Take and Make: Design and Create and Instrument (Nashville)

HOST: Country Music Hall of Fame

WHEN: October 10th-26th 2025, 9:00am-5:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S., Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: Imagine an instrument you would like to play. Does it have strings? Is it a percussion instrument? Join us in using commonly found objects to create new and amazing instruments of our own creation. Come dream big with us! Recommended for ages 5 and up, but all are welcome.
We will run this program every day of the STEAM Festival, except October 19th, 2025. The kits will be available in the Taylor Swift Education Center.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Free

Planetarium: Memphis Skies (Memphis)

HOST: Museum of Science and History-Pink Palace

WHEN: October 10th-26th 2025, 4:00pm-5:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 3050 Central Avenue, Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: WHAT’S THAT IN OUR NIGHT SKY? Find out more about “what’s up tonight” in just a few minutes than some people do in a lifetime. Hop through constellations, learn cool star names, and groove to planetarium space music in this full dome audiovisual experience.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Adults $14.75
Seniors $12.75
Youth $12.75

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.org

Planetarium: Black Holes (Memphis)

HOST: Museum of Science and History-Pink Palace

WHEN: West Tennessee

REGION: October 10th-26th 2025, 2:00pm-3:00pm

WHERE: 3050 Central Avenue, Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: Black holes are the most extreme objects in the universe - objects so dense, that not even light can escape them. This show gives an overview of what black holes are, how they form, and what would happen if you fell inside one.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Adults $14.75
Seniors $12.75
Youth $12.75

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.org

Planetarium: Forward to the Moon (Memphis)

HOST: Museum of Science and History-Pink Palace

WHEN: October 10th-26th 2025, 11:00am & 1:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 3050 Central Avenue, Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: A look into the Artemis program, NASA's new project to return to the moon. From landing humans on the surface, to building a space station in lunar orbit, learn how NASA plans to establish a permanent human presence on the moon.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Adults $14.75
Seniors $12.75
Youth $12.75

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.org

Giant Screen Theater - Fantastic 4: First Steps (Memphis)

HOST: Museum of Science and History-Pink Palace

WHEN: October 10th-26th 2025, 3:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 3050 Central Avenue. Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Adults $14.75
Seniors $12.75
Youth $12.75

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.org

Giant Screen Theater - Oceans: Our Blue Planet (Memphis)

HOST: Museum of Science and History-Pink Palace

WHEN: October 10th-26th 2025, 2:00pm-3:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 3050 Central Avenue, Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: Embark on a global odyssey to discover the largest and least explored habitat on earth. New ocean science and technology have allowed us to go further into the unknown than we ever thought possible.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Adults $14.75
Seniors $12.75
Youth $12.75

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.org

Giant Screen Theater - T REX (Memphis)

HOST: Museum of Science and History-Pink Palace

WHEN: October 10th-26th 2025, 11:00am and 1:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 3050 Central Avenue, Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: This immersive film explores the life of the GOAT—the Greatest of All Tyrants—while highlighting famous specimens, landmark discoveries, and the evolving interplay between speculation and scientific evidence. Narrated by Sam Neill, the film tells the remarkable true story of three kids who discovered a teenage T. rex fossil, a find that made international headlines in over 2,000 media outlets.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Adults $14.75
Seniors $12.75
Youth $12.75

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.org

If I CAN DREAM (Nashville)

HOST: Nashville Ballet

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 7:30pm-9:30pm Saturday, October 11th 2025, 2:00pm & 7:30pm Sunday, October 12th 2025, 2:00pm

REGION: Middle

WHERE: TPAC - 505 Deaderick St., Nashville TN 37243

WHAT: Join us as we open our landmark 40th year – The Ruby Season – with a dazzling program that embodies the passion, power, and artistry that have defined our company for four decades.

AUDIENCE: Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Tickets start at $64.50. Use promo code INSPIRED to save 15%. Click link https://www.nashvilleballet.com/ticket-information/#discounts for more discount options.

