California Science Festivals

DOWNEY: The Columbia Memorial Space Center

• Apollo Speaker Series June-December 2019
• Splashdown Day! July 24, 2019, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
  Rejoice in the return of the Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins as they returned to Earth and splashed down into the Pacific Ocean!
• Apollo Speaker Series with Apollo Engineering Technician Anthony Vidana July 28, 2019, 10-11 a.m. 
  Free Admission. Free Parking.
  In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, the Columbia Memorial Space Center  invites you to listen and participate in talks moderated by former Boeing Project Manager and 40-year Aerospace Industry veteran, Gerald A. Blackburn, featuring guests from the Apollo era. 
• Rocket Fever August 17, 2019, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
  LA's only urban rocket festival, Rocket Fever,  teaches guests how to build and launch different types of rockets in a Rocket Building Class, $small fee per rocket/class approx. Food available. Hands-on activities like water rockets, straw rockets, stomp rockets!

NOVATO: The Space Station Museum

• Space Festival August 4, 2019, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
  The Space Station Museum
  464 Ignacio Blvd.
  Novato, CA
  Free, thespacestationca.org/NovatoSpaceFestival.shtml
  Meet astronauts, see lunar module and lunar rover replicas, view a real space suit, and explore airplane and rocket exhibits at the Novato Space Festival at Free. The Space Station Museum Presents Novato Space Festival. Meet Legendary Astronauts & Experience Many Interactive Exhibits. 
  Al Worden, Apollo 15
  Dan Bursch, Shuttle & ISS
  Space Shuttle: Greg 'Box' Johnson, Millie Hughes Fullford,
  Yvonne Cagle (Novato's Own Astronaut), Steve Smith
  Ed Rezac, Nasa Engineer
  Joey Lazzaro, Apollo Flight Controller
  Meeting, asking questions and photos with the astronauts are encouraged!

YORBA LINDA: Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

• Apollo 11: One Giant Leap for Mankind April 29, 2019 - January 13, 2020
  nixonlibrary.gov
  Take a thrill ride with a 360-degree virtual reality experience transporting visitors to the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, to see and hear Neil Armstrong's "one giant leap for mankind." Included in the exhibit are Buzz Aldrin's penlight used in the Lunar Module | Apollo 11 patch worn on the surface of the moon | NASA X-15 silver-gleaming pressure suit used to train Neil Armstrong and America's first astronauts in the 1950s | Moon rocks from the lunar surface, acquired during the Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 missions | Oval Office telephone that President Nixon used to call Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they explored on the lunar surface | Presidential Medal of Freedom Award presented to astronaut Michael Collins by President Nixon | Apollo mission command module model | model of 1969 American living room where the moon landing  was seen on TV.

LOS ANGELES: LA Public Library

• When the Eagle Landed, Apollo 5oth Discussion July 27, 2019, 1-2:3o p.m.
  West Valley Regional Branch
  19036 Vanowen Street Reseda, CA, 91335
  lapl.org/branches/west-valley
  Apollo Alumni Chat
  Join former aerospace professionals who look back at the space race and the local contributions that put a man on the moon in less than a decade. These chats occur at LA Public Library branches across Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES: Griffith Observatory
2800 East Observatory Road
Los Angeles, CA 90027
griffithobservatory.org

• All Space Considered Remembers Apollo 11's 50th Anniversary July 13-24, 2019
• All Space Considered August 2, 2019, 7:30-9:30 p.m.  Free Admission
• Public Star Party August 10, 2019, 2-9:45 p.m. Free Admission

LASSEN: Lassen Volcanic National Park

• Dark Sky Festival August 2-3, 2019
  nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/stargazing.htm
  Join park rangers, astronomers, and planetary geologists in celebrating all that is out of this world during Lassen's Dark Sky Festival. Stargazing & Astronomy Starry sky over Manzanita Lake.  Far from the light pollution of civilization, Lassen Volcanic is one of the best places to learn about and enjoy the splendor of the night sky. As one of the last sanctuaries of natural darkness, experience the grandeur of the Milky Way and other celestial wonders. Experience a ranger-led program at various locations throughout the park or pick-up a night sky viewing book or sky chart from the Lassen Association bookstore to explore the night skies on your own. 

