The San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering is taking over Petco Park for a full day of hands-on STEAM learning, and admission is completely free.

Presented by Illumina Corporate Foundation, the event is expecting more than 20,000 people and features hundreds of San Diego area businesses, schools, libraries, and museums coming together to make science, technology, engineering, arts, and math actually fun and accessible.

No registration is required, though heads up – there’s a clear bag policy in effect.

College and Career Connections for Students

If you’ve got middle or high schoolers in your life, the College and Career Connections area is designed specifically for them. Over 20 higher education and industry partners, including SDSU, will be there to meet and talk with students about real pathways into STEAM fields.

There are two panels throughout the day offering insights into education and career options that go beyond the usual college fair vibe.

The Art Pavilion Is Back

The Art Pavilion returns by popular demand, with The Madhatters teaching attendees how to knit baby caps that get donated to local children’s hospitals.

Students and community groups will be showcasing their creative work, proving that the “A” in STEAM is just as important as everything else. It’s one of those spaces that shows how science and art work better together than apart.

Teacher Workshops Throughout the Day

Two teacher workshops are happening for educators who want some hands-on professional development. The ScienceBridge Enzyme Lab is geared toward teachers with 9th-12th graders, while the Algae Academy works for any K-12 teacher. Both offer practical stuff teachers can actually bring back to their classrooms.

Two Stages of Performances All Day

Two main stages will be running performances throughout the day:

• Math raps from The Music Notes
• High-Temperature Fusion show from General Atomics
• Ms. Smarty-Plants cooling the climate
• SD Mad Science’s Fire & Ice performance
• Fleet Science Center’s Don’t Try This at Home
• STEMusic performance by Ron Moye
• TEDxkids@ElCajon presentation

There’s enough variety that you can catch different things depending on when you show up.

Tons of Hands-On Activities

Beyond the stages and workshops, there’s a ton happening on the ground:

• DNA fun and genomics education with Illumina Corporate Foundation
• Pre-K zone for little learners
• Virtual reality experiences
• Rockets and explosions with General Atomics
• Slime-making stations
• Underwater sea life education
• Robot play
• Drone shows

Sara Pagano, Managing Director of the festival, says they’re aiming to make STEAM learning enjoyable for all ages – from pre-K to gray – while showing off San Diego’s leadership in science, technology, and engineering.

See you there!

Free admission, thousands of hands-on activities, and the chance to explore STEAM without it feeling like homework—this is one of those community events worth clearing your Saturday for.

📆 Saturday, March 7, 10 AM – 5 PM
📍 100 Park Blvd, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here

See you there, San Diego!