STEAM Learning Center

HOST: Lucius E. and Elsie C. Burch, Jr. Library

WHEN: Friday, October 11th - Saturday, October 27th, 10:00am-6:00pm
The STEAM Learning Center will be available throughout the TN STEAM Festival during the Library's open hours. All activities are while supplies last.

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 501 Poplar View Parkway Collierville, TN 38017

WHAT: Explore the STEAM Learning Center during the Tennessee STEAM Festival, October 11-27! Located in the Children's Area, enjoy themed books, activities, and hands-on learning in science, engineering, art, and math. Topics rotate every few days, so there's always something new to discover!

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth, Teens

COST: Free

WEBSITE: www.colliervilletn.gov/library

Season for Young People Virtual Field Trips

HOST: Tennessee Performing Arts Center

WHEN: Throughout the Festival - see the website for exact performance dates and times

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Virtual

WHAT: TPAC offers Virtual Performances during the school year for those who cannot travel to our building. Virtual performances are free and available for a range of dates, usually 2-3 weeks, and are accessible with an online link. Reserving these performances allows you to use the performance link at any time during the provided date range. Please note that virtual performances are contracted for the specific provided date range, and these dates cannot be extended or changed.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth/Teens
Public Schools, Private Schools, and Homeschool Groups

COST: FREE!

WEBSITE: https://www.tpac.org/education-community/season-for-young-people/

Trees are Terrific!

HOST: Middle Tennessee State University Center for Environmental Education

WHEN: Friday, October 11th - Sunday, October 27th, 8:30am-7:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Middle Tennessee State University; 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

WHAT: This is a self-guided tour available anytime, but weekends are preferred due to parking restrictions. Parking is free on the weekend but during the week you need to pay for a visitor pass. Go to: https://w1.mtsu.edu/parking/visit.php

Did you know that trees are the largest organisms most of us will encounter in our lifetime? Come visit the MTSU campus in early fall to view representative native Tennessee trees, with one exception, the Ginkgo. Be advised, several of the trees have been removed due to construction or storm damage but there are still beautiful specimens to view. It is suggested you begin with the grand Tulip Poplar near the President's home, adjacent to the driveway on the campus (not from Middle Tennessee Blvd.).

An update is in process, but for a general idea of where trees are located, you can also download the Native Tree map at: https://w1.mtsu.edu/facserv/arboretum/. Tree tags also have a QR code that will provide you with a walking map to specific trees that are part of the Arboretum.

In collaboration with Vanderbilt University, a virtual tour of the campus can be experienced via: http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/mtsu/35

AUDIENCE: Youth/Teens, Adults, Families, Senior Citizens

COST: Free

WEBSITE: https://w1.mtsu.edu/facserv/arboretum/

Art Cart

HOST: The Parthenon

WHEN: Daily from Friday, October 11th - Sunday, October 27th, 1:00-1:30pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: Centennial Park, 2500 West End Ave. Nashville, TN 37203

WHAT: Museum experts offer daily programs open to visitors of all ages. On weekdays during regular museum hours, one of our rotating daily programs will take place from 1:00-1:30 PM. Participation is included with museum admission. Art Cart Programs include Ancient Olympics (new!), AIA-Nashville Society Polychromy at the Parthenon, Cowan Challenge, Which Greek God is it Anyway?, and Ask an Expert.

AUDIENCE: Families

COST: Free for Centennial Park members or free with the price of museum admission for non-members

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

Atomic Glow Putty Discovery Lab Program

HOST: Hands On! Discovery Center

WHEN: Friday, October 11th - Sunday, October 27th, 10:00am-5:00pm
This runs daily with programs announced periodically each day.

REGION: East Tennessee

WHERE: 1212 Suncrest Drive, Gray, TN 37615

WHAT: We are stirring up something gloppy, goopy, and spooky in the lab for Halloween. Learn about the perplexing properties of polymers and make your own atomic glowing silly putty to take home. Discovery Lab programs announced periodically throughout each day. FREE with general paid admission.

AUDIENCE: All ages and abilities

COST: FREE with paid general admission

WEBSITE: visithandson.org

Take and Make: Design and Create an Instrument

HOST: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

WHEN: Friday, October 11th - Sunday, October 27th, 9:00am-5:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S. Nashville, TN 37203

WHAT: Imagine an instrument you would like to play. Does it have strings? Is it a percussion instrument? Join us in using commonly found objects to create new and amazing instruments of our own creation. Come dream big with us! Recommended for ages 5 and up, but all are welcome.
We will run this program every day of the STEAM Festival. The kits will be available in the Taylor Swift Education Center.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth, Teens, Families of all abilities

COST: Included with museum admission

WEBSITE: www.countrymusichalloffame.org

Little Shop of Horrors

HOST: Studio Tenn Theatre Company

WHEN: October 11th - 27th, 7:00-9:00pm

REGION: Middle Tennessee

WHERE: 230 Franklin Road Franklin TN 37064

WHAT: Studio Tenn’s 15th Season opens with this affectionate spoof on the 1960’s sci-fi movie about a twisted tale of botanical bloodlust. On the downtrodden streets of Skid Row, Seymour, a struggling floral assistant, becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a craving for fresh blood and world domination.
There is no formal pre-registration required but since Little Shop of Horrors is a ticketed event, we do require tickets to be purchased prior to show times.

AUDIENCE: Adults

COST: Superior price: $95, Premium price: $74, Classic price: $58

WEBSITE: www.studiotenn.org

STEAM Week

HOST: Lexington-Henderson County Everett Horn Public Library

WHEN: Daily from Monday, October 21st - Friday, October 25th, 4:30-5:30pm

REGION: West Tenneessee

WHERE: 702 W Church Street, Lexington, TN 38351

WHAT: Join us every day the week of October 21-25 at 4:30pm for a week of fun STEAM activities including Pumpkin Catapults, Fall Leaf Tesselations, Jack-O-Lantern Lava Lamps, and more.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth, Teens, Adults, Families

COST: Free

WEBSITE: www.ehlibrary.com

STREAM Into the Library

HOST: Hardin County Library

WHEN: Monday, October 21, 3:30-4:30pm
Tuesday, October 22 , 3:30pm
Thursday, October 24, 3:30pm
Saturday, October 26, 1:00pm

REGION: West Tennessee

WHERE: 1365 Pickwick Street, Savannah, TN 38372

WHAT: A week of STEAM activity that includes STEAM careers, STEAM crafts, a science show, and incorporating reading into STEAM activities.

AUDIENCE: Children, Youth, Teens, Adults, Families

COST: Free

WEBSITE: www.hardincountylibrary.org