MoSH STEAM FEST at the Pink Palace Museum (Memphis)

HOST: Memphis Museums of Science & History

WHEN: Wednesday, October 22nd-24th 2025, 9:00am-1:00pm
Wednesday, October 29th-31st 2025, 9:00am-1:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 3050 Central Ave, Memphis TN 38111

WHAT: Students can participate in hands on STEAM based activities with different community partners including local colleges, universities and medical facilities. Students will also have an opportunity to interact at Discovery Carts throughout the museum featuring STEAM activities about Microscopes, Light and Color, Learning Labels (Nutrition), Fun with Physical Science, and robotics.

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

COST: $6.00 per student and 1 free chaperone for each 10 students.
Pre-registration is required. Please use this link to register for event: https://moshmemphis.com/suitcases-passports/

WEBSITE: https://moshmemphis.com/

Artober at KiteFest! (Antioch)

HOST: Southeast Community Ventures

WHEN: Saturday, October 18th 2025, 10:00am-3:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 12965 Old Hickory Boulevard, Antioch TN 37013

WHAT: Join us for fun with robotics and art! Build a robot, paint and draw with artists and engineers! Learn how science and art come together for lots of fun outside in the park!
Open to the public. Materials provided by our organization

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: www.southeastcommunityday.com

Building Change Together - Piece by Piece (Friendsville)

HOST: Union Grove Elementary School

WHEN: Thursday, October 23rd 2025, 6:00pm-7:30pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 330 S. Old Grey Ridge Rd, Friendsville TN 37737

WHAT: An exciting hands-on event for students and their families provided by many of our community partners to help learn about different careers and businesses as well as other things while enjoying hands-on learning activities.
Families park in the upper lot and enter the building at the end facing the upper parking lot. Families sign in and have a great time!

AUDIENCE: This event is specifically for students and families of Union Grove Elementary School.

COST: Free

Nuclear Science Week (Oak Ridge)

HOST: American Museum of Science and Energy

WHEN: Monday, October 20th - Saturday, October 25th 2025

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 115 Main Street East, Oak Ridge TN 37830

WHAT: Hosting the symposium with nationwide contributors for the week of Oct 20-25

AUDIENCE: Adults

COST: Free

WEBSITE: amse.org

Telescope Night (Brentwood)

HOST: Vanderbilt University Dyer Observatory

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 8:00pm-10:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 1000 Oman Drive, Brentwood TN 37027

WHAT: Dyer Observatory telescopes will be set up for gazing, and the observatory will be open for viewing exhibits and speaking with astronomers. The format is “open house” so you may arrive and depart any time during the event. There will not be a formal talk/program on these nights unless noted.
The event has two one-hour time slots. Dyer Observatory telescopes will be set up for gazing, and the observatory will be open for viewing exhibits and speaking with astronomers. The format is “open house” so you may arrive and depart any time during the event. There will not be a formal talk/program on these nights unless otherwise noted.
Age Recommendation: 8+

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

COST: $10 for Ages 12+; $5 for Under 12yo
Pre-registration is required. The event has a limited number of tickets that go on sale one month before. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/o/vanderbilt-university-dyer-observatory-2143130631 to acquire tickets when they go on sale in early September.

WEBSITE: dyer.vanderbilt.edu

Paint night! (Nashville)

HOST: Paint + Canvas

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 6:30pm-8:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 6913 Lenox Village Drive, Nashville TN 37211

WHAT: Join us and recreate a painting from scratch. All supplies and instruction are provided. Learn some new skills and leave with your own painting.
Pre-registration is required for this event. Visit us at paintpluscanvas.com and register for the class from our calendar.
We will have class in the evenings during the entire STEAM festival.

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

COST: $25 - Pre-registration is required for this event. Visit us at paintpluscanvas.com and register for the class from our calendar

WEBSITE: Paintpluscanvas.com

Wings of Wonder STEM Fab Friday (Cookeville)

HOST: Oakley STEM Center at Tennessee Tech

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 5:00pm-8:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 155 W 7th St, Cookeville TN 38505

WHAT: Get ready to soar at Wings of Wonder STEM Fab Friday! Explore the amazing world of flight, from the majestic wings of eagles to the engineering marvels of airplanes, gliders, and hot air balloons. Discover the science behind how things fly and unleash your inner aviator with hands-on activities that will lift your spirits and your understanding of the skies!
Pre-registration is not required, but highly encouraged for planning purposes on our end. Register at https://tf.tntech.edu/view.php?id=1724286
STEM Fab Friday events are focused on getting families and their children engaged in STEM activities. There are two regularly scheduled events each semester held on Fridays from 5-8 pm. Activities during this event are mostly geared for grades 3-8th, but learners of all ages are always welcome

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families

COST: Free. Pre-registration is not required, but highly encouraged for planning purposes on our end. Register at https://tf.tntech.edu/view.php?id=1724286

WEBSITE: www.tntech.edu/stem

Erosion, Sediment Controls, and Water Quality with Metro Water (Nashville)

HOST: Metro Water Services

WHEN: Saturday, October 18th 2025, 9:00am-12:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 299 Haywood Lane, Nashville TN 37211

WHAT: Nashville's Metro Water Services, Stormwater will lead all ages at the Growing Together Farmers Market through hands-on models to show how erosion prevention and sediment controls play an important role in keeping our water clean! Build your construction site and watch where the soil goes when it rains!
Look for our blue branded tent and STEAM Festival sign at the farmers market to find our event!

