challenge, battle it out in an innovation madness bracket, and get hands-on with the Chomp Saw. Discover how young inventors turn problems into STEM solutions.
Live Sessions
Main Stage talks throughout the day, included with the free Festival ticket.
Tracy Fanara, PhD
Scientist, science communicator, and founder of Inspector Planet, Tracy Fanara breaks down the science of hurricanes — how they form, how we forecast them, and how innovation helps coastal communities prepare for a changing climate.
Kevin J DeBruin
In a world of misinformation, get your education from the source. Hear about afterschool programs curated by industry experts (Space Class & Water Class), plus STEM PROs — career and life advice from 100+ professionals.