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!
2024 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 13 that you won't want to miss. For a full list of all the events, head to the Colorado Springs Cool Science Festival webpage.
Saturday, September 28: Cool Science Carnival Day for Kids
When: 10am - 4pm
Where: UCCS
Cost: Free
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! Check the Carnival Day web page for much more information.
Sunday, September 29: Cool Bugs at the May Museum
When: 9am - 6pm
Where: May Natural History Museum
Cost: Mention Cool Science Festival and get a discount on admission to the museum between 9am - 6pm.
Discount: $9 adults, $5 children, $8 seniors
Join us here at the May Museum for Cool Science Bug Day. Our collection is home to over 7,000 species of insects, arachnids and other arthropods, one of the world's largest private collections of tropical insects. You'll see beautiful moths, bizarre beetle, amazing butterflies and much more. Bring the whole family for a fun adventure.
Monday, September 30th: Space Science Shows at the US Air Force Academy Planetarium
When: 12pm - 6pm
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:
12:00 Black Holes
12:30 Live Night Sky Tour
1:00 Flight Adventures
1:30 Two Small Pieces of Glass
2:00 Oasis in Space
3:00 Live Solar System Tour
4:00 Black Holes
5:00 Live Night Sky & Universe Tour
*You will need your driver’s license or military ID and proof of vehicle insurance to enter the base. Military ID is NOT required to enter the Academy. Please be prepared for potential security measures such as vehicle inspections.
Thursday, October 3: Family Friendly Bats & Cave Tour
When: 10 am - 4 pm
Where: Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
Cost: $12 - 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!
Thursday, October 3: An Electrifying Bristol Beer Science Tour and Tasting!
When: 6pm - 7pm
Where: Bristol Brewing Company
Cost: $2 - pre-registration required
Enjoy Bristol's signature brewery tour with an electrifying cool science twist! After learning the science behind the brew process on a 30 minute tour, you will enjoy a free 5oz tasting of Bristol's beers. Highlights will include how different hop varieties contribute different character to our beers and our unique semiautomatic brewing system. Then cap off the event with a hair-raising demonstration of Bristol's giant Tesla Coil by Landon Descamps, and even learn a bit about the enigmatic inventor, Nikola Tesla, and the experiments he conducted in Colorado Springs from local historian and Tesla expert Patric Ryan.
Must be 21+ for the tasting portion of the event.
Friday, October 4: Nature's Adventures - Squeak in the Night
When: 9am - 10:30am, 2pm - 3:30pm
Where: Fountain Creek Nature Center
Cost: $3 per person - prepaid registration required
Children ages 3-6, with an adult, will enjoy puppet shows or stories, crafts, hands-on activities and discovery time on the trail.
More information >
Friday, October 4: Kids' Night Out: Bat-tastic
When: 5pm - 9pm
Where: Bear Creek Nature Center
Cost: $25 per child
Caregivers, drop off your child (ages 7-12) for an evening of going batty for bats through activities, games and a night hike. Dinner is included. Prepaid registration required.
Saturday, October 5: Garden of the Gods Star Party
When: 7pm - 9pm
Where: Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center
Cost: Free for all ages, no registration required
Join Colorado Springs Astronomical Society at Garden of the Gods Visitor Center to enjoy views of the night skies through a telescope. They will be bringing out telescopes for free public viewing of planets, stars and nebula. Listen to a presentation about the night sky above us and hear some of the stories that cultures have told about the stars for thousands of years. As views of the stars are dependent upon weather conditions, please watch our Facebook postings for updates, changes or cancellations due to weather.
*Note that the lights will be turned off in the parking lot to encourage the ability to see stars.
Saturday, October 5: Science Riot - real scientists being real funny
When: 7pm - 9pm
Where: Space Foundation Headquarters and Discovery Center
Cost: $25 per person, adults only
Science Riot is a nonprofit that is pushing a new format for science communication - stand up comedy. Scientists and engineers receive a month of training, then feel the heat on stage. It's like a TED talk, but funny. Come laugh with a crew of veteran performers. Doors open at 6:30 PM for visitors to visit the Discovery Center; show starts at 7:15 PM. The Discovery Center (space museum) is open to those who have purchased a ticket for the event.
Wednesday, October 9: Pikes Peak Summit House Tour - Behind the Scenes
When: 1 pm - 2 pm
Where: Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center
Cost: $15 (adult) $5 (child) to enter the Pikes Peak highway. The event itself is free
Get a special behind-the-scenes tour of the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center! Learn about the ways this building situated at the top of 14,115 mountain was built to last and be sustainable.
*Be sure to allow approximately 60 minutes to drive the 19 miles from the toll gate to the summit so that you arrive in time for the tour. Parking is available at the summit.
Thursday, October 10: Astronomy Night Hikes
When: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Where: Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Cost: The event is free, but state park entry fees apply ($10 per vehicle or free with a State Park Pass)
Come join us for an adventurous astronomy night hike! We will be exploring the Cheyenne Mountain State Park trails, where we will use our five senses to help us navigate at night. We will learn fun facts about how our eyes adjust to darkness, how nocturnal animals survive, night sky sights and observe a 1st Quarter/Half Full Moon. We are offering two hike options: A 3-mile hike and a 1-mile easy hike. The 3-mile hike starts at 6:30 PM and the 1-mile hike starts at 7:30 PM. Both hikes conclude around 9 PM in the Limekiln Trailhead Parking Lot for 30 minutes of viewing celestial sights through telescopes.
*Advanced registration is required, as there are limited spots for each hiking group.
Saturday, October 12: National Fossil Day Celebration
When: 10am - 2pm
Where: Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
Cost: FREE
The folks at the Garden of the Gods Park and the Western Interior Paleontological Society (WIPS) are partnering with several other local organizations to bring you the 10th annual National Fossil Day Celebration. There will be several fossil, dinosaur and natural history-themed activities for all ages with lots of giveaways. Live animals, informative lectures, educational tables, free fossils and much more. Bring in your own fossil to get identified! No registration necessary.
Sunday, October 13: Cool Science Day at the Museum
When: 10am - 3pm
Where: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Cost: Mention Cool Science at the front desk to receive a discount on self-guided tour admission
Discount: $19.95 for adults, $11.95 for youth (ages 5 - 12)
Join us for Cool Science Day at U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, a special discounted day for all Cool Science fans! On a self-guided tour, discover the fascinating intersection of science and sport, and how it plays a critical role in the success of Team USA athletes and competitions. Explore The Lab Gallery, where you can dive into the world of cutting-edge science and technology used to enhance athletic performance. From biomechanics to sports psychology and advanced training techniques, you'll see firsthand how science drives the pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic excellence.
