Mountain Science Expo 2026
Hands-on STEM festival with interactive science demos and casual conversations with working scientists, set amid the trails and gardens of the NC Arboretum. A free, curiosity-driven day of nature exploration for all ages as part of the NC Science Festival.
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Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
A springtime celebration across botanical gardens with seasonal blooms and hands-on nature activities. Ideal for families and locals looking for a daytime outdoor outing in a scenic arboretum setting.
A springtime celebration across botanical gardens with seasonal blooms and hands-on nature activities. Ideal for families and locals looking for a daytime outdoor outing in a scenic arboretum setting.
A springtime celebration across botanical gardens with seasonal blooms and hands-on nature activities. Ideal for families and locals looking for a daytime outdoor outing in a scenic arboretum setting.
Tree-focused Arbor Day celebration highlighting how planting trees supports clean air and water, cooling shade, and wildlife habitat. Daytime gathering on arboretum grounds oriented around hands-on nature appreciation and community learning.
Tree-focused Arbor Day celebration highlighting how planting trees supports clean air and water, cooling shade, and wildlife habitat. Daytime gathering on arboretum grounds oriented around hands-on nature appreciation and community learning.
Tree-focused Arbor Day celebration highlighting how planting trees supports clean air and water, cooling shade, and wildlife habitat. Daytime gathering on arboretum grounds oriented around hands-on nature appreciation and community learning.
Water-themed nature learning for ages 2–5 explores aquatic creatures and the water cycle through observation, short nature walks, stories, simple crafts, and tactile activities. A five-Friday spring session with early classroom free-play time.
Water-themed nature learning for ages 2–5 explores aquatic creatures and the water cycle through observation, short nature walks, stories, simple crafts, and tactile activities. A five-Friday spring session with early classroom free-play time.
Water-themed nature learning for ages 2–5 explores aquatic creatures and the water cycle through observation, short nature walks, stories, simple crafts, and tactile activities. A five-Friday spring session with early classroom free-play time.
Hands-on outdoor science and nature-skills programming for youth at Linville, featuring guided trail exploration, wildlife identification, and habitat investigations designed for beginner naturalists and family participation.
Hands-on outdoor science and nature-skills programming for youth at Linville, featuring guided trail exploration, wildlife identification, and habitat investigations designed for beginner naturalists and family participation.
Hands-on outdoor science and nature-skills programming for youth at Linville, featuring guided trail exploration, wildlife identification, and habitat investigations designed for beginner naturalists and family participation.
A springtime celebration of bonsai with hands on learning, tree styling inspiration, and horticulture tips set among the Arboretum’s landscaped grounds. Expect garden focused demos and casual community mingling outdoors.
A springtime celebration of bonsai with hands on learning, tree styling inspiration, and horticulture tips set among the Arboretum’s landscaped grounds. Expect garden focused demos and casual community mingling outdoors.
A springtime celebration of bonsai with hands on learning, tree styling inspiration, and horticulture tips set among the Arboretum’s landscaped grounds. Expect garden focused demos and casual community mingling outdoors.
A hands-on “touch a truck” takeover with utility trucks, rescue vehicles, transit buses, and heavy construction rigs parked for close-up exploring. Kids and adults can climb in, ask questions, and learn how city vehicles keep Asheville running.
A hands-on “touch a truck” takeover with utility trucks, rescue vehicles, transit buses, and heavy construction rigs parked for close-up exploring. Kids and adults can climb in, ask questions, and learn how city vehicles keep Asheville running.
A hands-on “touch a truck” takeover with utility trucks, rescue vehicles, transit buses, and heavy construction rigs parked for close-up exploring. Kids and adults can climb in, ask questions, and learn how city vehicles keep Asheville running.
Bonsai-focused experience in the Blue Ridge setting of the North Carolina Arboretum, blending garden immersion with practical instruction. Expect up-close viewing of miniature trees plus guidance on pruning, wiring, and long-term plant care.
Bonsai-focused experience in the Blue Ridge setting of the North Carolina Arboretum, blending garden immersion with practical instruction. Expect up-close viewing of miniature trees plus guidance on pruning, wiring, and long-term plant care.
Bonsai-focused experience in the Blue Ridge setting of the North Carolina Arboretum, blending garden immersion with practical instruction. Expect up-close viewing of miniature trees plus guidance on pruning, wiring, and long-term plant care.
Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.
Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.
Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.
Hands-on science activity stations where kids and adults build simple creations to take home, with a casual family-night atmosphere on a community college campus. Free pizza is available for registered participants.
Hands-on science activity stations where kids and adults build simple creations to take home, with a casual family-night atmosphere on a community college campus. Free pizza is available for registered participants.
Hands-on science activity stations where kids and adults build simple creations to take home, with a casual family-night atmosphere on a community college campus. Free pizza is available for registered participants.
Exhibit at Asheville Museum of Science, featuring the museum's first planetary health gallery with displays from satellites to storytelling that showcase data-driven planetary change and explore scientists' and community roles in shaping sustainable solutions. Ideal for educators, artists, scientists, and community members.
