San Diego CA— The organizers of the 11th annual San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering, presented by the Illumina Foundation, is moving full STEAM ahead toward its highly anticipated EXPO DAY at Petco Park. The festival, hosted by the Biocom Institute, once again begins with the family-favorite EXPO DAY on Saturday, March 2, 2019 to officially kick-off the week-long festival featuring hundreds of exhibitors and STEAM-related activities. EXPO DAY gives attendees a major preview of what’s to come to area businesses, schools, libraries and museums throughout the county during Festival Week. EXPO DAY is free and open to the public. In 2018, 22,476 children, parents and STEM enthusiasts attended EXPO DAY, and more than 60,000 people participated in festival week events.
After EXPO DAY, the fun continues with Festival Week (March 3-10, 2019) – eight days of learning, hands-on activities, innovation, and behind-the-scenes opportunities for students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as adults and families to ignite their passion and wonder for STEAM education. Many Festival Week events are free and open to the public. More than 65,000 are expected to participate throughout the week visiting EXPO DAY and festival week events. Visit lovestemsd.org for festival week details.
Festival Week also features interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and dynamic speakers to engage kids, adults and families in the importance of STEM education. Not only is the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering’s EXPO DAY jam-packed with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities, but also for the first-time-ever will include arts-related events to showcase opportunities to infuse art into STEM.
A program of the Biocom Institute and presented by Illumina Foundation, the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering aims to encourage and engage kids in STEM and STEAM education, and to increase San Diego County’s reputation of being a leader in the science industry. By hosting events and activities throughout the region, the festival demonstrates how science and engineering opportunities are in our own “backyard,” and are for science lovers of all ages. In fact, the STEM in Your Backyard series will now be accessible in areas all over San Diego County, including Barrio Logan, San Marcos, El Cajon and Chula Vista.
Additionally, festival organizers plan to bring back the crowd-favorite “21 and up” series for adult science and engineering enthusiasts to continue, and share their passion for STEM and STEAM with others. STEM and STEAM education never stops and adults have the same fascination with science, technology, engineering, art and math as kids do. Festival organizers are putting the final touches on the series and more information will be announced in the New Year.
“This year’s EXPO DAY and Festival Week brings together STEAM enthusiasts of all backgrounds, cultures, neighborhoods, and ages,” said Sara Pagano, managing director, San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering. “We’re excited to work with some of the top arts-related organizations in San Diego County, including A Reason to Survive (ARTS) in National City and Writerz Blok San Diego in Chollas View area, to showcase the importance of the arts in STEM, and how all topics are intertwined.”
Sponsorships are available for the 2018 EXPO DAY and Festival Week. For more details, visit lovestemsd.org/content/become-sponsor or contact Sara Pagano, managing director, at spagano@lovestemsd.org.
Below is a preliminary list events hosted and organized by the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering. The entire 2019 Festival Week schedule will be finalized in mid-January 2019 with additional venues hosting more than 50 events throughout the week for budding scientists and their families. Visit the festival website at lovestemsd.org for more information. Schedule subject to change.
EXPO DAY
- Saturday, March 2, 2019
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Petco Park 100 Park Blvd. San Diego, Calif. 92101
- Ticket Cost: FREE
Now in its 11th year, the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering kicks off with its largest event EXPO DAY, presented by Illumina Foundation, a daylong celebration at Petco Park. EXPO DAY is the Festival’s signature event with more than 130 local businesses, corporations, and organizations providing interactive, hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math exhibits and activities to budding K-12 science lovers. There will be an MVP Luncheon (registration required) at 11:30 a.m. TEDxKids@ElCajon will also be the premier feature all day on the Dugout Stage and for families, the Pre-K Zone is back again! The fun continues with Festival Week (March 3-10) – eight days of learning, interaction and behind-the-scenes opportunities for ages 0 to 100! Students, families, young professionals, passersby are all invited to join us for Festival Week to ignite their passion for STEM education.
STEM In Your Backyard is back
The San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering celebrates STEM throughout San Diego County! Bring your family for a FREE and fun-filled day featuring over 25 interactive, hands-on exhibits from local businesses, nonprofits, and schools all meant to spark a love for science in your K-12 future innovator. Events take place from North to South County at the following locations:
STEM In Your Backyard: San Marcos
- Wednesday, March 6, 2019
- 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- High Tech High North County – San Marcos 1420 West San Marcos Blvd. San Marcos, Calif. 92078