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STEAM Carnival

The image displays the text %22STEAM CARNIVAL%22 in large white letters against a dark blue background, with the dates %22MARCH 2-4, 2026%22 shown below.

Get ready for an exhilarating blend of learning and excitement on March 2-4, 2026!

The STEAM Carnival is a hands-on, immersive learning experience intended to spark curiosity and creativity through science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Over the course of the three-hour field trip experience, students rotate through interactive zones filled with opportunities to build, explore, problem-solve, and discover.

Now in its ninth year, the carnival brings thousands of students together for an engaging day that blends learning with play transforming ESC Region 11 into a dynamic learning environment unlike any traditional classroom experience.

Grab your tickets...

Ticket stub with Admit One and a generic ticket number

Tickets are required for student participation and include access to all zones during the scheduled three-hour carnival experience.

Ticketing details, including pricing and availability, are managed through our online ticket system.

Space is limited, and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Last year, slots filled up very quickly, so don't drag your feet!

      GEt Tickets      
     (sale begins January 15 @ 1:15 p.m.)     

How it all works...

The STEAM carnival is a three-hour, structured field trip experience designed for student groups. Upon arrival, participants rotate through four interactive zones on a scheduled timeline, allowing students to experience a wide variety of hands-on STEAM activities.

Each zone is scheduled for a 45-minute rotation, beginning with the Midway. This structure allows schools arriving at different times to participate fully while still maximizing time in the Student Showcase and exploration areas. Schools may remain in the final zone as long as their schedule allows before departing.

The Student Showcase (Zone 1)

The image shows three students standing in front of a poster board displaying information about biofuels investigation. The students appear to be presenting or discussing the project.

The student showcase is the first stop of the STEAM Carnival experience and features projects created and presented by students. These hands-on exhibits are developed by participating schools and allow students to share their learning with peers in an open, exploratory environment.

Rather than moving through structured stations, students are encouraged to explore freely engaging with projects that capture their interest.

Teachers can register student projects for the showcase by completing the Student Showcase form, and exhibits are encouraged to include interactive or hands-on components whenever possible.

Pre-STEAM Challenge

Classrooms attending the STEAM Carnival are invited to kick off the excitement early by participating in the Pre-STEAM Challenge, which takes place approximately one month before the event.

Students create an original project inspired by an assigned book using provided (and optional) materials. The challenge emphasizes engineering, creativity, art, and problem-solving, encouraging students to think critically and explore new ideas before arriving at the carnival. Judges look for quality, curiosity, and originality in each submission.

Participation details and registration for the "Most Magnificent Thing" STEAM Challenge are available through the student ticket link, which opens to the general public on January 15 at 1:15 p.m.

REGISTER for Challenge

The Midway (Zone 2)

Students gathered around a computer station where one person is playing a video game

The Midway offers a vibrant, indoor space filled with interactive exhibits and partner-led activities. Students can explore a wide range of experiences, including:

  • eSports competitions
  • Sphero race courses
  • Sub soccer
  • Arcade-style games
  • Button walls and interactive play zones
  • Augmented Reality sand tables
  • Wind tunnels and motion-based experiences

This zone allows students to engage with technology-driven learning at their own pace while discovering new tools and applications across STEAM disciplines.

The Warehouse (Zone 3)

A person in a black sweater is working on an electronic device with various cables

The Warehouse is a large, open space designed for big ideas and hands-on engineering challenges. This zone encourages experimentation and physical engagement through activities such as:

  • Rocket building and launches
  • Slacklines and balance challenges
  • Recycling and engineering design challenges
  • Arduino-based games
  • Flight and Lockheed Martin simulators
  • Large-scale building and problem-solving activities

With concrete floors and plenty of room to explore, the Warehouse supports creative learning experiences that involve motion, design, and teamwork.

The Final Act (Zone 4)

A group of people standing in front of a large military helicopter parked outside ESC Region 11

The Final Act is the final stop of the STEAM Carnival and takes place outdoors, just outside the ESC Region 11 facility. This high-energy zone features large-scale, real-world experiences that leave a lasting impression, including:

  • Helicopter displays
  • Museum-led interactive exhibits
  • Health science and first aid experiences
  • STEM vans and mobile learning labs
  • Robotics demonstrations, including robot dogs

Students may remain in this zone as long as their schedule allows before returning to campus, making it a memorable conclusion to the carnival experience.

 

See the fun we had last year...