WEBSITE: www.nashvilleballet.com

Overcoming Hateful Things: Stories from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery (Memphis)

HOST: Museum of Science and History (MoSH) Pink Palace

WHEN: Friday, October 10th-19th 2025, 10:30am-5:00pm

REGION: West

WHERE: 3050 Central Avenue, Memphis TN 38135

WHAT: Explore the Jim Crow system, its impact on African Americans, and its ongoing legacies, focusing on the resistance and resilience of Black communities. On view May 31 - Oct 19.

AUDIENCE: Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Adults with Special Needs

COST: Free with museum admission
Members: Free

WEBSITE: moshmemphis.com

Spice it Up! Discovery Lab Program (Gray)

HOST: Hands On! Discovery Center

WHEN: October 10th-26th 2025
Programs by announcement periodically throughout each day.

REGION: East

WHERE: 1212 Suncrest Drive, Gray TN 37615

WHAT: Join Hands On! Discovery Center to explore the chemical properties that contribute to the unique properties of kitchen spices in recognition of National Chemistry Week’s 2025 theme, "The Hidden Life of Spices". Discovery Lab programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with paid general admission. (*This program contains food allergens such as wheat, nuts, and a variety of spices including cinnamon, black pepper, mustard, onion, garlic, etc.)

Additional program dates available at visithandson.org

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs

COST: Free with paid general admission.

WEBSITE: visithandson.org

October Art Studio Programs (Gray)

HOST: Hands On! Discovery Center

WHEN: October 10th-26th 2025,
Tuesdays - Saturdays - 9:00am-5:00pm
Sundays - 1:00pm-5:00pm

REGION: East

WHERE: 1212 Suncrest Drive, Gray TN 37615

WHAT: Join Hands On! Discovery Center for Pablo Picasso inspired cubism drawings, Frida Kahlo inspired Day of the Dead collages, bug and insect plate rubbings, and crayon resist watercolor eerie mansions. All activities are self-guided with instructions provided. FREE with paid general admission

Additional program dates available at visithandson.org

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs

COST: Free with paid general admission.

WEBSITE: visithandson.org

Solar Observing (Knoxville)

HOST: University of Tennessee Physics and Astronomy

WHEN: Sunday, October 12th 2025, 1:00pm-4:00pm Sunday, October 19th 2025, 1:00pm-4:00pm Sunday October 26th 2025, 1:00pm-4:00pm

REGION: East

WHERE: 1408 Circle Drive Knoxville 37996-1200

WHAT: Come and look at the star of our solar system, the SUN. You will have the opportunity to see the closest star to us through white light filtered, telescopes that show us surface features like sunspots, faculae, limb darkening, and through our Hydrogen alpha filters, prominences, filaments, plages spicules and maybe even a solar flare. It's safe, it's fun and you can learn a lot about our life-giving star.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: FREE

WEBSITE: physics.utk.edu

Costumes, Characters, and Cartoons - Spooky STEAM (Knoxville)

HOST: Tennessee Theatre

WHEN: Sunday, October 12th 2025, 10:30am-1:00pm

REGION: East

WHERE: 604 S. Gay St. Knoxville TN 37902

WHAT: Join us at the Tennessee Theatre from 10:30am to 1:00pm for Costumes, Characters, and Cartoons! This free event kicks off the spooky season with episodes of some of your favorite PBS Kids specials, celebrating STEAM. Plus, there will be some of your favorite PBS characters here for fun photo opportunities and a chance to show off your own costumes!

