Rutherford County Farmers' Market Fall Market & Arts Festival

HOST: Rutherford County Farmers' Market

WHEN: October 13th, 17th, and 20th 2023, 7:00am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Lane Agri-Park Community Center, 315 John R. Rice Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

WHAT: The 7th Annual Rutherford County Farmers’ Market Fall Market & Arts Festival will be held on Tues & Fri, through the 27th. Enjoy and be captivated with demonstrations by artisans throughout the month & during the TN STEAM Festival. Market vendors & local artisans will have a variety of handmade crafts: woodwork, leatherwork, jewelry and accessories, art work, sewn items, soaps and scrubs, fall décor & flowers, baskets, stained glass, yarn work & creative treasures. Find unique necessities & gifts while shopping & stocking up on fresh, flavorful produce in season, fall squash, meats, baked goods, jams, jellies, honey, kettle corn, freeze dried treats, & more.

AUDIENCE: All ages and abilities

COST: FREE

WEBSITE: rutherford.tennessee.edu

Atomic Glow Putty Discovery Lab Program

HOST: Hands On! Discovery Center

WHEN: October 17th-November 5th 2023
Tuesday-Saturday: 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm
Sunday: 1:30pm and 3:30pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 1212 Suncrest Dr., Gray, TN 37615

WHAT: We are stirring up something gloppy, goopy, and spooky in the lab for National Chemistry Week. Learn about the perplexing properties of polymers and make your own atomic-glowing silly putty to take home.

AUDIENCE: All ages and abilities

COST: FREE with general paid admission.

WEBSITE: https://visithandson.org/

Legos Discovery Cart

HOST: Hands On! Discovery Center

WHEN: October 17th-20th 2023, 10:00am-5:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 1212 Suncrest Drive, Gray, TN 37615

WHAT: Stop by Hands On! Discovery Center's Discovery Cart to build, engineer, and create with Legos. All activities are self-guided. All cart program components and materials must remain on site unless otherwise noted. Each cart activity may contain small parts not suitable for children 3 and under.

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: FREE with general paid admission.

WEBSITE: https://visithandson.org/

Fall Migration Bird Banding

HOST: Warner Park Nature Center

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023 8:00am-12:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 7311 Highway 100, Nashville TN 37221

WHAT: Fall migration is one of our favorite times of the year! Stop by the bird banding station to observe our federally licensed bird banders in action. This long-term bird research project has been on-going for 42 years!

AUDIENCE: All ages

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/nature-centers-and-natural-areas/warner-park-nature-center

Pumpkin Patch STEAM

HOST: Imagine Foundry 

WHEN: Weekdays from October 9th-20th 2023, 10:00am-5:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 1225 S. Willow Ave, Cookeville TN 38506

WHAT: Join us to explore pumpkins through hands-on activities such as pumpkin catapults, carving and painting, pumpkin guts and seeds, and more! We will also practice culinary pumpkin skills and enjoy yummy treats. We can't wait to see you there!

COST: $5 per person (all children must be accompanied by an adult)

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: imaginefoundry.org

Black Light Ocean Art

HOST: Oakdale Public LIbrary

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023, 5:30pm-6:30pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 212 Queen St. Oakdale, TN 37829

WHAT: We will read picture books about creatures who live in the deep ocean. We will use neon and flourescent paint to create our own sea creatures who glow under a black light.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/people/Oakdale-Public-Library/100077650665391/

Take and Make Instrument Craft

HOST: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th-22nd 2023, 9:00am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,  222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: Whether you shake or strum them, instruments all work in unique ways! Using common items and your creativity, you can invent your very own instrument. Will your instrument be loud or quiet? Will it make one noise or many? Spend some time in the Taylor Swift Education Center, or take the kit with you to make at home.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Children, Teens, Families

WEBSITE: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/

NASA Webb Telescope History & Images

HOST: FiftyForward Knowles

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023, 10:30am-11:30am

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: FiftyForward Knowles, 174 Rains Ave, Nashville TN 37203

WHAT: We'll watch the July 2022 livestream as the mission team reveals the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope. This international collaboration led by NASA with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, will unlock mysteries in our solar system, look to distant worlds, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe.
Pre-registration is encouraged - call 615-743-3401

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Senior Citizens

WEBSITE: fiftyforward.org

FALLing For STEAM

HOST: Muse Knoxville

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023, Sprouts @ 2:30pm, Mess Makers @3:00pm
Wednesday, October 18th 2023, Read & Play @ 2:30pm
Thursday, October 19th 2023, Little Astronauts @ 2:30pm
Friday, October 20th 2023, Daily Discoveries @ 2:00-4:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 516 N. Beaman St., Knoxville TN 37914

WHAT: Fall themed weekly programming takeover. Muse will have daily fall themed STEAM activities during our regular scheduled programming.  

