WHAT:   It’s that time of year again — the time for creative young minds to shine! Let out your inner smarty pants during MindFest™ and challenge yourself to fuse technology, art and science through fun engineering activities.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

• Simple Machine Discovery: At Science Station we’re going back to basics to explore how a few simple machines have combined to create some of the most complicated inventions. Play with levers, gears, wheels and axles, Marble Mazes and Archimedes Screws!  Event times: Thursday – Friday and Monday – Wednesday, all day

• The Fan Garden: Build a pinwheel for the garden and give it a whirl while learning the scientific principles behind this simple device at Science Station. Event times: Saturday and Sunday, all day

• Pinball Machines: Design contraptions that use physics to send the pinball racing, bouncing, spinning and shooting at Inventors’ Workshop. Event times: Thursday – Sunday, various times

• Kinetic Art: Alexander "Sandy" Calder invented the mobile. Come create your own Calder-inspired art at Inventors’ Workshop. Event times: Tuesday – Wednesday, various times

ON-GOING ACTIVITIES:

• Inventions Inspired by Nature: Learn about how fireflies inspired Morse Code and stickaburrs led to the invention of Velcro at EcoStation.
• Invent a Color: Use primary and secondary colors to invent a color of your own at the Alexander Art Academy. Give it a catchy name and use it to create a wonderful masterpiece.
• Invention Junktion: Play an Inventor Match Game, make a contraption for your pet and make a fish print to illustrate how the printing press works.

Second Saturday of every month open at 9 a.m. for members.

• General Museum admission: $8 per person and $7 for seniors 65+ and for military personnel. Children under one and Museum Members receive free admission.

Free Family Night every Thursday 5 – 8 p.m.

• www.cmhouston.org