Statewide Star Party at North Carolina Science Festival

North Carolina Science Festival 2023 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 museums, parks and libraries.

More than 400 events have been announced throughout the state so far. We will be listing a few the events in the Charlotte area below, but make sure to visit the North Carolina Science Festival website for a complete list.

North Carolina Science Festival

We’ll added some of the events that have been announced, and you can see all of them online.

Follow each link for more information and to register, if required.

STEM on the Wing
Saturday, April 1st, 2023
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC
Free

Celebrate your love of nature and explore how science supports conservation while learning from the Raptors at CRC!

Conservation happens at many levels, from huge global projects to the activities you enact in your home. Your curiosity and excitement about the natural world are conservation successes! Event includes interactive activities, educational bird presentations, an opportunity to celebrate conservation successes with your community, and much more.

Farm Babies
Saturday, April 8th, 2023
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Schiele Museum of Natural History
1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC
$8

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a meet-and-greet featuring live farm animals!

Guest baby animals will join resident pigs, sheep, goats, cows, and more on The Farm at The Schiele Museum. Kids can enjoy an egg-themed scavenger hunt and hands-on learning activities. The Nature Trail, playground, and life-size mazes will be open for fun and exploration.

Statewide Star Party: Harrisburg Library
Friday, April 21st, 2023
7 to 9 p.m.
Harrisburg Branch Public Library
201 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg, NC
Free

Celebrate the Night Sky at the Harrisburg Branch Library! We will be one of this year’s Statewide Star Party hosts on April 21st at 7:00 pm and we have an exciting evening planned!

Take a bookwalk through the library, marvel at the latest images from the James Webb telescope, and of course, take in the stars at Harrisburg Park. There will be games, crafts, a scavenger hunt, and more!

Attendance is free so please bring the whole family. Parking is available in the park and in the Library’s two lots. Registration is not required for this event.

In case of rain, Harrisburg’s Star Party will be postponed to April 22nd.

Treetops and Tombstones: Charlotte’s Super Natural Arboretum
Saturday, April 22nd, 2023
9 to 11 a.m.
Elmwood Cemetery
700 W 6th Street, Charlotte, NC
Free

Historic Elmwood Cemetery is a unique greenspace in Uptown Charlotte that also happens to be a certified arboretum! As you stroll among the monuments and historic structures, City of Charlotte Arborists and the Cemetery Manager will teach you how to identify some of the arboretum’s special trees and the historical figures buried on the grounds.

Space is limited, so RSVP today! A waiting list will be made available once slots are filled.

The Genetics of Taste
Saturday, April 22nd, 2023
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
UNC Nutrition Research Institute on the NC Research Campus
500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC
Free

Come visit the UNC Nutrition Research Institute for a taste test! Learn about how genetics can affect how certain foods taste to us. Our “tongues-on” activity will allow your curiosity to be stimulated along with your taste buds.

You will interact with our research staff to explore how individual differences play a part in our day-to-day choices. Participants may leave with some new ideas and recipes for healthy foods to try at home. Children will be encouraged to express their “artistic taste preferences” on the Cheatham Nutrition & Cognition Lab’s Trail of Taste through sidewalk chalk creations.

Plants for Human Health Institute Earth Day Event (Microgreens)
Saturday, April 22nd, 2023
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
NC State University Plants for Human Health Institute on the NC Research Campus
500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC
Free

Tiny plants can pack a huge nutritional punch! Join the Plants for Human Health Institute at NC State for an exciting day all about microgreens. Participants will learn about the health benefits of microgreens and how to grow them in their own kitchen. Plant some seeds and take home a sample of the microgreens to try at home!

Statewide Star Party: Davidson College
Saturday, April 22nd, 2023
6 to 9:30 p.m.
Davidson College
405 N Main Street, Davidson, NC
Free

The Davidson College Physics Department invites you to a Star Party to be held on the campus of Davidson College.

Come explore the wonders of astronomy and the night sky with your family and friends by joining us for the three events described below. Please stay for all three, or feel free to come for just one or two. As a host for the NC Science Festival’s annual Statewide Star Party, our theme for all events is “Full STEAM Ahead,” a celebration of the intersection of science and the arts.

6:00 – 7:30 pm: Activity fair, featuring family-friendly demonstrations, crafts, and activities. Location TBD.
7:30 – 8:30 pm: Public lecture on the campus lawn, topic and speaker to be announced soon.
8:30 – 9:30 pm: Public stargazing on the campus lawn, featuring telescope observations and guided tours of the Moon, stars, galaxies, nebulae, and planets. Bring a blanket and relax while you take time to simply look up.

World Astronomy Night at Discovery Place Science
Saturday, April 29th, 2023
7 to 9:30 p.m.
Discovery Place Science
301 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
$12 for non-members; $9 for members

Join us after dark for a family friendly exploration of the universe and the night sky. Experience Discovery Place Science’s new planetarium, design and build tools for space exploration, and stargaze in Uptown Charlotte (weather permitting).