STEM Fest

We played. We built. We learned. Thank you to all of you who attended STEM Fest this year, and to all of our volunteers, sponsors and supporters!

2024 is the 15th year of STEM Fest.

Mark your calendar now for September 28, 2024!


STEM Fest is a celebration of all things science, technology, engineering and math. This free event is held each year in the fall on the campus of Northern Illinois University and features more than 100 exhibits, speakers, and demonstrations designed to inspire and engage guests of all ages with opportunities for STEM learning. It is one of the largest free family events in northern Illinois.


It is never too early to be a STEM Fest Supporter! Your generous sponsorship reaches thousands of students, children and adults and helps make this annual event possible. As a sponsor, your name and logo will be featured on digital content including the STEM Fest website and STEM Fest social media. We look forward to talking with you soon about sponsorship of STEM Fest. Please contact NIU STEAM director of development, Judith Dymond, Ed.D. at niusteam@niu.edu at your convenience and let’s get started!


Exhibit at STEM Fest

Each year, STEM Fest draws a diverse group of exhibitors from NIU student organizations, departments, and programs and local community groups to showcase their work through interactive STEM activities. A limited number of outdoor booth space is available. If interested in learning more about exhibiting, please contact NIU STEAM at niusteam@niu.edu.


Volunteer at STEM Fest! 

Volunteers play an important role at STEM Fest. From helping to welcome and direct guests to engaging attendees in hands on activities or assisting with set up and clean up, year after year, our volunteers are the glue that helps make STEM Fest a success. Come meet new people and use your skills to help us make STEM Fest 2024 the best year yet!


Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors!

STEM Fest 2023 is brought to you by:

Additional sponsors:

The Suter Company

Shure

Ecolab

2023 Highlights

We Welcomed

  • About 5,000 attendees.
  • Approximately 1,000 students came by bus from 12 different schools.
  • Visitors from more than 160 zip codes from across northern and central Illinois and as far away as Florida.

Our Visitors

  • Explored 90+ booths with hundreds of interactive activities.
  • Made 477 Blinkies.
  • 3.000+ visitors to the Haunted Lab.

NIU Connections

  • More than 300 NIU students, faculty and staff volunteered their time and expertise.
  • More than 35NIU programs, departments and student groups hosted exhibits.
  • 6 NIU colleges participated.

92% of participants surveyed said STEM Fest met or exceeded their expectations.

75% of participants surveyed learned something new at STEM Fest.

89% of attendees are likely to encourage a student to attend NIU.


STEM Fest by the numbers

This flagship event has helped to inspire so many people over the years.

  • Since 2010, STEM Fest has welcomed:
    • More than 50,000 attendees.
    • Over 1,200 exhibits.
    • More than 7,000 NIU volunteers.
  • Local scouts have earned over 5,000 patches.
  • The year of highest attendance was 2019, with almost 8,000 people – and 96% said they planned to come back!
  • The year with largest social media reach was 2020 with more than 80,000 reached.

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