Each fall, organizations and libraries across the state of Maryland hold special events that celebrate curiosity, innovation, and discovery in science, technology, engineering, and math (S.T.E.M) through the Maryland STEM Festival. In this guide you’ll find events sorted by age group to explore throughout the month.
The 2026 Maryland STEM Festival is packed with hundreds of events for kids, teens, and adults, from hands-on experiments and coding workshops to planetarium shows and robotics demonstrations. This guide will focus on events and activities in the Washington, DC metro area. Feel free to explore other Maryland STEM Festival events going on across the state through their main events page.
Notes: Links (blue text) will navigate to the event host’s website and/or other verified sites. Please make sure to click the links and confirm no additional updates have been made since the time of the last update for this post.
No affiliate links are included in this blog. Happy Planning!
In this Guide...
What to Know Before You Go
This year, the Maryland STEM Festival will be held from Friday, October 16th through Sunday, November 15th. This month-long festival highlights events across the state of Maryland and beyond and the theme this year is Artificial Intelligence.
Most events this year are free and take place at local libraries!
I highly encourage you to review the list with your children to find themes and activities that interest them. Encourage them to try something new and make sure to discuss what they learn from the activity afterwards!
STEM Events by Age
All Ages Celebrations & Activities
- Thursday (10/15) at 6:00 pm | 12th Maryland STEM Festival Opening Ceremony at University of Maryland College Adele H. Stamp Union Building in College Park ♥
- Includes interactive STEM activities and fascinating demonstrations highlighting the latest advancements and innovations. Meet R2D2 and the SpiderBits Robotic Team!
- Saturday (10/17) at 10:00 am | The Big Build at National Building Museum in DC ♥
- Build, discover, play, make, and design alongside architects, hobbyists, artisans, and craftspeople during this FREE hands-on festival celebrating the world we design and build.
- Saturday (10/17) at 10:00 am | Maryland Maker Day at Glenwood Branch Library in Cooksville
- Make your own key chain with the laser cutter, create crafts in the Builder’s Barn, design a button, and explore the space. Come make, create, and discover!
- Saturday (10/17) at 10:30 am | Family Day at the Library of Congress: BFF-Benjamin Franklin Forever at Library of Congress in DC ♥
- Free event ~ Tickets required! Celebrate Founding Father Benjamin Franklin at the Library of Congress! Make your own simple electrical circuit and explore collections related to Franklin’s many achievements as printer, businessman, diplomat and scientist.
- Sunday (11/1) at 11:00 am | FTC & FLL Robot Showcase at Duncan Hall in Columbia ♥
- Attendees will have an opportunity to meet student team members, see robots in action, and learn how students apply engineering, programming, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in FIRST competitions.
- Wednesday (11/4) at 6:00 pm | Simple Machines Stations at East Columbia Branch Library in Columbia
- Families will explore the concepts behind simple machines through hands-on activity stations.
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:00 am | STEM-Fest: Signaling the Future at National Cryptologic Museum in Annapolis Junction ♥
- The day will be packed with hands-on activities that dive into the amazing worlds of security, cyber, engineering, math, and computer science.
- Saturday (11/7) at 12:30 pm | STEM Fest Extravaganza! presented by FTC team 47 Beavers at Gaithersburg Library
- Activities include building a balloon powered car, designing a mini catapult, constructing a marshmallow tower, experimenting different physical forces with Imagination Playgrounds Blue Blocks, & more!
- Saturday (11/7) at 7:00 pm | Stargazing at Piscataway Park in Accokeek
- Bring a telescope and a blanket and join us for a program under the stars!
- Friday (11/13) at 6:00 pm | Skywatching at Observatory Park in Gaithersburg
- Enjoy night‑sky views while learning how star navigation guided journeys to freedom and how the observatory mapped stellar motion.
