The Philadelphia Science Festival is a 10-day, community-wide celebration of science that takes place annually in the spring. It features a science carnival, as well as lectures, debates, hands-on activities, special exhibitions, and a variety of other informal science education experiences for Philadelphians of all ages.

The Academy is a Core Collaborator and Partner Advisory Council Member of the Philadelphia Science Festival. We will be participating in the following activities:

Fishtown Science Crawl
Sunday, April 22
2–5 p.m.
Tickets: FREE, $5 wristband for food/drink
Frankford Ave

Take “Sunday Funday” to a whole new level during the Fishtown Science Crawl. With drink specials, explosive science demonstrations and awe-inspiring activities, we will make this the nerdiest bar crawl you’ll ever experience. This year’s theme is Does Geology Really Rock? If you had a rock tumbler in the ‘90s, you took an interest in geology before geode cakes and bolo ties were cool. Come see and touch real geological specimens, match minerals with their use in our daily lives and discover that geology really rocks!

Science on Tap Untapped: Schooled By Science
Monday, April 23
6–8 p.m.
Tickets: Free
National Mechanics Bar, 22 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia

Join us for a special PSF Science on Tap with partners from the Academy of Natural Sciences, Science History Institute, American Philosophical Society, Wagner Institute of Science, the Mütter Museum and National Mechanics. The pursuit of higher education in science is more than just lab work and dissertations. Join us for a special PSF Science on Tap that will explore the many ways science has really taught us a lesson.

Six speakers, including Ogan Kumova, a grad student from Drexel University, will share hilarious and true stories of what they learned during the course of their study. Between these flash-talks, you can decide who makes the grade and toast to a universal truth: sometimes you test the hypothesis, sometimes the hypothesis tests you.

Neighborhood Science After School: Dino Games
Tuesday, April 24
3:30–5:30 p.m.
Lawncrest Library

What better way to celebrate science than in your own backyard? Join the Philadelphia Science Festival and Academy educator Mike Kaczmarczik at your neighborhood library after school for a celebration of science exploration! Scientists, engineers and other experts will share their knowledge to provide fun and free programs, including interactive activities, family friendly experiments and hands-on demonstrations for all to enjoy.

Community Night at the Franklin Institute: Are You A Bug Enthusiast?
Tuesday, April 24
5–8 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute welcomes guests for a free evening of educational experiences that include the museum’s famous permanent exhibits, special programs and shows and hands-on activities from Philadelphia Science Festival partner organizations, including the Academy. Take a closer look at live invertebrates and talk with fellow bug enthusiasts! Touch real specimens and learn what you can do in your own backyard to make your world more bug-friendly.

Science Carnival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Saturday, April 28
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Ben Franklin Parkway

Join us for an all-day event that features more than 100 exhibitors offering nonstop, family friendly experiments, games and a packed line-up of live entertainment. Staff from the Academy are joining 100 other exhibitors for this free carnival, which includes family-friendly experiments, activities, games and a packed lineup of live entertainment. Meet up with us to find out:

Did Old McT. Rex Have a Farm?
You are a dinosaur farmer, and your animals need you! Come build a tabletop dinosaur farm and care for your animals like a real farmer! We will play dress up, touch real dinosaur fossils, and read along with the Academy’s own Marty the Moose.

Can You Hack It?
Design and play games based on STEM concepts! Try out games designed by real kids, hack an existing game to make it your own, and design a game based on found materials.