International Archaeology Day (Nashville)

HOST: The Parthenon

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

REGION: Middle

WHERE: 2500 West End Avenue Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: Join us for a morning filled with family-friendly STEAM activities at The Parthenon. The Archaeological Institute of America-Nashville Society and the Nashville Parthenon will help you dive into the world of archaeology with hands-on learning. Meet Dr. Debby Sneed, an archaeologist whose research focuses on disability in ancient Greece. Whether you're a history buff or just curious about the past, this event is perfect for all ages!

Eventbrite pre-registration link will be found on our website calendar listing for the event.

AUDIENCE: Families

COST: RSVP in advance for FREE museum admission, using the Eventbrite link on our website calendar. Or mention visiting for International Archaeology Day at the door for discounted, day-of admission.

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

Dino Day (Murfreesboro)

HOST: Earth Experience

WHEN: Saturday, October 18th 2025, 10:00am-4:00pm

REGION: Middle

WHERE: 816 Old Salem Road, Murfreesboro TN 37129

WHAT: Earth Experience is hosting Dino Day on October 18 as part of the TN STEAM festival. There will be a fossil dig for small children, geode breaking and a craft and rock sale. Event partners include MTSU Geosciences department and Middle Tennessee Gem and Mineral Society. The museum will be open extended hours from 10 AM to 4 PM.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens

COST: Museum admission $12 ages 12 and up, $10 ages 4 to 11. Fossil dig and geode breaking will also have a small fee.

WEBSITE: earthexperience.org

Fuse Bead LED Circuits (Collierville)

HOST: Lucius E. & Elsie C. Burch, Jr. Library

WHEN: Tuesday, October 14th 2025, 5:30pm-7:00pm

REGION: West

WHERE: 501 Poplar View Parkway Collierville, TN 38017

WHAT: Get creative with circuits! In this hands-on activity, students in grades 6 - 12 will use fuse beads and paper circuits to design and build a light-up project. Combine art and STEM for a fun, glowing creation. All supplies will be provided.

Registration is required and will open on September 30, 2025. Register on the Library's online Events Calendar at https://collierville.libnet.info/events.

AUDIENCE: Youth/Teens

COST: Free

WEBSITE: colliervilletn.gov/library

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Paint Your Own Pumpkin Patch (Murfreesboro)

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HOST: Board and Brush

WHEN: Sunday, October 12th 2025, 10:00am-1:00pm
Sunday, October 19th 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

STEAM Day at Nashville Zoo (Nashville)

HOST: Nashville Zoo

WHEN: Friday, October 24th 2025, 10:00am-1:00pm

REGION: Middle

WHERE: 3777 Nolensville Rd Nashville TN 37211

WHAT: Let's go on a learning expedition thru the Zoo! Come join us from 10am-1pm. Hands-on activity stations and keeper talks will take place throughout the park.

The zoo will be open from 9am-4pm. The STEAM Day festivities will run from 10am-1pm.

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

COST: It is included with the cost of Zoo admission. Visit https://www.nashvillezoo.org/tickets and check the calendar to see ticket pricing for each day.

WEBSITE: www.nashvillezoo.org

STEAM Night (Murfreesboro)

HOST: Cason Lane Academy

WHEN: Thursday, October 16th 2025, 5:00pm-7:00pm

REGION: Middle

WHERE: 1330 Cason Lane Murfreesboro 37128

WHAT: Join us at Cason Lane Academy for STEAM Night! Families will explore hands-on STEAM activities created by our K-6 students, walk our gardens, check out our animals, and enjoy creative displays. A fun night of discovery, learning, and community connection.

This event is for Cason Lane Academy students and families.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.casonlaneacademy.net/

South-Doyle High School STEAM Fall Festival (Knoxville)

HOST: So-Kno Robo

WHEN: Thursday, October 23rd 2025, 5:00pm-7:00pm

REGION: East

WHERE: 2020 Tipton Station Road Knoxville TN 37920

WHAT: Get ready for a hands-on STEM experience like no other!
South-Doyle High School will be hosting engaging CTE (Career and Technical Education), robotics, and STEM booths featuring a variety of hands-on activities. Guests can enjoy interactive experiences such as bridge-building challenges, operating small robots, and exploring STEM through fun and educational materials.

This is a part of South-Doyle High School's fall festival. We will have tables set up for the STEAM Festival.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens, Families

COST: Free

WEBSITE: soknorobo.com

Homeschool Science Fair (Nashville)

HOST: The Curve: Nashville's Homeschool Enrichment

WHEN: Friday, October 24th 2025, 1:00pm-3:00pm

REGION: Middle

WHERE: 477 McMurray Drive, Nashville TN 37211

WHAT: The Curve Homeschool Science Fair is open to all homeschooled students in the Middle Tennessee area in grades K-12.  Each student will prepare a science fair project and display their work at our science fair. All students will receive a certificate of participation. Students in grades 6-12 will be awarded ribbons for first, second, and third prize by our judges. Winning entries will be invited to participate in the Middle Tennessee Science & Engineering Fair.

Science fair participants need to register on the website by October 17, 2025.
https://www.nashvillehomeschoolers.com/event-details-registration/homeschool-science-fair-2

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens

COST: $5 for science fair participants, free for the public

WEBSITE: nashvillehomeschoolers.com

Lantern Parade (Murfreesboro)

HOST: Discovery Center

WHEN: Thursday, October 23rd 2025, 5:30pm-7:15pm

REGION: Middle

WHERE: 502 SE Broad Street Murfreesboro TN 37130

WHAT: Come light up the night at our 4th annual Lantern Parade at Discovery Center! 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 facilitated by the Rutherford Arts Alliance. The parade itself will begin around 6:40pm and last until about 7:00pm.