COST: Free with museum admission:
General Admission (Ages 1-64): $12.00
Reduced Admission for Senior Citizens, Tennessee Educators (with valid ID), 65+, Military and guests of military personnel (with valid ID): $6.00
Members & Children under the age of 1: FREE

AUDIENCE: Children, Families

WEBSITE: www.themuseknoxville.org

Dendrochronology Tree Ring Drawings

HOST: Children's Museum of Memphis

WHEN: Daily from Tuesday, October 17th - Sunday, October 22, 2023, 9:00am-5:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 2525 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 38104

WHAT: In the Art and Innovation Lab, participants will create colorful, concentric circle drawings as they combine art, math, and science to learn about Dendrochronology, or the study of dating trees by their ring growth. 

COST: The event is included in the cost of general museum admission.

AUDIENCE: Children, Families

WEBSITE: https://cmom.com/

Parthenon Architecture Tour

HOST: The Parthenon

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023, 3:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: The Parthenon, 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

WHAT: Join an Architecture Tour and learn about the original construction of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, including its innovative architectural techniques and features. The tour explores 2,500 years of architectural history as the structure transitioned from Greek temple to Christian church to Ottoman mosque. Participation is included with museum admission.

COST: Museum admission:
$10 Adults
$8 Seniors (62+)
$8 Youth (4-17)
Children Under 4 FREE

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.nashvilleparthenon.com/

Art Cart at the Parthenon

HOST: The Parthenon

WHEN: Friday, October 13th 2023, 1:00pm
Tuesday, October 17th 2023, 1:00pm
Thursday, October 19th 2023, 10:00am
Friday, October 20th 2023, 1:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: The Parthenon, 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

WHAT: Stop by the Art Cart to join a Parthenon museum expert for a daily program about art and history featuring the museum’s unique collection! Participation is included with museum admission.

COST: Museum admission:
$10 Adults
$8 Seniors (62+)
$8 Youth (4-17)
Children Under 4 FREE

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.nashvilleparthenon.com/

Scarecrow Contest

HOST: Lichterman Nature Center

WHEN: Saturday, October 1st - November 30th 2023

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 5992 Quince Road,  Memphis TN 38119

WHAT: Scarecrows are displayed in trailside locations around the special events lawn and lake from October 1-Nov. 30th. Cash prizes are awarded for Best STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), Greenest, Most Creative, Best Critter, and Most Popular.

COST: Included with Nature Center Admission
Adult $12
Senior $10
Youth (ages 3-12) $8
Under 2 free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://moshmemphis.com/event/scarecrow-contest-applications-accepted-today/

UofM Lambuth M. D. Anderson Planetarium Show: MarsQuest

HOST: University of Memphis Lambuth M. D. Anderson Planetarium

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th, 5:30pm and Friday, October 20th 2023, 1:30pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 299 Maple Street, Jackson TN

WHAT: A fascinating look at the compelling mystery of the red planet through the ages. A little bit of science and a little bit of science fiction - narrated by Patrick Stewart.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: https://www.memphis.edu/lambuth/newsevents/index.php

STEAM Week

HOST: Everett Horn Public Library

WHEN: October 16th - October 20th, everyday from 4:00-5:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: Everett Horn Public Library, 702 W Church Street, Lexington, TN 38351

WHAT: Everett Horn Public Library will offer 5 days of activities covering each of the letters in the acronym STEAM including engineering with recycled materials, learning about electricity, and playing with robots.

COST: Free

AUDIENCE: Families

WEBSITE: www.ehlibrary.com

WonderWorks Lobby Learning Series

HOST: WonderWorks

WHEN: October 14th - October 22nd, everyday at 2:00pm

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 100 Music Road, Pigeon Forge TN

WHAT: Stop into our lobby for entertaining science demonstrations! Lobby Learning Labs will last 30 minutes and are FREE to the public, located in the WonderWorks lobby at 2PM daily from Oct 13 - 22, 2023.

Interested parties may purchase tickets to WonderWorks, open daily from 10am to 9pm. Visit www.wonderworkstn.com for more information about WonderWorks Indoor Amusement Park – fun for all ages with over 100 interactive exhibits including a bubble lab, 360 bikes, astronaut training challenge, XD motion-seat theater, ropes course, bed of nails and more!

COST: Lobby Learning Labs are free.
There is a fee to enter the amusement park. Guests can save $3 on tickets for up to 6 people when they mention code TNSTEAM!

AUDIENCE: All ages

WEBSITE: www.wonderworkstn.com

Beyond the Brush

HOST: Discovery Park of America

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17th 2023, 6:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 830 Everett Blvd., Union City, TN 38261

WHAT: Join us for our monthly art class as we paint a barn quilt square! Guests will paint a 12" x 12" wooden barn quilt square. A variety of quilt designs and colors are available. The class is about two hours long and led by an instructor.

COST: $30 for park members, $35 for not-yet-members

Pre-Registration is required and can be accessed at https://discoveryparkofamerica.com/event/beyond-the-brush-october-17-2023/

AUDIENCE: This event is for ages 21 and up and includes light refreshments and wine.

WEBSITE: www.discoveryparkofamerica.com