Planetarium Shows

HOST: Museum of Science and History (MoSH)

WHEN: October 13th-15th and 18th-22nd 2023

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 3050 Central, Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: Oct. 13th, 18th, 19th, 20th,

9:45am Teachers Choice
10:45am Teachers Choice (and public as available) Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
11:45am Public show – Our Sky Tonight
1:30pm Public show – Explore
2:30pm Public show – Our Sky Tonight
3:30pm Public show – Mexica (Pre-Columbian Aztec astronomy)

Oct 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd

11:00am - Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
12:00pm – Our Sky Tonight
1:30pm – Explore
2:30pm - Our Sky Tonight
3:30pm – Mexica Describe

AUDIENCE: All ages and abilities

COST: $12-adult, $10-Youth /Senior

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.com

Steamfest

HOST: Museum of Science and History (MoSH)

WHEN: October 18th-20th and 25th-27th 2023, 9:30am-2:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 3050 Central Avenue, Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: Please join us for a celebration of STEAM education and fun for local schools with museum staff and community partners. Free with museum admission.

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: Free with admission

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.com

Atomic Glow Putty Discovery Lab Program

HOST: Hands On! Discovery Center

WHEN: October 17th-November 5th 2023
Tuesday-Saturday: 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm
Sunday: 1:30pm and 3:30pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 1212 Suncrest Dr., Gray, TN 37615

WHAT: We are stirring up something gloppy, goopy, and spooky in the lab for National Chemistry Week. Learn about the perplexing properties of polymers and make your own atomic-glowing silly putty to take home.

AUDIENCE: All ages and abilities

COST: FREE with general paid admission.

WEBSITE: https://visithandson.org/

Legos Discovery Cart

HOST: Hands On! Discovery Center

WHEN: October 17th-20th 2023, 10:00am-5:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 1212 Suncrest Drive, Gray, TN 37615

WHAT: Stop by Hands On! Discovery Center's Discovery Cart to build, engineer, and create with Legos. All activities are self-guided. All cart program components and materials must remain on site unless otherwise noted. Each cart activity may contain small parts not suitable for children 3 and under.

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: FREE with general paid admission.

WEBSITE: https://visithandson.org/

Pumpkin Patch STEAM

HOST: Imagine Foundry 

WHEN: Weekdays from October 9th-20th 2023, 10:00am-5:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 1225 S. Willow Ave, Cookeville TN 38506

WHAT: Join us to explore pumpkins through hands-on activities such as pumpkin catapults, carving and painting, pumpkin guts and seeds, and more! We will also practice culinary pumpkin skills and enjoy yummy treats. We can't wait to see you there!

COST: $5 per person (all children must be accompanied by an adult)

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: imaginefoundry.org

LEGO Family Fun with Bricks 4 Kids

HOST: Bricks 4 Kidz Knoxville

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18th 2023, 4:00pm-5:30pm
Thursday, October 19th 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm and 4:00pm-5:30pm
Friday, October 20th 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm
Saturday, October 21st 2023, 10:30am-12:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 9724 Kingston Pike Ste 1000 (Courtyard 5, Building 10), Knoxville TN 37922

WHAT: Experience LEGO STEAM concepts the Bricks 4 Kidz way! With activities that cover all 5 aspects of STEAM, fill your Brick Passport to earn a prize! Bricks 4 Kidz inspires and mentors the next generation of rocket scientists, robot engineers, and video game designers, all with engaging LEGO building!
Please register for our event at Bricks4Kidz.com/knoxville

COST: $29 includes 1 child and 1-2 guardians (2 mini-figures included, additional mini-figures $6 each)

AUDIENCE: Children, Families

WEBSITE: Bricks4Kidz.com/knoxville

Take and Make Instrument Craft

HOST: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th-22nd 2023, 9:00am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,  222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: Whether you shake or strum them, instruments all work in unique ways! Using common items and your creativity, you can invent your very own instrument. Will your instrument be loud or quiet? Will it make one noise or many? Spend some time in the Taylor Swift Education Center, or take the kit with you to make at home.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Children, Teens, Families