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

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://explorethedc.org/

STEAM-a-Palooza (Murfreesboro)

HOST: Discovery Center

WHEN: Saturday, October 11th 2025, 12:00pm-4:00pm

REGION: Middle

WHERE: 502 SE Broad Street Murfreesboro TN 37130

WHAT: The Discovery Center’s signature Tennessee STEAM Festival kick-off event, “STEAM-A-Palooza” returns this year on Saturday Oct. 11th, from 12pm to 4pm.

This free outdoor event (rain or shine) features local artists, scientists and engineers for all-ages, hands-on fun. People ages 1-100 can travel booth to booth and learn about the processes behind robotics, composting, cosmetics, creative arts, physics, environmental conservation, mathematics, meteorology and everything in between. Live performances! Food Trucks! And more!

In addition, Discovery Center’s museum admission for indoor exhibits will be half-priced from 12pm to 4pm on this special day.

Overflow parking for the STEAM-A-Palooza will be at Holloway High School, located on 619 S Highland Ave, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

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

COST: FREE

WEBSITE: https://explorethedc.org/

Family STEAM Day: From Atoms to Art (Oak Ridge)

HOST: The Children's Museum of Oak Ridge

WHEN: Saturday, October 25th 2025, 10:00am-4:00pm

REGION: East

WHERE: 461 W. Outer Dr. Oak Ridge TN 37830

WHAT: Family STEAM Day: From Atoms to Art is a hands-on celebration of art and science to inspire young minds! This fun-filled event brings together children and families for interactive art activities and science experiments. Children will have the opportunity to try new art skills while learning fun science concepts.

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

COST: Free with Museum admission

WEBSITE: https://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org/

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STEM Experiments (Pigeon Forge)

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HOST: Wonderworks Pigeon Forge

WHEN: Friday, October 10th 2025, 2:30pm-3:30pm
Monday, October 13th 2025, 2:30pm-3:30pm
Wednesday, October 15th 2025, 2:30pm-3:30pm
Friday, October 17th 2025, 2:30pm-3:30pm
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2:30pm-3:30pm
Friday, October 24th 2025, 2:30pm-3:30pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 100 Music Road, Pigeon Forge TN 37862

WHAT: STEM science experiments, Lobby STEAM experiments that visitors can participate in.

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

COST: Free

WEBSITE: www.wonderworksonline.com

Airport STEAM Festival (Murfreesboro)

HOST: Murfreesboro Municipal Airport

WHEN: Saturday, October 18th 2025, 9:00am-1:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 1930 Memorial Blvd, Murfreesboro TN 37129

WHAT: The TN Steam Festival is bringing science, technology, engineering, art, and math to life at events across the state! We will host an event to all members of the surrounding communities to engage in the sciences and learn about what the Murfreesboro Airport does for the community.
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m., the Murfreesboro Airport will host the Tennessee STEAM Festival along with our friends at the Murfreesboro Discovery Center! STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM). Previous years attendance of approximately 1,500 people make this an event that cannot be missed!
The Experimental Aircraft Association will be grilling hotdogs as well as providing bottles of water and individual bags of assorted chips for FREE for all who attend

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

COST: Free
Sponsorship opportunities are available!

WEBSITE: https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/2385/Airport-STEAM-Festival

STEAM Galaxy Power Hour (Cleveland)

HOST: Cleveland Bradley County Public Library

WHEN: Wednesday, October 22nd 2025, 4:00pm-5:30pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 795 Church St. NE, Cleveland TN 37311

WHAT: To celebrate TN STEAM week, join us for a space themed afternoon of science, technology, art, engineering and mathematics! This facilitated program in our community room is for ages 6 to 12. There will be hands-on activities to inspire creativity and promote collaboration & problem-solving. Learn about the planets, view space station and aerospace exploration, build a wind powered rocket ship, create an art galaxy project, discover the numerical distances between planets, and more...all in one afternoon! This activity is a drop-in program stay for 15 minutes or an hour, come at the start or after your after school errands.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens

COST: Free

WEBSITE: clevelandlibrary.org

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FULL STEAM AHEAD LIVE! VOL. 1: AIR IS EVERYWHERE (Nashville)

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HOST: Tennessee Performing Arts Center

WHEN: Tuesday, October 21st 2025, 10:30am-11:30am
Wednesday, October 22nd 2025, 10:30am-11:30am
Thursday, October 23rd 2025, 10:30am-11:30am
Friday, October 24th 2025, 10:30am-11:30am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: TPAC Polk Theater
505 Deaderick Street, Nashville TN 37243

WHAT: The Season for Young People is available to schools statewide and beyond through in-person shows at TPAC and through virtual performances to view in your classroom. All performances are during the school day, and exclusively for student audiences. Look for virtual and live performance options, titles that are new and returning, and grade-level specific recommendations. Be sure to view our Resource section where you will find standards and classroom materials, helpful instructions for show days, and inspiring professional development workshops.
Pre-registration is required and opens August 4th, 2025. School groups can register online at TPAC.org/Reserve

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

COST: $10 per student/adults - 1 adult free per every 10 students
Pre-registration is required and opens August 4th, 2025. School groups can register online at TPAC.org/Reserve. Use code: STEAMFESTIVAL when you place your reservation

WEBSITE: https://www.tpac.org/inclusive-arts/student-performances

Learn your Geology, Kids Cave Free (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/

STEAM Showcase (Smyrna)

HOST: Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County - Smyrna

WHEN: Thursday, October 16th 2025, 4:00pm-6:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 198 Culbertson Street, Smyrna TN 37167

WHAT: At our showcase - members will be able to show the amazing activities they've worked on throughout the School Year. Families will be able to attend and watch their child shine!

AUDIENCE: Children, Families

COST: Free

WEBSITE: bgcrc.net