The Colorado Springs Cool Science Festival
Celebrate all things STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) with 16 days of activities and events at this engaging, family-friendly festival.
What is Cool Science Festival?
Each year, discover 16+ days of exciting, educational and engaging special events designed to showcase STEAM — where it's taking place in Colorado Springs and around the Pikes Peak Region. Dive into a world of fun with hands-on science activities, and explore something new, no matter what sparks your curiosity!
2026 Festival Events Schedule
There are tons of awesome science-focused events taking place all around the Pikes Peak Region during the Cool Science Festival. We've listed our top 10 that you won't want to miss. For a full list of all the events, head to the Colorado Springs Cool Science Festival website.
Saturday, October 3: Cool Science Carnival Day for Kids
When: 10am - 4pm
Where: UCCS
Cost: Free, pre-registration recommended
The biggest event of the year! It's STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) featuring dozens of exciting and educational science shows, demonstrations, lab tours and hands-on activities for kids. Primarily K-8th grades, but fun for the whole family!
Saturday, October 3: Florissant Fossil Beds Dark Sky Program
When: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Where: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Cost: The event is free, but takes place inside a National Park, so park entry fees apply ($10 per person, age 16 and older).
Stargazing at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument! CSASTRO members will set up their telescopes in the overflow parking lot at the Visitor Center for a night of stargazing. Weather permitting, there will also be a guided laser pointer tour of the night sky once it is dark enough to see the constellations and Milky Way. More information
Tuesday, October 6: Family Friendly Bats & Cave Tour
When: 10am - 4:30pm
Where: Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
Cost: $16 per person - pre-registration required
Explore the electrically lit portion of Cave of the Winds on a guided walking tour which includes 15 rooms, a 1/2 mile of concrete walkways, and 196 stairs. On this family-friendly tour, you will learn about the history and geology of the cave and see some of the most beautiful formations. This is a special tour geared toward kindergarten through 5th grade but anyone can join! Cave tour lasts about 1.5 - 2 hours.
Thursday, October 8: Space Science Shows at the U.S. Air Force Academy Planetarium
When: 12pm - 5pm
Where: US Air Force Academy Planetarium
Cost: Free
Enjoy any or all of various special live & film planetarium shows highlighting the cool nature of space science in the USAFA planetarium! The full schedule for the day:
12:00pm - Noon Apollo 11: First Steps
12:30pm - Forward! To the Moon
1:00pm - Astronaut
1:30pm - Journey through the Universe
2:00pm - Black Holes
2:30pm - Dark Universe
3:00pm - Live Night Sky Tour
3:30pm - Worlds Beyond Earth
4:00pm - In Saturn's Rings
IMPORTANT NOTE: All visitors without a DoW ID card must request a base pass prior to entering the Academy by using the dated links at the top of the Planetarium web page.
More Information
Friday, October 9: 2's & 3's Outdoors: Crawling, Flying, Swimming
When: 9am - 10:15am or 2pm - 3:15pm
Where: Fountain Creek Nature Center
Cost: $3 per person, including adults and accompanying siblings. Prepaid registration required.
2s & 3s Outdoors is designed for two and three year-olds. We will explore nature together through interactive activities, a story and an easy hike. Prepaid registration required. $3 per person, including adults and accompanying siblings.
Saturday, October 10: Fossil Day at Garden of the Gods
When: 10am - 2pm
Where: Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
Cost: FREE
Join us to celebrate National Fossil Day at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center. The folks at the Garden of the Gods Park are partnering with several other local organizations to bring you this FREE family event. There will be fossils, dinosaurs and natural history-themed activities for all ages, plus lots of giveaways.
More information
Sunday, October 11: Cool Science Expedition Caving Day
When: 10am - 5pm
Where: Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
Cost: $59 per person no matter of age, pre-registration required
Explore the wild, undeveloped depths of Cave of the Winds on this 2-1/2 to 3-hour guided tour that involves an assortment of crawling and climbing through wet and muddy passages of various sizes. On this tour, you will travel for nearly a mile while learning about basic caving skills, geology, zoology, cave history, as well as some myths and legends. Please expect there to be open exposure, sheer drop offs, tight spaces, ropes and ladders, and muddy floors. Also note:
- Children under the age of 13 are not permitted. This tour is also not recommended for guests who are or may be pregnant, or have heart or respiratory problems.
- Must bring gloves, a change of clothes, and extra pair of shoes.
- Knee pads are optional but not required.
- Please expect to get muddy, so wear clothing you won't mind getting dirty and possibly ruined. Long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and sturdy closed-toed shoes are required.
- Helmets and headlamps will be provided.
- All guests must be at least 13 to participate. All guests age 13-17 must be accompanied by a paying, participating adult.
- All Participants must fill out a Caving Waiver to participate. Anyone under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver for them.
Friday, October 16: Boo! at Bear Creek
When: 6pm - 8pm
Where: Bear Creek Nature Center
Cost: $10 per person/ $8 per member. Prepaid registration required.
Travel the trails of Bear Creek Nature Center, meeting some creatures along the way that will unravel and dispel myths about some of nature’s “creepy creatures.” Take-home craft and “treat” included. Costumes encouraged! Program lasts ~ 2 hours.
Preregister for specific times: Sessions at 6:15 ~ 6:30 ~ 6:45 ~ 7:00 ~ 7:15 ~ 7:30.
Saturday, October 17: Brains On! LIVE: Your Brain is Magic!
When: 2pm - 3pm or 5pm - 6pm
Where: Ent Center for the Arts
Cost: $37.50 - $57.50 per person
Brains On, the wildly popular podcast for kids, is hitting the road with a hilarious science-themed show that takes the audience on an adventure through our brains.
Hosts Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez and Sanden Totten will be there with magic tricks, dance moves, out-of-body experiences, mystery sounds and even a game show! All the while, kids (and their grown-ups) learn how our brains take a handful of signals from the eyes and ears and turn them into a vibrant picture of the world.
Saturday, October 17: International Observe the Moon Night Star Party
When: 7pm - 9pm
Where: Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Cost: The event is free, but takes place inside a state park, so state park entry fees apply ($10 per vehicle, or free entry with a State Park Pass). No registration required.
Join Colorado Springs Astronomical Society (CSASTRO) Member Volunteers for an evening under the stars. It is International Observe the Moon Night so we’ll be looking at the 1st Quarter (half Full) Moon, Venus, Saturn and other celestial sights. Our volunteer astronomers will be bringing out their equipment to share views of these celestial wonders through their telescopes. Our events are free and open to the public, but state park fees do apply. Meet at the Limekiln Trailhead on the East end of the parking lot.
