North Carolina Science Festival 2017 is a statewide collection of events, from April 7th, 2017, through April 23rd, 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, UNCC, CPCC, libraries, schools, and ImaginOn. 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 free events in the Charlotte area. Follow each link for more detailed information, such as address and intended age range.
Some require registration and may be filled up by the time you read this. Note: this is just a small sample of the free events going on! Make sure to check them all out.
Secrets of Sea Life
Friday, April 7th, 2 p.m.
Mountain Island Library
Stem 101: Lego WeDo
Saturday, April 8th, 10 a.m.
Steele Creek Library
Come out and learn how to create theme-based LEGO projects in this hands-on robotics construction workshop.
Coding with South County
Saturday, April 8th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
South County Library
Teens and preteens will have the chance to try out coding resources at the library with iPads or their own devices in this special workshop. Check out all of the resources the library has to offer in your quest to learn coding, including access to free online classes as well as library materials.
Community Day at Carolinas Aviation Museum
Saturday, April 8th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join us for our fourth annual Community Day! Admission is FREE for EVERYONE! The museum will be full of family-friendly, STEM-based, hands-on and minds-on activities like our “design a plane out of recyclable materials” challenge, air pressure demos, and our hypothermia penny challenge race. Visitors will get a chance to sit in the cockpits of our interactive Cessna 150, F-4, and 727 trainer cockpits. Guests will learn about the Miracle on the Hudson when they see the US Airways airplane that was guided to an emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009 and they will get the inside story as they both interact with passengers that were on the flight and experience what it is like to sit in a life raft.
Library Escape Room: Dr. Frankenstrange’s Mad Laboratory
Tuesday, April 11th, 3:30 p.m.
University City Regional Library
Beware of the mad scientist and escape from his crazy laboratory! See if your observations, problem solving skills, and ability to work in a team will help you make it out successfully! *Teens aged 12 – 18* Must register to participate
Tiny House Time: Gingerbread Style
Tuesday, April 11th, 4 p.m.
ImaginOn
Learn the science behind building an indestructable gingerbread house and then test it out! Materials will be provided. Registration required.
Rookie Science: Cryptozoology and the Study of Hidden Animals
Wednesday, April 12th, 1:30 p.m.
ImaginOn
Learn about Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, and other possibly mythical animals, as well as animals that hide through camouflage in nature. Afterwards, make up your own hidden animal in a literacy-based activity.
Scratch Programming Language Workshop
Wednesday, April 12th, 4 p.m.
West Boulevard Library
Create and share interactive stories, games, music, and art by learning how to use Scratch, a free software program. Please register online
The Great Egg Drop Challenge: Scaleybark Branch
Saturday, April 15th, 12 p.m.
Scaleybark Library
Use science and skill to design a system that will protect a raw egg from cracking during a fall.
Life-Sized Angry Birds
Saturday, April 15th, 3:30 p.m.
Mint Hill Library
Use your knowledge of physics to help your team build the best Angry Birds structure, then try to knock down the other team’s creation!
Statewide Star Party: UNC Charlotte
Friday, April 21st, 8:30 p.m.
UNC Charlotte
Join us for a free evening of star-gazing and fun astronomy activities, including a chance to view planets, moons, star clusters and nebulae with our collection of telescopes. Online registration is recommended. All ages welcome!
Family Science Party
Saturday, April 22nd, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Makerspace, 200 East 36th Street
Join us for a Saturday of Science Fun! The whole family can make rockets launched by compressed air, see demonstrations on superconducting levitation, plus take hovercraft rides!
Statewide Star Party: Discovery Place Science
Saturday, April 22nd, 7:30 p.m.
Discovery Place Science
Bring the family for a night under the stars! Explore stargazing, celestial viewing and astronomy activities on top of the parking deck of Discovery Place Science (weather permitting).
2017 Science & Superheroes Contest
Sunday, April 23rd, 2017, 1 p.m.
Discovery Place Science
Did you know that many superheroes in the comic book world derive their superpowers from science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)? Spider-Man uses biology & zoology to show us how a spider’s physiology translates into a human being. The Flash exploits the principles of sub-atomic physics to vibrate through solid objects. Create your own STEM-powered superhero and enter the 2017 Science & Superheroes Contest! Winners will be honored at a special ceremony at Discovery Place.
UNC Charlotte Science and Technology Expo
Sunday, April 23rd, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
A celebration of science and technology for kids, families and adults, featuring more than 100 activities including explosive chemistry, exotic physics, biology and animals, plants and nature, information science, health science, robots, robots, robots … a whole lot of fun for the entire family!
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