- Saturday (11/14) at 11:00 am | STEMFest 2026 at Central Library in Baltimore ♥
- Discover the building blocks of artificial intelligence through hands-on play, creativity, and problem-solving at this interactive family event! Children and caregivers will explore how computers learn by recognizing patterns, following instructions, making predictions, and learning through trial and error.
- Saturday (11/14) at 3:00 pm | FIRST in Motion: Maryland Robotics Showcase at Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City ♥
- Spectators are able to ask questions, drive robots, watch matches, speak with team members, and learn about opportunities to get involved in FIRST and STEM in Maryland.
STEM Activities for Tots & Elementary School Students
Prince George’s County
- Saturday (10/17) at 12:00 pm | Dinosaur Park Open House in Laurel
- Saturday (10/17) at 1:00 pm | STEM Fun: Magnetic Blocks at Mount Rainier Library
- Saturday (10/17) at 1:30 pm | Legos: MD STEM Fest Building at Oxon Hill Library
- Monday (10/19) at 4:00 pm | Legos: Bricks and Beyond at Greenbelt Library
- Monday (10/19) at 4:00 pm | STEM Fun: Tangrams at Laurel Library ♥
- Tangram is a traditional Chinese puzzle made of a square cut into seven specific flat pieces. Rearrange these seven pieces—called tans—to make different shapes like animals, people, or objects.
- Tuesday (10/20) at 6:00 pm | Legos: Creative Club at Accokeek Library
- Wednesday (10/21) at 4:00 pm | STEM Fun: Catapult Challenge at Hillcrest Heights Library ♥
- Explore the physics of catapults and choose from a variety of materials and try to make your own working launcher!
- Wednesday (10/21) at 6:00 pm | STEM Fun: Rubber Band Cars at New Carrollton Library
- Thursday (10/22) at 10:30 am | Ready 2 Read STEM at Bladensburg Library (Best for ages 2-3)
- Saturday (10/24) at 10:30 am | STEAM Hour at College Park Aviation Museum (Best for ages 6-12)
- Part makerspace, part mini-science lesson, drop in anytime during the hour to explore aviation science through play.
- Saturday (10/24) at 11:00 am | STEM Lab: Chemistry Under Construction at Surratts-Clinton Library (Best for ages 7+)
- Join a chemist from the American Chemical Society for a hands-on program exploring the chemistry behind construction and building materials.
- Sunday (10/25) at 10:30 am | STEAM Hour at College Park Aviation Museum (Best for ages 6-12)
- Part makerspace, part mini-science lesson, drop in anytime during the hour to explore aviation science through play.
- Tuesday (10/27) at 3:30 pm | STEM Fun: Potion Making at Spauldings Library in District Heights ♥
- Create special “potions” using everyday household ingredients.
- Tuesday (10/27) at 4:00 pm | Legos: Creative Club at Fairmount Heights Library
- Wednesday (10/28) at 4:00 pm | Legos: Creative Club at Baden Library in Brandywine
- Wednesday (10/28) at 5:30 pm | STEM Fun: Endoskeletons v. Exoskeletons at Largo-Kettering Library ♥
- Get ready for a fun adventure into the world of animal skeletons. Discover the difference between endoskeleton and exoskeleton and learn how these body structures help animals survive.
- Tuesday (11/3) at 4:00 pm | STEM Fun: Build and Create! at Upper Marlboro Library
- Explore a variety of construction and robotics kits through interactive challenges that spark curiosity.
- Saturday (11/7) at 12:00 pm | Computing Workshop at Greenbelt Library (Best for grades 4-8) ♥
- Join the University of Maryland Computing Catalyst for a hands-on introduction to computer science! Led by undergraduate student volunteers from the University of Maryland, College Park, this interactive workshop will introduce students to core computing concepts through engaging activities.
- Friday (11/13) at 4:00 pm | STEM Fun: Build and Create at Bladensburg Library
- Explore a variety of construction and robotics kits through interactive challenges that spark curiosity.