JOSHUA TREE: Joshua Tree National Park

• Night Sky Festival September 21, 2019
  nightskyfestival.org | nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival.htm
  Solar viewing and an astronomy fair by day, as well astronomy programs and telescope viewing of our universe by night--weather permitting. Events take place at various locations, but including the Oasis Visitor Center near the park's North Entrance in Twentynine Palms, CA.  No reservations are required for the event, only for local lodging or camping. The night sky is magnificently brilliant at Joshua Tree. On Veteran's Day weekend, the National Park Service and partners bring together astronomers, scientists, night-sky enthusiasts, artists, junior rangers, and members of nearby communities to celebrate the night skies of Joshua Tree National Park.  

PASADENA: Jet Propulsion Lab

• Small Worlds, Big Science with Dr. Carol Raymond August 8, 2019, 7 p.m.
  The von Karman Auditorium at JPL
  4800 Oak Grove Drive
  Pasadena, CA
• Small Worlds, Big Science with Dr. Carol Raymond August 9, 2019, 7 p.m.
  Caltech's Ramo Auditorium
  1200 E California Blvd.
  Pasadena, CA
  Join Dawn Mission Principal Investigator and Manager of the JPL Small Bodies Program to explore the formation of our solar system. Among and beyond the planets are small worlds holding clues. NASA's robotic spacecraft visit comets, asteroids, and dwarf planets up close, determining what these places are like, what they are made of, and how they formed.
• It Broke! A Story of How we Fixed It September 19 & 20, 2019
  The Other 95% Of The Universe October 17 & 18, 2019
  Science From the International Space Station November 14 & 15, 2019

FOLSOM: Folsom Powerhouse Electricity Fair September 14, 2019, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Free, ffpaonline.org/events/
Young and old come out to spend a day by the river learning about electricity, renewable energy, and science. It's a day of fun for all ages with interactive museum exhibits, tours, family and children's activities, prizes, and more! 

LOS ANGELES: Dino Fest! September 21-22, 2019, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Dino Fest included with Museum admission (excluding Spider Pavilion) 
213.763.3499
nhm.org/site/activities-programs/dino-fest
 A two-day festival celebrates dinosaurs who once dominated the earth, their prehistoric past and the science that brings their world back to life! The official dinosaur of California, Augustynolophus morrisi has been celebrated at this event. Meet paleontologists, shop for dino-inspired gear. Dig into hands-on activities, interactive experiences, and dig pits. Catch a glimpse of rare specimens from the Museum's collections and much more!

SAN FRANCISCO: Bay Area Science Festival October 25-November 2, 2019
bayareascience.org
Bay Area Science Festival is a Science & Health Education Partnership (SEP) at  UC San Francisco (UCSF). Science & technology activities, lectures, debates, exhibitions, concerts, plays, workshops, etc.  at a variety of locations throughout the Bay Area.

RIDGECREST: Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival November 2-3, 2019
Petroglyph Park
Ridgecrest, CA
rpfestival.com
15,000 attendees, 9 major events, 18 performances and 100 vendors

SAN DIEGO: Biocom Institute Festival of Science and Engineering March 7-15, 2020
Petco Park
San Diego, CA
lovestemsd.org
Ten-day educational experience including interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and dynamic speakers to engage kids and families in all that encompasses STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).  Hundreds of community businesses and organizations will participate in Expo Day in addition to over 60 programs and events that will follow throughout the week all throughout the county of San Diego. More than 75,000 kids, parents, teachers, industry leaders and community members are anticipated to attend during Festival Week. 

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.