The first 30 minutes of our event (10:30am - 11:00am) will be a sensory reduced experience for any patrons with sensory processing needs.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Families, Children/Youth with Special Needs

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.tennesseetheatre.com/

Explore the Arts at Frist Art Museum (Nashville)

HOST: Frist Art Museum

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 10:00am-5:30pm
Saturday, October 11th 2025, 10:00am-5:30pm
Sunday, October 12th 2025, 1:00pm-5:30pm
Monday, October 13th 2025, 10:00am-5:30pm
Thursday, October 16th 2025, 10:00am-8:00pm
Friday, October 17th 2025, 10:00am-5:30pm
Saturday, October 18th 2025, 10:00am-5:30pm
Sunday, October 19th 2025, 1:00pm-5:30pm
Monday, October 20th 2025, 10:00am-5:30pm
Thursday, October 23rd 2025, 10:00am-8:00pm
Friday, October 24th 2025, 10:00am-5:30pm
Saturday, October 25th 2025, 10:00am-5:30pm
Sunday, October 26th 2025, 1:00pm-5:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37205

WHAT: Visit the Frist Art Museum and explore the award-winning Martin ArtQuest®. This inclusive and interactive art-making space is for guests of all ages where they can be creative with activities that delight and inspire. ArtQuest's accessible art-making stations offer you an opportunity to draw, animate, make prints, paint, and more—and discover your unique talents and celebrate your creative energy, and just have fun!

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families

COST: Adults: $20; Children 18 years of age and younger: Free

WEBSITE: FristArtMuseum.org

FALLing for STEAM (Knoxville)

HOST: Muse Knoxville

WHEN: Friday, October 10th - Friday, October 17th 2025, 10:00am-4:00pm

REGION: East

WHERE: 516 N. Beaman St. Knoxville TN 37914

WHAT: This Autumn, we're FALLing for STEAM at Muse Knoxville! Enjoy quintessential Fall-time table top STEAM activities and weekly programming takeover with us!

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Families, Children/Youth with Special Needs

COST: Included with admission

WEBSITE: www.themuseknoxville.org

Paint Your Own Pumpkin Patch (Murfreesboro)

HOST: Board and Brush

WHEN: Sunday, October 12th 2025, 10:00am-1:00pm
Saturday, October 18th 2025, 10:00am-1:00pm
Sunday, October 19th 2025, 10:00am-1:00pm
Saturday, October 25th 2025, 10:00am-1:00pm
Sunday, October 26th 2025, 10:00am-1:00pm

REGION: Middle

WHERE: 1500 Medical Center Pkwy. Suite 1E Murfreesboro 37129

WHAT: Pick a $5 pumpkin from our patch & stencil on a sweet or spooky face to add to your fall decor.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens, Children/Youth with Special Needs, Adults with Special Needs

COST: $5

WEBSITE: boardandbrush.com/murfreesboro

TBD (Chattanooga)

HOST: Raccoon Mountain Caverns & Campground

WHEN: Sunday, October 12th 2025, 9:00am-4:00pm
Monday, October 13th 2025, 9:00am-4:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 319 W Hills Drive, Chattanooga TN 37419

WHAT: Explore the mysterious depths of Raccoon Mountain Caverns! With over 5.5 miles of underground wonders, this cave is a treasure trove of natural formations. Get ready to be amazed by the countless, 100% natural formations that have been exceptionally preserved. Experience the thrill of venturing into one of the most geologically active caverns in the South.
Reservations Recommended, so secure a tour.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens
No one under 4 yrs old permitted in cave per insurance.

COST: We will be offering 2 children ages 4 - 12 free with each paid Adult Admission.
Children under 4 years old are not allowed in the cave per Insurance. 
Adult Tickets are $28.99 per person.

WEBSITE: https://raccoonmountaincaverns.com/

Rutherford County Day of Play (Murfreesboro)

HOST: MTSU Early Learning Programs

WHEN: Sunday, October 12th 2025, 1:00pm-4:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Tennessee Livestock Center
1720 Greenland Dr, Murfreesboro TN 37132

WHAT: The local early childhood community is hosting an afternoon of play at the MTSU Tennessee Livestock Center. Families and children can engage in a variety of fun activities of their choice. Informational booths about all things early childhood provide families with resources to support them in raising healthy children. STEAM Activities for Children and resources for families, food trucks.

AUDIENCE: Children, Families, Children/Youth with Special Needs

COST: Free