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Home > News > Cambridge Science Carnival Returns September 21, 2025

Cambridge Science Carnival Returns September 21, 2025

Attendees of the Science Festival meet competition-winning robots.
Photo Taken by Michael Clarke
The MIT Museum and the City of Cambridge are pleased to announce the return of Cambridge Science Carnival, a family-friendly science extravaganza, which will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 12pm - 4pm at the Kendall/MIT Open Space (292 Main St, Cambridge).

The Science Carnival is a beloved yearly highlight of the Cambridge STEAM calendar and features over 125 activity booths and demonstrations, with live music and installations.

“The Cambridge Science Carnival is a tradition built on discovery, joy, and connections,” said Keelin Caldwell, Director of Engagement at the MIT Museum. “We welcome everyone, and especially our neighbors in this vibrant community, to join us for a day of free fun and exploration.”

The Cambridge Science Carnival was founded by the MIT Museum in 2007, and last year drew over 17,000 attendees in four hours. The Museum got over 130 applications for booths this year, which will make this year’s event bigger and better than ever. Booths include hands-on, family-friendly STEAM activities, such as:

  • The Robot Petting Zoo: Make mechanical friends at the ever-popular robotics showcase! Drive underwater robots, play with basketball robots, race miniature robots, build LEGO robots, meet competition-winning robots and more!

  • City of Cambridge Recycling Department: Trash or Treasure? Sort Your Waste! Find out what's trash and what can be given a second life through recycling and composting.

  • NSF Center for Molecularly Optimized Networks: Get set for the soccer World Cup by discovering the surprising science behind the world's most popular sport!

  • Tumble Science Podcast - LIVE recording: Join Lindsay and Marshall as they share the amazing things scientists have learned from listening to space!

  • MIT Physics Department: Experience interactive demos inspired by MIT Physics courses. Learn the underlying principles and marvel at breath-taking spectacles of Physics-in-action!


“Cambridge is one of the world’s leading science cities, with more Nobel laureates per capita than any other city on the planet. The Cambridge Science Carnival is a beloved day in the Cambridge calendar which brings science out of the labs and onto the streets,” said Michael John Gorman, Director of the MIT Museum.

The MIT Museum is free to Cambridge residents year-round, and free to all during Carnival. Cambridge residents who enjoy their time at the Museum are encouraged to sign up for a free membership at the museum’s welcome desk or online. Free admission to the museum is extended year round to active military, EBT cardholders, members of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and MIT ID holders.

This is the 17th year of the Cambridge Science Festival, and the City of Cambridge has partnered with the MIT Museum throughout the Festival’s history. While the Festival as a whole is undergoing a strategic transition and will relaunch in 2026, the Cambridge Science Carnival is returning this year with a new brand.

“The Cambridge Science Carnival is a bright spot every year,” said Yi-An Huang, Cambridge City Manager. “Science, innovation, and discovery are part of every person’s lives and this is a day to celebrate that, right in our backyards at MIT Museum. I strongly encourage any community members who may have interest or curiosity in STEAM to get involved this year.”

The Kendall/MIT Open Space is directly adjacent to the Kendall/MIT T stop and the MIT Museum. MIT is pleased to provide complimentary shuttle service within Cambridge to and from the Science Carnival! For a map of the route and estimated timing, please visit CambridgeScienceCarnival.org.

The Kendall/MIT Open Space can also be reached by public transportation: the MBTA Red Line to the Kendall/MIT station; #64, #68, and #85 bus lines stop near the Open Space; the #1 bus stops on Massachusetts Avenue, about a 15-minute walk. For easy, close parking, the Hayward Garage has an entrance located at 55 Wadsworth Street and a $15 day rate on the weekend.
Page was posted on 9/3/2025 12:06 PM
Page was last modified on 9/3/2025 12:32 PM
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