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Make a telescope!  Within minutes you can have your very own refracting telescope not much different than the one Galileo used.  Even though Galileo’s first telescopes lacked precision and clarity, he made astonishing discoveries.  See how the moon looked to Galileo! 

Inflatable Planetarium (StarLab): ...crawl into the universe and Look up! John Meader of Northern Stars Planetarium will tell you stories of the constellations while you view the night sky in the daytime! 

Stargazing and Solar viewing: Join the passionate volunteers from NCA (National Capitol Astronomers) including Jay Miller and from NOVAC (Northern Virginia Astronomy Club) including Greg Piepol and Dr. Thomas Corbin, a retired US Naval Observatory astronomer.  You will be amazed with the variety of telescopes you will be able to use to observe.  We're turning the lights out!

Walk of the Planets: Join beloved Professor Harold Williams as he takes you on a walk of the solar from the Sun to Pluto (we still love Pluto, we couldn't leave him out) and experience its scale without leaving Kensington.  Guaranteed to burn up some festival food calories!

Starry Wheels of Fortune:  Professor Williams will show you how the constellations like the Big Dipper help you find your way.  Make your own Kepler Star Wheel and navigate your way home.

Robotics: Watch the Blair HS Robotics team show off their award winning robot.  Ask them how the experience of being on the robotics team prepares them to discover water on Mars or the next exoplanet.

Rocket Launch: Find out how a rocket works and then feel a bit of the excitement of a Cape Kennedy launch as we launch our own with the help of Mad Science.

Skylore from Planet Earth: Role Playing with author/illustrator Dayle Brown : Listen to ancient stories and view colorful watercolor artwork created especially for each tale.  Become part of an ancient culture by role-playing in a skylore story from:

"Matariki" (Maori, Cook Islands) Pleiades
"Foolish Fox" (Inca, Peru) Milky Way
"Osiris" (Egypt) Orion

Create your own constellation story to share! 

Plan a Moon Garden:  A garden can be very magical at night.  Brother Nature Landscaping will show you how to plan your own.  Light colors and white glow and blossoms float ethereally as the green stems and leaves fade into the night shadows. 

Play Space Bingo In Spanish: Learn the basics of space science using a the traditional fun game of bingo.  For ages 5 and up.

For the Li'l Galileos:  Take the solar system out of orbit and put the planets on a string -- use foam beads to make a necklace or bracelet. (age 4+ as beads are harmful if swallowed).  Harness wind energy and make a starry pinwheel.  Zoo in the Sky: Look at a star pattern and make up your own animal in the stars.  and more...

Solar Cookies:  Play with your food and find out how the sun works at the same time! 

Now you see it, Now you don't: Find out the best way to observe what you want to discover in the universe -- using a toilet paper roll ???  Parkland Magnet MS teacher Dorian Janney teaches you how.  She's so much fun you will want to enroll at her school!

Finding New Worlds -- the Search for ExoPlanets:  Just how far do you have to go to find one?  You may have some idea from watching the movie Wall E, but let's see it from a scientist's perspective.  Join NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Paul Hueper and find out how other star systems are formed and just what is an exoplanet?

StarryTelling Mural:  Chalk and asphalt.  That's all we need to make a solar system worth exploring.  Create your own exoplanets, stars, moons and gaseous and rocky planets. Make sure to include the rocket ship you plan to use to visit them someday.

Faces of the Moon:  Facepainting by Michelle Philips,  the renowned Face Paint Lady.  What do you see in the moon? A rabbit? A man? A weaver? A toad?  What do you see when you look into space?  Put it on your face today!  Starryeyed could take on a whole new meaning today!

Constellation Tattoos:  After you learn how to dance in the sky like Prajapati (Orion) with the Kuchipudi Dancers from India, put a starry henna tattoo on your hand which will last for days.  It will remind you to Look Up!

You are the stuff of stars: Take your place among them with portraits and collaborative poetry by Liz Pester. Create your impressions of the "Starrytelling" Festival while Liz makes your portrait.  Contribute to a star-studded poetic mural and "wonder what you are..."

Silky Night Scarf: Paint your own visions of the sky on silk kerchiefs prepared especially for you by Diane Tuckman.  Let your imagination fly from 6-9 pm.