Join us for a weekend celebration of science!
The Oregon Science Festival, presented by OMSI, begins with Science Week, five days of events in the Portland Metro Area and beyond, and culminates in a two-day celebration at the museum. Enjoy workshops, tours, lectures, and events—all celebrating STEAM education. Learn more about the vast array of scientists, engineers, and innovators who are inspiring future generations around Portland.
Advance Tickets (Aug 1 – Sept 12):$17 adults; $14 seniors; $12 youth; free for OMSI members
Day Of Tickets: $19 adults; $16 seniors; $14 youth; free for OMSI members
Science Stage
Enjoy these family-friendly performances on the Front Plaza!
Saturday Schedule
10:00am | Storytime + Native Songs with Karen Kitchen
11:00am | Portland Taiko Performance
11:30am | Live Reptile Show with Oregon Reptile Views
1:00pm| Portland Taiko Performance
2:00pm | OMSI Science Demo: Elephant’s Toothpaste
2:15pm | Magic Show with Jim Straight Magic
3:00pm | Laugh n’ Learn hosted by Mega Wow
Sunday Schedule
10:00am | Storytime with OMSI’s Heather Anderson
11:00am | Live Reptile Show with Oregon Reptile Views
1:00pm | CharrerÃa with Comunidad y Herencia Cultural
2:00pm | Magic Show with Jim Straight Magic
3:00pm | CharrerÃa with Comunidad y Herencia Cultural
Food Trucks
Pizza, ice cream, and coffee! Enjoy local treats as you explore the festival.
Vendors
From reclaimed goods to indie games, explore STEAM-themed stations across the museum run by local organizations.
Agile Adaptive Robots Lab
American Chemical Society
American Society of Civil Engineering
CymaSpace
Dave Shinsel
Embark
David Knierim
Environment Oregon Research & Policy Center
Friends of Noise
Forth
Game Lab Oregon
Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington
Grant Keltner x Jonathan Swanson
Holst Architecture
Independence Science
Quantum Fiber
ReClaim It
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
Slow Camera Paparazzi
Super Sigma Robotics
Tesla Coil Works
The Fossil Team
The Pacific NW Disaster Guide
Tigard High School Tech Team
Tinker Camp
Una the Mermaid
USS Blueback Submarine + Portland Amateur Radio Club
Weir
West3D LLC
Worlds Beyond VR
Workshops
Explore these free hands-on workshops at the Science Festival and learn a new skill! Workshops are located in the Auditorium and are limited capacities. Attendees can participate on a first come, first serve basis.
Saturday Workshops
Plant Preservation through Flower Pressing with Little Leaf Ink
11:00am-12:00pm | Recommended for ages 12+
Learn the process of plant preservation through flower pressing and how it’s used for both creative and scientific purposes. Participants will receive a small cardboard flower press and learn to use it with some fresh plants! We’ll talk about what plants press best, how the process works, and ideas of how to use your dried creations!
Making Paper Puppets with KCPuppetree
12:30pm-1:30pm | Recommended for ages 6+ | Children 6-8 adult support encouraged
Join KCPuppetree (Kelly Campbell) to learn how to make a talking-mouth bird puppet out of paper and common household supplies! Participants will get to take home their own unique puppet and learn how to make it come to life.
Bling Your Thing Workshop with Portland Winter Light Festival
2:00pm-3:00pm | Recommended for ages 10+
Come join us as we learn about basic circuitry by assembling an LED necklace! We’ll be using laser cut acrylic parts, hardware, LEDs, and a 2032 battery to make a necklace that lights up at night, no soldering required. This project is the perfect night time bling for Portland Winter Light Festival.
Sunday Workshops
Solar Power in Action with Portland State University
11:00am-12:00pm | Recommended for ages 11-14
Collect and analyze data using an array of scientific equipment to discover how solar panels function under different thermal conditions.
Bigleaf Maple Sugaring with Oregon Maple Project
12:30-1:30pm | All ages
This workshop will introduce participants to the fascinating art of making maple syrup in the Pacific Northwest.
