North Carolina Science Festival 2020 is a statewide collection of events during the month of April, intended to ignite an interest in science in both kids and adults. Events take place at a number of venues in the Charlotte area, including Discovery Place, UNC Charlotte, libraries, schools, parks, and more.
Some events are free, some have a cost, and others are free after admission into the venue, like Discovery Place.
Here is a list of some of the events in the Charlotte area. Follow each link for more detailed information, such as address and intended age range, as well as a link for registration, if required.
Note: this is just a small sample of the free events going on. Make sure to check them all out.
Engineering the Future
Thursday, April 2nd, 2020
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Coltrane-Webb STEM Elementary
61 Spring Street, Concord
Free
Students will engineer products of the future with their families at Coltrane-Webb’s spring STEM Family Night.
STEM on the Wing Day
Saturday, April 4th, 2020
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville
Free
Take off into science at STEM on the Wing Day at Carolina Raptor Center. Admission is FREE all day thanks to the presenting sponsor, MSC Industrial Supply. Carolina Raptor Center has partnered with science organizations from all over Charlotte to bring exciting and interactive activities for all ages to the Raptor Trail! Throughout the day, our expert bird team will ignite your imagination with a series of appearances. Have a blast and explore your inner geek at this celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics on April 4th from 10am-2pm!
Carolinas Aviation Museum Community Day (at Goodwill Opportunity Campus)
Saturday, April 11th, 2020
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Goodwill Opportunity Campus
5301 Wilkinson Blvd
Free
Explore the science of aviation through interactive flight simulators, an open cockpit, drone demos, dynamic presenters, and more. Discover a variety of STEM careers in the aviation field and meet mentors in the workforce to learn more about what they do. Join Carolinas Aviation Museum for a day filled with fun for the whole community! The event is free to all who attend.
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Statewide Star Party: Discovery Place Science
Friday, April 24th, 2020
7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Discovery Place Science
220 W 6th Street
Free
Join Discovery Place for a free family night sky viewing event on the top of Discovery Place Science’s parking deck plus assorted astronomy activities on Friday April 24th from 7:30-10:00. This event is weather permitting.
Statewide Star Party: Harrisburg Library
Friday, April 24th, 2020
7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Harrisburg Library
201 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg
Free
Interested in learning about stargazing and how to identify what’s in the night sky? Come navigate the night sky with the aid of telescopes and local astronomers! Join us at the Harrisburg Library of the Cabarrus County Public Library System for stellar stargazing and other out of this world science activities for all ages!
Statewide Star Party: McDowell Nature Center
Friday, April 24th, 2020
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
McDowell Nature Center
15222 York Road
Free, but registration is required
Stargaze with a team of McDowell Naturalists during a night of fun and exploration as we participate in the 2020 North Carolina Statewide Star Party: Seeing the Universe. Explore how astronomers discover and explore the vastness of space with hands-on astronomy activities, view the night sky through a telescope, and explore the preserve on a starlit night hike. In the event of inclement weather, rain plans will be observed.
UNC Charlotte Science and Technology Expo
Sunday, April 26th, 2020
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
UNC Charlotte Student Union Mall
9201 University City Blvd
Free
An extravaganza of science, technology, learning and exploration featuring robots, aerial and underwater displays, explosive chemistry, race cars, innovative engineering, advanced computer technology, weird and wild physics and optics, health and human anatomy, world-changing biology and much, much more! Free event and parking! More info.
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