- Saturday (11/14) at 1:00 pm | STEM Fun: Marble Run at Mount Rainier Library
Montgomery County
- Friday (10/16) at 11:00 am | STEM at the Library: Space Rocks! at Wheaton Library ♥
- Learn about asteroids, then put your detective skills to the test to see if you can find the secret space rocks hiding in our collection.
- Saturday (10/17) at 2:00 pm | Circuits and Electricity at Davis Library in Bethesda
- Saturday (10/17) at 3:00 pm | Rocket Science! at Rockville Memorial Library ♥
- Come learn about rockets and then build your own!
- Monday (10/19) at 4:00 pm | Real or Fake? Gameshow for MD STEM Festival at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg ♥
- Can you tell what’s real and what’s fake? Elementary School children can join us for a chance to win as we try to tell what is AI and what is not.
- Tuesday (10/20) at 5:00 pm | Patterns, Puzzles & Prints with MathArtPlay at Potomac Library
- Explore the connections between math and art through hands-on creative activities with MathArtPlay!
- Sunday (10/25) at 4:00 pm | Math, Art, Play! – Patterns, Symmetry, and More at White Oak Library
- Monday (10/26) at 4:15 pm | The Busy World of Squirrels at Connie Morella Library in Bethesda (Best for ages 3-8) ♥
- Learn about squirrels and what keeps them so busy in the fall! An interactive presentation with stories, a singalong, crafts and coloring.
- Thursday (10/29) at 5:00 pm | STEM Fun: Make a Peacock Lamp at Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville (Best for ages 6-11) ♥
- Make a Peacock Fiber-Optic Lamp!
- Monday (11/2) at 4:00 pm | STEM at the Library: Squishy Circuits at Olney Library
- Learn about electricity and make your Play-Doh light up!
- Monday (11/2) at 5:00 pm | Mini Makers at Rockville Memorial Library (Best for ages 6-10)
- Mini Makers workshops introduce critical engineering skills through simple fun projects, teamwork activities and more!
- Tuesday (11/3) at 4:00 pm | Let a Peacock Shine! at Long Branch Library in Silver Spring
- Put together your own peacock lamp.
- Thursday (11/5) at 4:30 pm | Challenges Living on the Moon & Mars at Kensington Park Library (Best for ages 6-10) ♥
- What are the human and robotic challenges living on the Moon and Mars? Join for a visual presentation from NASA Solar Ambassador Dr. Cailtin Ahrens and scientist Ramin Lolachi to find out!
- Friday (11/6) at 11:00 am | Little Scientist Storytime at Gaithersburg Library (Best for ages 5 & under)
- Saturday (11/7) at 10:30 am | Fiber Optic Friends at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg
- Create a small fiber optic friend!
- Saturday (11/7) at 11:00 am | Superb Saturday STEAM: Salty Glue Art at Kensington Park Library ♥
- Join Ms. Laura in crafting some fancy artwork using salt and glue.
- Tuesday (11/10) at 4:30 pm | STEAM Club at Gaithersburg Library
- Saturday (11/14) at 3:00 pm | Science Saturday – Computers and Coding presented by Science Connections at Maggie Nightingale Library in Poolesville (Best for ages 6-10) ♥
- Explore the language computers use to talk to each other, practice thinking like a computer, and try our hand at simple programming challenges.
- Saturday (11/14) at 4:00 pm | Kids STEM: Experiment with monkey string, watercolor diffusion and more! at Little Falls Library in Bethesda ♥
- Experiment with monkey string, watercolor diffusion, and more. Take and make wind-powered car kits for elementary age kids will be given out to participants. Batteries not included!
More Maryland Events
- Friday (10/16) at 2:00 pm | Fairytale Engineering: The Three Billy Goats Gruff at Elkridge Branch Library (Best for ages 6-9) ♥
- Listen to a version of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, then design and build a bridge that will keep the three goats safe from the troll!
