Other dates include:

September 18, 2026 — Stars, Stripes & STEAM: America 250

Join us for a night of fun, friends, and learning as we celebrate 250 years of American innovation! At this special Kids’ Night Out, students will become makers as they explore hands-on STEAM activities inspired by American history and invention. From designing and building projects to tackling engineering challenges, kids will bring their ideas to life using exciting tools like 3D printers, creating their own mini inventions while connecting to a legacy of creativity and problem-solving.

October 16, 2026 — Haunted Hackers

Something spooky is happening at the Public Media Center. Join us for Haunted Hackers Night, where explorers will crack secret codes, learn how to stay safe online, and design their own Halloween-themed circuits. Part escape room, part coding lab—this is one frightfully fun STEM adventure you won’t want to miss!

November 20, 2026 — Aviation Night: Soar Into STEAM

Celebrate flight, innovation, and real-world aviation heroes this November with an exciting Kids’ Night Out all about taking to the skies! Explorers will step into the role of engineers and pilots as they explore the science of aviation through hands-on STEAM challenges. From paper planes to prototype designs, they’ll discover how real aircraft are built and how pilots and engineers work together to make flight possible.

December 18, 2026 — Gingerbread Engineering

Get ready for a sweet night of building, testing, and creativity at our Gingerbread Engineering Kids’ Night Out! Explorers will become engineers as they design, build, and test their own “gingerbread” structures. Using creativity and problem-solving skills, they’ll take on fun challenges focused on strength, stability, and design, while making their creations look festive and unique. 

Will your structure survive the test? Join us for a high-energy night of festive fun, friendly competition, and hands-on engineering!

January 15, 2027 — Winter Wonders

Step into a winter wonderland of science and discovery, inspired by the exciting world of weather exploration and the spirit of PBS KIDS’® Weather Hunters. Explorers will take on hands-on challenges in weather science, engineering, and survival in extreme winter conditions as they investigate how storms form, how temperature shapes our world, and how scientists track and predict changing weather. Get ready for a night of frosty fun, big ideas, and winter-inspired innovation where curiosity leads the way!

February 19, 2027 — Build It Better

Let’s get ready to kick off National Engineering Week with an action-packed Kids’ Night Out focused on creativity, problem-solving, and innovation! Explorers will step into the role of engineers as they take on hands-on challenges using the engineering design process. From building bridges and towers to tackling “fix the problem” invention stations, kids will design, test, and improve their ideas just like real engineers.

March 19, 2027 — Make Some Noise

March is Music in Our Schools Month, and we’re turning up the volume with an action-packed Kids’ Night Out featuring sound, energy, and creativity!

Explorers will dive into the science of sound through hands-on STEAM challenges, building and testing like real sound engineers. From vibrating materials to homemade instruments, Explorers will discover how sound is created and how it travels, all while making and creating their own music.

Get ready to explore, experiment, and MAKE SOME NOISE!

May 21, 2027 — Wild Creature Power

Inspired by PBS KIDS’® Wild Kratts, this action-packed Kids’ Night Out transforms students into “creature scientists” on a mission to explore the wild world of animal adaptations and habitats!

Explorers will dive into hands-on STEAM challenges to uncover how animals survive, adapt, and thrive in every kind of environment. From clever camouflage to powerful survival strategies, kids will investigate, design, and think like real wildlife experts.

An unforgettable night of discovery, imagination, and creature-powered exploration awaits!

June 11, 2027 — Mission to STEAM Night

Let’s blast into summer break with an out-of-this-world Kids’ Night Out celebrating space! Explorers will launch into action with hands-on STEAM challenges inspired by real missions beyond Earth. From designing and building rockets or lunar landers to tackling exciting space-based problem-solving missions, Explorers will think like astronauts, engineers, and mission specialists.

Explorers: This is your Summer Mission, full STEAM ahead!