The image shows a group of students, sitting in a classroom or educational setting, with a projection screen displaying information about a %22Cricket Frog%22 in the background.
A group of students are gathered around tables, engaged in various activities and discussions, with a lively and collaborative atmosphere in the background.
A group of young boys in casual clothing are gathered around a woman wearing a cowboy hat and vest, who appears to be engaging them in an animated discussion or presentation in what looks like an indoor setting.
A group of people, mostly children, are working together to build a large structure using colorful plastic rods in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting.
Two individuals in blue uniforms are performing CPR on a person lying on the ground, with medical equipment visible in the foreground.
A group of young people, likely students, are gathered around a table, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity or discussion, with various materials and supplies visible on the table.
The image shows several people, likely students or volunteers, working together to perform CPR on a training mannequin. The background appears to be a classroom or educational setting, with various supplies and equipment visible.
The image shows a group of children, some wearing orange shirts, gathered around a large maze-like structure made of white blocks, with an adult's hand visible in the foreground, likely interacting with the structure.
The image shows a group of people standing in what appears to be an office or workspace, with a whiteboard or display board visible in the background.
A group of people standing in front of a large projection screen displaying a carnival-themed image.
The image shows a person's legs and feet standing on a map or landscape projection displayed on the floor, with a dark background surrounding the illuminated area.
A group of people, some wearing hoodies and jackets, are gathered around a display with the %22Class VR%22 logo, suggesting they are participating in a virtual reality experience.
A group of young people, likely students, are engaged in a hands-on activity involving wooden building blocks or toys, with various items and materials visible in the background.
A group of young people, likely students, standing behind a table displaying various handwritten signs and posters, in what appears to be a school or community setting.
A large, menacing-looking dinosaur model stands in the foreground, towering over a row of yellow school buses parked in the background.
A group of people, mostly young adults, are gathered around a large wooden game board, likely playing a game of Connect Four or a similar game.
A person is playing a video game on an arcade machine with a bright yellow cabinet and colorful graphics displayed on the screen.
A group of people, likely students, are gathered around blue balance discs on the floor, engaged in what appears to be a group activity or exercise in an indoor setting with a plain wall and exit signs visible in the background.
A person is holding a mobile device and appears to be interacting with a green screen setup in an office or studio environment.
Two children are playing with a tall tower of wooden blocks in a room with colorful artwork on the walls.
A person in a purple shirt is interacting with a large electronic display with various colored buttons and lights.
Three individuals, two females and one male, are standing on a platform in front of a vibrant green background, appearing to be engaged in some form of activity or performance.
A large, open-mouthed shark looms over a group of people standing in the water, creating a dramatic and suspenseful scene.
A colorful and lively indoor space with people of various ages and attire, including some wearing costumes, gathered around and interacting with the vibrant decor and displays.
A young boy in a red shirt is intently focused on a tablet device, surrounded by various electronic components and equipment in what appears to be a technology-focused learning environment.
A crowded room filled with people, some standing in line and others gathered around tables, engaged in various activities.
A group of students in green uniforms are gathered in a classroom, surrounded by various educational materials and equipment.
The image shows an older man wearing a baseball cap and a dark jacket, standing in front of a poster depicting a dinosaur skeleton and a map.
A group of children interacting with a large animatronic dinosaur exhibit, with some children crouching or lying on the floor while others stand nearby.
The image shows a group of children playing with colorful building blocks and toys in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting.
The image shows a group of people, primarily children, gathered around a table displaying various dinosaur-related items, with an older man interacting with them.
The image shows several young students in purple shirts gathered around a table, engaged in what appears to be a hands-on learning activity or experiment, with an adult instructor assisting them.
A large group of people, mostly children, are gathered outdoors on benches and steps, engaged in various activities and interactions.
The image shows a group of people, likely students, gathered around a table displaying various electronic and technological devices, with some individuals using laptops and engaging in what appears to be a technology-related event or exhibition.
A group of people, including a man in a suit and two children wearing purple shirts, are gathered around a robotic dog-like device on the floor of what appears to be a school or educational setting.
A group of young people, some standing and some seated at desks, appear to be engaged in a technology-focused activity or event, with laptops and other equipment visible in the foreground.
A person in a colorful, patterned costume embraces a large, whimsical sculpture in what appears to be an indoor public space with other people visible in the background.
The image depicts a room with several interactive displays and screens, with people interacting with the technology in the foreground.
A group of people, mostly young, are gathered in front of a large display featuring the Lockheed Martin logo, suggesting they are likely visiting or touring a Lockheed Martin facility or exhibit.
The image shows three students standing in front of a poster board displaying information about biofuels investigation. The students appear to be presenting or discussing the project.
Two young girls, one with braided hair and the other with short hair, are building a tall tower of orange crackers in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting, with other students visible in the background.
A laptop and several bananas are placed on a white table, with a person's hands visible in the foreground.
The image shows two people, a woman in a red jacket and a woman with curly hair, sitting on the floor and using laptop computers in what appears to be a conference or event setting, with other people visible in the background.
A person sitting in a tent-like structure, with a display screen visible in the background.
The image shows a person's hands on a table, with various medical equipment and supplies in the background, suggesting a medical or healthcare setting.
A smiling woman stands next to a large, animatronic dinosaur exhibit in what appears to be an indoor museum or exhibit space.
A person in a purple %22Pleasantville Wild%22 t-shirt is shaking hands with another person, with various items and a computer visible in the background.
Colorful handmade paper sculptures and crafts displayed on a wooden table in a classroom or educational setting.