- Saturday (10/17) at 10:00 am | Truck or Treat: Meet Maryland’s Highway Heroes in Hanover ♥
- Meet Maryland’s Highway Heroes, where kids can explore the impressive vehicles that help keep Maryland’s roadways safe while collecting candy and treats along the way.
- Monday (10/19) at 10:00 am | Little Learners – Autumn Art: STEAM at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 3-5)
- Foil Transfer Prints
- Wednesday (10/21) at 11:30 am | STEAM Makers: Circuits at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 8-11)
- Thursday (10/22) at 6:00 pm | Water Science at Miller Branch Library in Columbia (Best for grades 3-5) ♥
- Through interactive demonstrations, learn about the various physical properties of water that make life on Earth possible.
- Monday (10/26) at 10:00 am | Little Learners – Autumn Art – STEAM at Savage Branch Library in Laurel
- Watercolor Leaf Rubbing
- Wednesday (10/28) at 11:00 am | Owl Exploration at Glenwood Branch Library (Best for ages 7-11)
- Whoooo knows what an owl eats? Dissect an owl pellet to find out! Explore other aspects of the life of an owl through other fun activities.
- Wednesday (10/28) at 2:00 pm | Hogwarts Halloween at Central Branch Library (Best for ages 7-11) ♥
- Join in seasonal festivities at Hogwarts; all costumes welcome! Stir up powerful potions, practice spells, discover owl secrets, and create a slimy surprise.
- Saturday (10/31) at 12:00 pm | Chemistry in the Library – Under Construction at Glenwood Branch Library (Best for ages 7+)
- Monday (11/2) at 10:00 am | Little Learners – Autumn Art – STEAM at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 3-5)
- Make a Leaf Man
- Monday (11/2) at 2:00 pm | Cartography for Kids at Discoveries: the Library at the Mall in Annapolis ♥
- Discover what making maps can reveal about ourselves and try your hand at making a few different maps.
- Tuesday (11/3) at 2:00 pm | Super STEAM Stations at Elkridge Branch Library (Best for ages 6-10)
- Monday (11/9) at 10:00 am | Little Learners – Pie, Pie, Baby! at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 3-5)
- Explore simple STEAM concepts about pie! Dress for mess.
- [Bonus Event] Monday (11/23) at 2:00 pm | Mini-Punkin Chunkin at Elkridge Branch Library (Best for ages 8-10) ♥
- Design and build your own mini catapult to launch tiny pumpkins across the room. Test it for distance and accuracy!
STEM Activities for Tweens & Teens
Montgomery County
- Monday (10/19) at 5:00 pm | Teen STEM – LEGO Challenge at Wheaton Library
- Wednesday (10/21) at 4:00 pm | Learn Basic Image Editing with GIMP Freeware! at Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in Silver Spring (Best for ages 11-19) ♥
- Learn basic touch-ups for photos & images using the freeware program GIMP, available on MCPL’s public PCs and laptops! Cut out a figure and match it to background lighting.
- Thursday (10/22) at 4:00 pm | AI and Your Digital Life at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg ♥
- Review fictional AI scenarios, try possible activities, and tell the library what feels useful, confusing, or missing. No account, device, personal disclosure, or registration is required.
- Saturday (10/24) at 1:30 pm | Teen Volunteer Time – Make Bubble in a Box Take & Make Kits at Chevy Chase Library
- Monday (10/26) at 5:00 pm | Teen STEM – Engineering a Toothpick Tower at Wheaton Library ♥
- When life hands you a box of toothpicks and a bag of marshmallows, we build!
- Thursday (10/29) at 5:00 pm | Learn about Architecture at White Oak Library (Best for ages 13-17) ♥
- Join professional architects representing the American Institute of Architects as they introduce you to the role of architecture in shaping healthy, vibrant communities.
