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- The COSI Science Festival offers four days of STEAM activities for all ages around central Ohio and beyond.
- The festival concludes with the Big Science Celebration, a free outdoor event at COSI in Columbus.
- The final celebration features live performances, food trucks and more than 100 hands-on exhibitor stations.
From making bagels to whooshing downhill in a soap box derby car, science is found in the most unexpected places. The COSI Science Festival brings it right to your backyard.
Since 2019, the fest has made science entertaining and educational for people of all ages through events geared toward youth, families and adults.
This year, COSI is teaming with 24 area civic leaders to offer four days of STEAM activities around central Ohio. These community events are well-attended, according to Josh Sarver, COSI’s chief experience officer.
“The most important part of the festival is the community. Community effort has made this possible and that makes the festival really unique,” Sarver said.
“We like to say science is everywhere, for everyone. Sometimes you have to show the individual, open up their aperture to where science is in their community.
“It’s like pulling back ‘The Wizard of Oz’s’ curtain.”
Though set in Columbus, the festival’s reach is statewide, with events at the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, the Ohio & Erie Canal in Lockbourne, the Honda Heritage Center in Marysville, and other sites.
“We grew from Columbus and the cities around us to the contiguous counties to around Ohio,” Sarver said.
The COSI Science Festival culminates in the Big Science Celebration, a free outdoor event that will take over the grounds of COSI and streets surrounding the museum.
Held on the Scioto Peninsula surrounding COSI, the bash will include live performances, food trucks and 100-plus exhibitor stations with hands-on activities.
Sarver said last year’s Big Science Celebration drew about 15,000 folks willing to brave the chilly rain, but 2024’s sunny weather brought out a more typical 40,000 people.
Hopefully, April showers will bring May flowers instead of a repeat of the drizzle that plagued last year. But as it did in 2025, the event will go on rain or shine, so don’t forget your umbrellas!
If severe weather occurs, updates will be provided by event staff and on COSI’s website and social media channels.
COSI is open on the day of the Big Science Celebration. General-admission rates apply.
Details: Community STEAM events will be held April 29-May 1 at various sites. The Big Science Celebration will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2 at COSI, 333 W. Broad St. Free admission. (cosiscifest.org)
Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at [email protected].
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.dispatch.com ’