WEBSITE: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/

FALLing For STEAM

HOST: Muse Knoxville

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023, Sprouts @ 2:30pm, Mess Makers @3:00pm
Wednesday, October 18th 2023, Read & Play @ 2:30pm
Thursday, October 19th 2023, Little Astronauts @ 2:30pm
Friday, October 20th 2023, Daily Discoveries @ 2:00-4:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 516 N. Beaman St., Knoxville TN 37914

WHAT: Fall themed weekly programming takeover. Muse will have daily fall themed STEAM activities during our regular scheduled programming.  

COST: Free with museum admission:
General Admission (Ages 1-64): $12.00
Reduced Admission for Senior Citizens, Tennessee Educators (with valid ID), 65+, Military and guests of military personnel (with valid ID): $6.00
Members & Children under the age of 1: FREE

AUDIENCE: Children, Families

WEBSITE: www.themuseknoxville.org

Dendrochronology Tree Ring Drawings

HOST: Children's Museum of Memphis

WHEN: Daily from Tuesday, October 17th - Sunday, October 22, 2023, 9:00am-5:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 2525 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 38104

WHAT: In the Art and Innovation Lab, participants will create colorful, concentric circle drawings as they combine art, math, and science to learn about Dendrochronology, or the study of dating trees by their ring growth. 

COST: The event is included in the cost of general museum admission.

AUDIENCE: Children, Families

WEBSITE: https://cmom.com/

Art Cart at the Parthenon

HOST: The Parthenon

WHEN: Friday, October 13th 2023, 1:00pm
Tuesday, October 17th 2023, 1:00pm
Thursday, October 19th 2023, 10:00am
Friday, October 20th 2023, 1:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: The Parthenon, 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

WHAT: Stop by the Art Cart to join a Parthenon museum expert for a daily program about art and history featuring the museum’s unique collection! Participation is included with museum admission.

COST: Museum admission:
$10 Adults
$8 Seniors (62+)
$8 Youth (4-17)
Children Under 4 FREE

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.nashvilleparthenon.com/

Sky's No Limit

HOST: Technology Engagement Center 

WHEN: Thursday, October 19th 2023, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 306 Minerva Drive, Murfreesboro TN 37130

WHAT: Aeronautics team up with the library for a fun STEAM event for all ages! We will have handouts, we will display aeronautical books in our system, we will have an activity fun for the whole family!! 

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: rclstn.org 

Teen/Tween Hangout: Slime Time - Spooky and Surprising Mixtures

HOST: Collegedale Public Library

WHEN: Thursday, October 19th 2023, 4:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 9318 Apison Pike Ooltewah, TN

WHAT: It’s slime time! Join us as we make different kinds of slime to take home, share with your friends, and impress everyone! The only scary thing is how much fun you will have!

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Tweens and Teens

WEBSITE: https://www.collegedalepubliclibrary.org/

Repair Days

HOST: Metal Museum

WHEN: Thursday, October 19th 2023, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Friday, October 20th 2023, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday, October 21st 2023, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday, October 22nd 2023, 10:00am - 4:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 374 Metal Museum Drive, Memphis TN 38106

WHAT: Repair Days is the Metal Museum's annual fundraiser. Bring your metal items to the Museum to have them restored. All proceeds raised during Repair Days help to support the Museum’s annual programming such as new exhibitions, the apprenticeship program, the M4 on tour, and our after-school program Forging the Future. 

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.metalmuseum.org/

Kodak Karnival

HOST: Northview Primary STEM School

WHEN: Thursday, October 19th 2023, 5:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 3293 Douglas Dam Road, Kodak TN 37764

WHAT: Four local schools are coming together to put on a community STEM event for families to enjoy. Kodak Karnival will offer various activities for students of all ages to enjoy. 