- [Limited Seats Left] Sunday (11/1) at 10:30 am | Learn to 3D Print with FTC team 47 Beavers at Gaithersburg Library (Best for ages 10-13)
- In this two-hour workshop tweens and teens will learn the basics of 3D printing with OnShape. This workshop is for tweens and teens with limited or moderate knowledge of 3D printing but with good computer skills.
- Monday (11/2) – Saturday (11/21) | Design Challenge at Davis Library in Bethesda
- Tuesday (11/3) at 4:00 pm | Teen STEM: Make a DIY Fidget Toy at Aspen Hill Library
- Wednesday (11/4) at 5:00 pm | Teen STEM-TAB-ULAR Trivia at Wheaton Library ♥
- Saturday (11/7) at 3:00 pm | Crochet4Change at Germantown Library
- Learn to crochet with recycled plastic bags. Create sleeping mats for unhoused residents and those experiencing homelessness.
- Saturday (11/7) at 3:00 pm | Peacock Fiber-Optic Lamps at Chevy Chase Library (Best for ages 8-12)
- Monday (11/9) at 5:00 pm | Teen STEM – Build a Candy DNA Model at Wheaton Library ♥
- Build a DNA model from sweet, colorful candy!
- Thursday (11/12) at 4:00 pm | AI Evidence Lab: Verify, Protect Decide – Practice a Quick Evidence Check for AI Answers and Images at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg ♥
- Examine AI-generated claims, images, and chatbot responses. Practice checking sources, protecting private information, and deciding what to verify. No account, device, or registration is required.
More Maryland Events for Tweens & Teens
- Thursday (10/15) at 3:30 pm | AV Studio Teens! at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for grades 6-12)
- Drop-in to use the equipment in the A/V Studio! Record and mix music, create and edit movies, or just sit and draw on our iPads.
- Monday (10/19) at 6:00 pm | Chomp the Cheese – AI Game Design: Makerspace Monday at Elkridge Branch Library ♥
- Engage with the artificial intelligence and machine learning applications on Scratch Lab to program a cheese-chomping game based on facial recognition.
- Thursday (10/22) at 5:00 pm | All About Herbs at Savage Branch Library in Laurel ♥
- Calling all teen chefs! Identify common herbs, how to safely handle and dry them, and ways to prepare them.
- Tuesday (10/27) at 4:00 pm | Movie Magic Cosmetics at East Columbia Branch Library (Best for ages 12-18) ♥
- Students will learn the history and science behind the film industry’s own movie magic. Learn about the chemicals that are found in the cosmetics used to create monsters and zombies in the movies, and then create your own design using DIY monster cosmetics!
- Tuesday (11/3) at 1:30 pm | Illustrate with Procreate at East Columbia Branch Library (Best for grades 6-12)
- Learn tips, tricks, and the steps to creating your own illustration in the iPad app, Procreate.
- Thursday (11/5) at 3:30 pm | AV Studio Teens! at Savage Branch in Laurel (Best for grades 6-12)
- Drop-in to use the equipment in the A/V Studio! Record and mix music, create and edit movies, or just sit and draw on our iPads.
- Thursday (11/5) at 4:30 pm | Lego & Robotics Club at Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City
- Thursday (11/5) at 5:30 pm | Personalized Pumpkins with the Laser at Glenwood Branch Library (Best for teens & adults)
- Get creative this fall by designing a personalized pumpkin decoration with the laser cutter.
- Saturday (11/7) at 2:00 pm | Music Tech at Central Branch Library in Columbia ♥
- Learn the skills of an audio engineer in music production in the digital realm.
- Monday (11/9) at 6:00 pm | Electronic Motorized Tank: Makerspace Mondays at Elkridge Branch Library ♥
- In honor of Veteran’s Day, construct a real electronic motorized tank while discovering the engineering behind tracked vehicles! Learn how motors, gears, and treads work together to conquer challenging terrain, then test your finished creation through exciting engineering challenges.