Exhibit at Asheville Museum of Science, featuring the museum's first planetary health gallery with displays from satellites to storytelling that showcase data-driven planetary change and explore scientists' and community roles in shaping sustainable solutions. Ideal for educators, artists, scientists, and community members.
Exhibit at Asheville Museum of Science, featuring the museum's first planetary health gallery with displays from satellites to storytelling that showcase data-driven planetary change and explore scientists' and community roles in shaping sustainable solutions. Ideal for educators, artists, scientists, and community members.
Slow-paced guided walk through Arboretum trails with staff naturalists, tracking spring migration through birdsong, budding plants, and signs of animal activity. Conversation is question-driven, so each outing shifts with what’s spotted outdoors.
Slow-paced guided walk through Arboretum trails with staff naturalists, tracking spring migration through birdsong, budding plants, and signs of animal activity. Conversation is question-driven, so each outing shifts with what’s spotted outdoors.
Slow-paced guided walk through Arboretum trails with staff naturalists, tracking spring migration through birdsong, budding plants, and signs of animal activity. Conversation is question-driven, so each outing shifts with what’s spotted outdoors.
Unhurried gallery viewing encourages close looking and small-group reflection in a calm museum setting. Spend the afternoon pausing with artworks and sharing observations as part of the worldwide Slow Art Day movement.
Unhurried gallery viewing encourages close looking and small-group reflection in a calm museum setting. Spend the afternoon pausing with artworks and sharing observations as part of the worldwide Slow Art Day movement.
Unhurried gallery viewing encourages close looking and small-group reflection in a calm museum setting. Spend the afternoon pausing with artworks and sharing observations as part of the worldwide Slow Art Day movement.
Hands on exploration of sound through interactive science demos and sensory experiments that highlight vibration, pitch, and volume. A family friendly afternoon in a museum setting geared toward curious kids and caregivers.
Hands on exploration of sound through interactive science demos and sensory experiments that highlight vibration, pitch, and volume. A family friendly afternoon in a museum setting geared toward curious kids and caregivers.
Hands on exploration of sound through interactive science demos and sensory experiments that highlight vibration, pitch, and volume. A family friendly afternoon in a museum setting geared toward curious kids and caregivers.
A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.
A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.
A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.
Field-based drawing workshop in the Native Azalea Collection, combining close observation with basic plant-illustration techniques. Learn to identify native plant communities while making sketchbook studies outdoors in the Arboretum.
Field-based drawing workshop in the Native Azalea Collection, combining close observation with basic plant-illustration techniques. Learn to identify native plant communities while making sketchbook studies outdoors in the Arboretum.
Field-based drawing workshop in the Native Azalea Collection, combining close observation with basic plant-illustration techniques. Learn to identify native plant communities while making sketchbook studies outdoors in the Arboretum.
Hands-on Arbor Day celebration in the River Arts District with tree-planting demos, riparian zone walk-and-talks, and take-home tree seedlings. Learn urban forestry basics like caring for volunteer saplings and hear about local river corridor community projects.
Hands-on Arbor Day celebration in the River Arts District with tree-planting demos, riparian zone walk-and-talks, and take-home tree seedlings. Learn urban forestry basics like caring for volunteer saplings and hear about local river corridor community projects.
Hands-on Arbor Day celebration in the River Arts District with tree-planting demos, riparian zone walk-and-talks, and take-home tree seedlings. Learn urban forestry basics like caring for volunteer saplings and hear about local river corridor community projects.
Twilight forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) among Blue Ridge mountain hemlocks and rhododendron at The North Carolina Arboretum, guided slow walks emphasizing sensory awareness, breathwork, and grounding to reduce stress and deepen nature connection.
Twilight forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) among Blue Ridge mountain hemlocks and rhododendron at The North Carolina Arboretum, guided slow walks emphasizing sensory awareness, breathwork, and grounding to reduce stress and deepen nature connection.
Twilight forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) among Blue Ridge mountain hemlocks and rhododendron at The North Carolina Arboretum, guided slow walks emphasizing sensory awareness, breathwork, and grounding to reduce stress and deepen nature connection.
Prize-worthy rose varieties fill the arboretum with layered petals, fragrance, and colorful show blooms arranged for close viewing. Expect horticulture insights, flower photography moments, and garden lovers swapping growing tips.
Prize-worthy rose varieties fill the arboretum with layered petals, fragrance, and colorful show blooms arranged for close viewing. Expect horticulture insights, flower photography moments, and garden lovers swapping growing tips.
Prize-worthy rose varieties fill the arboretum with layered petals, fragrance, and colorful show blooms arranged for close viewing. Expect horticulture insights, flower photography moments, and garden lovers swapping growing tips.
A quiet two-hour pause in the Arboretum’s gardens and trails invites self-guided, mostly silent wandering and reflection. Expect a calm, low-stimulation morning designed for nature-based mindfulness and reset.
A quiet two-hour pause in the Arboretum’s gardens and trails invites self-guided, mostly silent wandering and reflection. Expect a calm, low-stimulation morning designed for nature-based mindfulness and reset.
A quiet two-hour pause in the Arboretum’s gardens and trails invites self-guided, mostly silent wandering and reflection. Expect a calm, low-stimulation morning designed for nature-based mindfulness and reset.