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.sevier.org/

Wild Lunches

HOST: Lichterman Nature Center

WHEN: October 13th, 14th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st 2023; 12:00pm each day

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 5992 Quince Road, Memphis TN 38119

WHAT:Enjoy a wild lunch - live animal encounters daily at noon presented by wildlife experts.
Wednesday - Curator's Choice
Thursday - Turtle Feeding
Friday - Snake Feeding
Saturday - Curator's Choice

COST: Included with Nature Center Admission
Adults $12
Seniors $10
Youth (ages 3-12) $8
Under 2 free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://moshmemphis.com/explore/attractions/lichterman-nature-center/

Scarecrow Contest

HOST: Lichterman Nature Center

WHEN: Saturday, October 1st - November 30th 2023

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 5992 Quince Road,  Memphis TN 38119

WHAT: Scarecrows are displayed in trailside locations around the special events lawn and lake from October 1-Nov. 30th. Cash prizes are awarded for Best STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), Greenest, Most Creative, Best Critter, and Most Popular.

COST: Included with Nature Center Admission
Adult $12
Senior $10
Youth (ages 3-12) $8
Under 2 free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://moshmemphis.com/event/scarecrow-contest-applications-accepted-today/

Lantern Parade

HOST: Discovery Center at Murfree Spring

WHEN: Thursday, October 19th
Lantern-making will take place from 5:30-6:30pm
Parade participants will line up at 6:30pm
The parade will take place from 6:40-7:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: The Discovery Center
502 SE Broad Street, Murfreesboro TN 37130

WHAT: Come light up the night at our 2nd annual Lantern Parade! This event is hosted by the Discovery Center in collaboration with the Rutherford Arts Alliance and supported by the Center for Popular Music. Participants can bring their own lanterns from home or make a lantern on-site with our provided materials. There will be an hour of lantern-making before the parade, which will begin around 6:40pm and last until about 7:00pm. This event will feature live music. Food will be available to purchase on-site from local food trucks.

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.explorethedc.org
https://www.rutherfordartsalliance.org

STEAM Into History Family Tour

HOST: Belle Meade Historic Site

WHEN: Sunday, October 15th
Monday, October 16th
Thursday, October 19th
Friday, October 20th
Saturday, October 21st
Sunday, October 22nd

Tours average between 1.5-2 hours and will be available at 10:15am, 12:15pm, and 2:15pm.

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205

WHAT: What was it like to grow up as a Nashvillian in the late 1800s? Find out when you tour Belle Meade Mansion to uncover the story of the Harding-Jackson family and the many people who labored on their farm and in their house. Discover more about 1800s technology innovation when you explore how telegraphs and early telephones worked, how electricity transformed homes, and more!

COST: Students (under 18): $15, Adults: $20
Pre-registration is available on our website, but walk-ins are accepted.

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://visitbellemeade.com

Evening at the National Weather Service

HOST: National Weather Service Nashville

WHEN: Thursday, October 19th AND Sunday, October 22nd at 5:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 500 Weather Station Road, Old Hickory, TN 37138

WHAT: Calling all weather enthusiasts! Ever wanted to get to know your local National Weather Service Office? Here’s your chance! Come visit the National Weather Service in Nashville, TN for a presentation about the office, followed by an office tour, and a weather balloon launch at the end.

COST: Free
Registration is required through this Google Form. Each event will be capped at 30 people.

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.weather.gov/ohx/

STEAM Week

HOST: Everett Horn Public Library

WHEN: October 16th - October 20th, everyday from 4:00-5:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: Everett Horn Public Library, 702 W Church Street, Lexington, TN 38351

WHAT: Everett Horn Public Library will offer 5 days of activities covering each of the letters in the acronym STEAM including engineering with recycled materials, learning about electricity, and playing with robots.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Families

WEBSITE: www.ehlibrary.com