Kid*Vention
An Annual Celebration of Everything Science
Strap on your goggles and slip into your lab coat for Kid*Vention, the Virginia Discovery Museum’s annual celebration of everything science! After a one-year hiatus in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our popular family science festival will return in April 2022 to inspire children to explore the world around them with all their senses. Meet dozens of local exhibitors as you investigate biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, physics, zoology, and more through fun, hands-on demonstrations, experiments, and games.
Details | Sponsors | Featured Exhibitors | COVID Policies | FAQs | Contact
Thank You to Our 2022 Sponsors
Featured Exhibitors
Local exhibitors are at the heart of Kid*Vention, which is celebrating its 22nd year, and the Museum is excited to welcome 50 diverse groups to this year’s festival. Meet our featured exhibitors for 2022 below as we take a sneak peek at some of the things you’ll see at the event!
Aloha Mind Math
Activity: Science & Math Magic
Did you know that science, technology, engineering, and math are part of our daily lives? Kid*Ventors will discover everyday STEM through math magic, science signs, and Rubik’s cube twists and turns.
CodeVA’s Eureka Workshop
Activity: LED Brooches
Stand out in the crowd and show off your love for science with a light-up, wearable circuit! Kid*Ventors will explore electricity and how circuits work as they create their own LED brooches.
Rivanna Conservation Alliance
Activity: Exploring the Rivanna River Watershed
Make a splash! Kid*Ventors will race to find critters in a virtual river and check out some real river bugs while learning about the creatures that live in the Rivanna River and how scientists and volunteers monitor and protect the health of our waterways.
COVID Policies
Event Attendees
- Event attendees with any of these symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting Kid*Vention.
- Kid*Vention will take place outdoors at the Ting Pavilion in 2022, so masking is optional for this event.
- Event attendees are encouraged to social distance while at Kid*Vention.
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID Concerns
How many people are expected to attend Kid*Vention?
In the past, Kid*Vention has typically drawn about 1,000 visitors throughout the day in addition to VDM staff, exhibitors, and event volunteers. In an effort to encourage social distancing, VDM has moved Kid*Vention outdoors to the Ting Pavilion this year, and visitors are welcome to come to the event anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. VDM staff members and volunteers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Parking & Directions
Where can I park for Kid*Vention?
VDM validates parking for Kid*Vention attendees at the Market Street Garage and Water Street Garage. Both locations provide the first hour of parking for free, and event guests receive an additional hour of free parking – for a total of two hours – when they request a validation ticket at VDM’s front desk. Ting Pavilion, where Kid*Vention takes place, is also located next to the Downtown Transit Station, and Charlottesville Area Transit offers a Free Trolley that stops at the station as it travels through Downtown and the University of Virginia. Click to learn more about parking downtown or more about public bus routes and fares.
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Contact Us
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? To learn more about VDM’s Kid*Vention family science festival, contact Director of Operations Lindsay Jones at operationsdirector@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x102.