KIDfest, a free event from KID Museum, will be held Sunday, Sept. 23 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Silver Spring Civic Building.
The festival features hands-on activities and demonstrations of robotics, engineering, biotechnology and other subjects that give attendees a look at the future.
The event also includes two stages with live music, talks by local inventors, and other activities and demonstrations including:
- Pet PARO, an advanced therapeutic robot, which looks like a baby seal and can respond to voices or touch
- A portable, inflatable planetarium to investigate the night sky and constellations.
- Alexander Kao-Sowa, a teenage blacksmith, will teach attendees how to set up blacksmith operations in the backyard and demonstrate ornamental iron making.
- An exhibit from the Charles Koiner Center for Urban Farming Education where participants can learn how to use wildflowers from the farm to create water paints.
- Music Discovery Lab will provide instruction on playing handcrafted musical instruments.
- An opportunity to build electronic circuits, modify codes, and observe a robot’s response at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math After School Academy’s booth, and
- A chance to drive a robot at the Blair Robot Project exhibit.
KID Museum is a Bethesda-based learning space that provides hands-on learning incorporating STEM, art, and culture with 21st century skills like creativity and critical thinking.
Kid-made robotics at KIDfest, photo by Edwin Remsberg Photography.