Native Wildflower Seed Balls with SymbiOp Garden Shop
2:00pm-3:00pm | Recommended for ages 7+
Learn the importance of native wildflowers for pollinator diversity and the history and purpose of making seed balls as a way to more efficiently distribute seeds for agriculture or habitat restoration. Attendees will learn how to make their own seed balls and take them home to their gardens!
Introduction to Clay: How to Make a Pinch Pot with Carter + Rose
3:30pm-4:30pm | All ages
Learn about the different types of clay, projects, and glaze from a local self-taught ceramic artist. Participants will learn how to make a pinch pot (simple, ancient ceramic form) and use add-on techniques to make their own pinch pot truly unique!
Science Week Events
Check out these local events focusing on STEAM Education the week leading up to the weekend celebration of the Oregon Science Festival!
Monday, September 8
6-8pm | SkateLab: STEM in Motion with Oaks Park Roller Rink
Tuesday, September 9
7-9pm | Science Pub: From Glow Sticks to Microscopes with OMSI
Various Times | Visit the VintageTektronix Museum!
Wednesday, September 10
4-5pm | Tarantula Handling with the Portland Insectarium
5-7pm | Soft Circuits with Pacific Northwest College of Art
Thursday, September 11
4:30-5:30 | Creative Learning: Maker Club with Multnomah County Library
5:00-7:00pm | SW Apple and European Pear Harvest! with Portland Fruit Tree Project
6:30-8:30pm | Reel Science: The Trouble with Wolves with OMSI
Friday, September 12
5-7pm | Intro to Entomology with the Portland Insectarium
Members get in FREE
When you become an OMSI member you join a community that is wildly curious and believes that fun, engaging science education should be available to everyone.
Becoming an OMSI member gets you major perks: free admission to the museum, discounted tickets to featured exhibits, and insider access to special events—like the Oregon Science Festival ending celebration at the museum!
Volunteer
Interested in volunteering for this special event? Are you comfortable providing quality customer service in a fun atmosphere? If yes, your first step is to complete the Oregon Science Fest Volunteer application form. We’ll send you an email once we’ve received your application with more details.
Note: all volunteers must be 14 years old or older to participate in this volunteer opportunity.
Get Involved
Interested in being a vendor or hosting an event as part of this year’s Science Festival? Email us for more information. The application to participate in the weekend event at OMSI is closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Science Festivals bring together families and individuals to celebrate science as a vital local force–showcasing how important it is to our local culture, education, and economy. They bring STEAM education to everyone in unexpected ways and engage a broad community to encourage a passion for science!
At the Science Festival, you can learn about fossils, how to make a robot, participate in creating a mural and see a 1,000,000 Volt Tesla Coil demonstration.
Tickets to events happening September 8-12 might have a ticket associated with them.Â
Tickets for the Science Festival at OMSI on Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14 will be:
Advance Tickets (Aug 1- Sept 12 at 5pm) $17 adults (14+), $12 youth (3-13) and $14 seniors (63+). Day of Tickets:Â $19 adults (14+), $14 youth (3-13) and $16 seniors (63+) OMSI members receive free admission! The Arts for All program will be honored at this event.
All events are family-friendly unless otherwise noted.
For the events happening Monday-Friday, please check the event listing or the venue’s website to determine what will be available. At Science Pub and events taking place at OMSI will have food and beverages available. If the event is after hours, alcohol will be available as well.
For the Festival at OMSI taking place Saturday & Sunday, we will have multiple options for food and drink, with a complete list coming soon!
OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Ave Portland, OR 97214. Visitors can pay for parking through the Parking Kitty app or at parking kiosks in the South parking lot.
OMSI parking costs $5 (+ fees) for 2 hours or $8 (+ fees) for all day parking. Guests arriving at 5pm or later can expect to pay a flat fee of $2 (+ fees) for the evening.
If you prefer not to drive, take Transit and get $2 off your ticket. Just show your Transit receipt at the front desk!
The Science Festival will replace the annual Maker Faire.
The events are rain or shine. The majority of the event takes place inside the museum.
Email us at events@omsi.edu.
Venue Information
The Museum
1945 SE Water Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
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