The Tennessee STEAM Festival returns this fall for its 9th annual celebration, running from October 10th to 26th. Founded by the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, the festival has grown into a statewide tradition with more than 300 events at 80 host venues, inviting Tennesseans of all ages to experience the connections between science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).
- READ MORE! Murfreesboro Airport STEAM Fest Oct. 14 & 18
“This year’s Tennessee STEAM Festival represents the very best of collaboration across our state,” said Tara MacDougall, President and CEO of the Discovery Center. “Thanks to the tireless work of our community partners and the generous support of our sponsors, we’ve curated one of our most ambitious lineups yet. From cultural celebrations to cutting-edge science demonstrations, the festival shows how STEAM can inspire creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning for everyone.”
The first weekend included the return of STEAM-A-Palooza this past weekend at the Discovery Center, located at 502 SE Broad St. in Murfreesboro.
Other signature programs across the state include:
-
In West Tennessee, the University of Memphis Lambuth Planetarium will host a Cosmic Dawn screening (Oct. 18), while the Museum of Science & History will stage MoSH STEAM FEST (Oct. 22, 23, & 24), and Memphis Parks will present a combined STEAM and Fall Festival (Oct. 25).
-
Middle Tennessee highlights include Scopes at 100 at Middle Tennessee State University (Oct. 16), the Tennessee Indian Education Pow Wow (Oct. 17–19), and International Archaeology Day at the Parthenon (Oct. 18).
-
East Tennessee offerings include STEAM at the Stadium with MUSE Knoxville (Oct. 10), multiple STEAM Experiment days at WonderWorks Pigeon Forge, and Family STEAM Day: From Atoms to Art at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge (Oct. 25).
“This is a festival that belongs to the whole state,” said Sarah Hicks, Community Engagement Coordinator at the Discovery Center, who has spearheaded much of this year’s planning. “Every community has its own way of engaging with STEAM, whether through culture, the environment, history, or technology. My favorite part is watching how these different perspectives come together to create one big celebration of learning.”
For more information about the Tennessee STEAM Festival, including the full event schedule, visit tnsteam.org or check out updates from the Discovery Center at explorethedc.org.
Subscribe to our weekly Newsletter for parenting tips, top things to do, our #WINSday contest and lots more!