- Thursday (11/12) at 3:30 pm | LEGO Build Lab: Brick Valor at Elkridge Branch Library
- Coordinate, plan, and construct a complex, weight-bearing (books, obviously) bridge within the time limit and gain a practical feel for the logistical and structural engineering feats military personnel accomplish in the field.
- Thursday (11/12) at 3:30 pm | AV Studio Teens! at Savage Branch in Laurel (Best for grades 6-12)
- Drop-in to use the equipment in the A/V Studio! Record and mix music, create and edit movies, or just sit and draw on our iPads.
- Saturday (11/14) at 9:00 am | 2026 STEM Career Fair for Girls at The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore ♥
- An inspiring morning designed to introduce middle and high school girls to the exciting possibilities within science, technology, engineering, and math. Students will connect with professionals from local companies, universities, and organizations; explore hands-on demonstrations and interactive exhibits; and discover real-world opportunities across a wide range of STEM fields.
STEM Opportunities for High School Students & Adults
- Friday (10/16) at 10:00 am | Meet Maryland Engineering on the Campus of University of Maryland in College Park ♥
- Speak one-on-one with current engineering students and staff from all Clark School departments as well as Student Affairs and Academic Success Programs. Learn more about joining the Clark School, our majors, student support programs, scholarships, and student life. Engineering facilities tours will also be offered throughout the event.
- Friday (10/16) at 2:00 pm | On-Campus Fire Protection Engineering Major Information Session & Tour at University of Maryland College Park ♥
- Friday (10/16) at 6:00 pm | The Instrumentation of Biotech – Meet the Toys of the UMBC Applied Biotech Labs at Shady Grove in Rockville
- Up close look at the applied biotechnology labs inside the six-level, 220,000-square-foot facility designed for real-world workforce preparation.
- [Virtual] Saturday (10/17) at 10:00 am | Hot Topic Discussion – From Prompts to Agents: Designing Intelligent AI Systems
- Free online workshop introduces the shift from static prompts to dynamic, decision-making AI agents. We will cover key concepts behind agentic AI, including reasoning-action loops, and implement them using Python and ReACT.
- Tuesday (11/10) at 6:00 pm | Design. Build. Discover. Explore Mechanical Engineering at UMBC Shady Grove in Rockville
- Head to the Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (BSE) Education Facility for an interactive look into our Mechanical Engineering program. You’ll tour our state-of-the-art lab spaces, connect with faculty and staff—including Program Director Adam Bridendolph—and experience a live simulation where current students showcase a real-world engineering project.
- [Virtual] Thursday (11/12) at 6:00 pm | Hot Topic Discussion – Cybersecurity and AI Governance
- Explore how to develop tailored governance frameworks, mitigate algorithmic threats, and address the critical intersection of AI, law, and cybersecurity.
- Saturday (11/14) at 9:00 am | JHU-SOM One Day Mini Med School in Baltimore ♥
- One Day Mini Medical School provides high school and undergraduate students with the opportunity to explore careers in medicine with Johns Hopkins Medicine students, residents and faculty. This program is open to students who are interested in learning more about the roadmap to becoming the next generation of diverse doctors!
STEM-Based Places to Visit
- Sundays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | KID Museum in Bethesda, MD – Tickets are $15 per person.
- I recommend this museum for older kids & teens! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in October & Native American Heritage Month in November.
- They offer Sunday Workshops for an additional fee for elementary & middle school students too.
- Tuesdays – Sundays at 10:00 am | Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, MD – Tickets are $21+ per person.
- Three floors filled with hands-on activities for kids of all ages to explore! Best in my opinion for elementary and middle school kids.
- Wednesdays – Mondays at 9:30 am | National Children’s Museum in DC – Tickets are $18.95 per person.
- Adding this one to list as well for the younger kids! There are many hands-on activities and STEM based stations as well.
- Their newest temporary exhibit “Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice” is on display until January 10, 2027 and is included with general admission.
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