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: water.nashville.gov

Kids' Saturday Morning Planetarium Show: Max Goes to the Moon (Jackson)

HOST: University of Memphis Lambuth M. D. Anderson Planetarium

WHEN: Saturday, October 25th 2025, 9:30am-10:15am

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 705 Lambuth Blvd, Jackson TN 38301

WHAT: Join wonderdog Max, and Tori, his human companion, as they take an out-of-this-world trip to the Moon!
No entrance fee, free parking in Hyde lot (across from Planetarium on Maple Street). Doors open 15 minutes before showtime. For safety reasons, no seating once IN USE lights are on, and no food or drink in the auditorium.
For more information, call 731.425.7368.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.memphis.edu/lambuth/newsevents/index.php?_ga=2.56037161.360498741.1750097262-707020329.1750097262

Kids' After School Special Planetarium Show: Astronaut (Jackson)

HOST: University of Memphis Lambuth M. D. Anderson Planetarium

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 3:45pm-4:30pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 705 Lambuth Blvd, Jackson TN 38301

WHAT: Ever wonder what it's really like to be an astronaut? What challenges do astronauts face in space? Come see if you've got the right stuff to make it aboard the International Space Station!
No entrance fee, free parking in Hyde lot (across from Planetarium on Maple Street). Doors open 15 minutes before showtime. For safety reasons, no seating once IN USE lights are on, and no food or drink in the auditorium.
For more information, call 731.425.7368.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.memphis.edu/lambuth/newsevents/index.php?_ga=2.56037161.360498741.1750097262-707020329.1750097262

FULL-DOME PLANETARIUM SHOW! Black Holes: the Other Side of Infinity (Jackson)

HOST: University of Memphis Lambuth M. D. Anderson Planetarium

WHEN: Tuesday, October 21st 2025, 5:30pm-6:30pm
Friday, October 24th 2025, 1:30pm-2:30pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 705 Lambuth Blvd, Jackson TN 38301

WHAT: Impossible to see because gravity is so dense even light can't escape, black holes are one of the greatest mysteries of the universe. So how do we find them, or study them? Join us to find out!
No entrance fee, free parking in Hyde lot (across from Planetarium on Maple Street). Doors open 15 minutes before showtime. For safety reasons, no seating once IN USE lights are on, and no food or drink in the auditorium. For more information, call 731.425.7368.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.memphis.edu/lambuth/newsevents/index.php?_ga=2.56037161.360498741.1750097262-707020329.1750097262

FULL-DOME PLANETARIUM SHOW! Phantom of the Universe: the Hunt for Dark Matter (Jackson)

HOST: University of Memphis Lambuth M. D. Anderson Planetarium

WHEN: Tuesday, October 14th 2025, 5:30pm-6:30pm
Friday, October 17th 2025, 1:30pm-2:30pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 705 Lambuth Blvd, Jackson TN 38301

WHAT: From the Big Bang to the Large Hadron Collider, join the hunt for the stuff that holds the Universe together - dark matter!
No entrance fee, free parking in Hyde lot (across from Planetarium on Maple Street). Doors open 15 minutes before showtime. For safety reasons, no seating once IN USE lights are on, and no food or drink in the auditorium. For more information, call 731.425.7368.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.memphis.edu/lambuth/newsevents/index.php?_ga=2.56037161.360498741.1750097262-707020329.1750097262

FULL-DOME PLANETARIUM SHOW! Distant Worlds: Alien Life? (Jackson)

HOST: University of Memphis Lambuth M. D. Anderson Planetarium

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 1:30pm-2:30pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 299 Maple Street Jackson TN 38301

WHAT: The Universe contains untold billions of stars and planets, but we know of only ONE where life is found. Explore one of the most enduring questions of humankind - are we alone in the cosmos?
No entrance fee, free parking in Hyde lot (across from Planetarium on Maple Street). Doors open 15 minutes before showtime. For safety reasons, no seating once IN USE lights are on, and no food or drink in the auditorium. For more information, call 731.425.7368.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.memphis.edu/lambuth/newsevents/index.php?_ga=2.56037161.360498741.1750097262-707020329.1750097262

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

STEAMagination! (Chattanooga)

HOST: UTC Challenger STEM Learning Center

WHEN: Saturday, October 11th 2025, 11:00am-2:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 755 E.5th St, Chattanooga TN 37403

WHAT: Unleash your child's inner innovator at STEAMagination!
Join us at the Challenger STEM Learning Center on October 11th, 11 AM - 2 PM, for free, hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) activities. Explore, learn, and create with your family. Enjoy refreshments, swag, and inspiring fun. Free admission and parking!

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: utc.edu/clc

Pumpkin Patch Parties (Antioch)

HOST: Friends Of Mill Ridge Park

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Friday, October 17th 2025, 4:00pm-7:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 12944 Old Hickory Boulevard, Antioch TN 37013

WHAT: Come to our pumpkin patch party! We’ll paint pumpkins, build scarecrows, play lawn games, and eat seasonal treats. Wear your Halloween costume and bring a picnic blanket or chair. Leashed dogs (in costume) are welcome.
Follow safety precautions for this outdoor gathering. A portable toilet is onsite. Check online for weather updates. Contact us for accessibility needs.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.friendsofmillridgepark.org/

Kite Festival (Antioch)

HOST: Friends Of Mill Ridge Park

WHEN: Saturday, October 4th 2025, 11:00am-3:00pm
Saturday, October 11th 2025, 11:00am-3:00pm
Saturday, October 18th 2025, 11:00am-3:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 12965 Old Hickory Boulevard, Antioch TN 37013

WHAT: Join us for the biannual Kite Fest at Mill Ridge Park! Kites and flying tutorials, picnic snacks, and lawn games are provided by Friends of Mill Ridge Park!
You can also volunteer at Kite Fest. Help us welcome park visitors, assemble kites, demonstrate proper kite flying etiquette, and facilitate lawn games.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.friendsofmillridgepark.org/