Imaginology rocked STEAM activities
Almost 36,000 people attended Imaginology, the free three-day celebration of imagination and learning, at OC Fair & Event Center last weekend.
The festival focused on STEAM activities: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The family-friendly event featured hundreds of hands-on workshops, shows and exhibits for youth from preschool through high school.
As an added bonus at this year’s Imaginology, one of Centennial Farm’s ewes gave birth to two lambs during the event – a real-life lesson in biology.
The farm also hosted milking demonstrations, blacksmithing, planting activities and more science in action.
There was live entertainment, food and many make-and-take projects for kids to bring home. Attendees could participate in aerial fitness classes, pet pythons, see horse vaulting demonstrations, enter robotics competitions and play chess with kid-sized game pieces.
“Families, classes and kids of all ages had an amazing time,” said OC Fair & Event Center’s VP of Business Development Michele Richards. “The fun was really all about learning about STEAM subjects and exposing everyone to the possibilities of careers for these budding engineers, artists and rocket scientists. We want to show them that their dreams can come true.”
Imaginology also hosts student competitions in categories including crafts, fiber arts, fine arts, photography, poetry, video, science and engineering. This year, more than 3,000 students entered the contests and their entries were displayed at Imaginology. A full list of winners will be published soon on ocfair.com/steam.
This is the 38th year that OC Fair & Event Center has hosted a community event aimed at providing fun, hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages. The long-running Youth Expo was rebranded as Imaginology in 2014 and the focus was shifted to STEAM.
The free event is underwritten by OC Fair & Event Center and sponsors and also offers 4H and FFA students the opportunity to sharpen their skills with early competitions and get ready to show their animals at the 2017 OC Fair, July 14-Aug. 13.
For more information, visit ocfair.com/steam.