One of SC’s Largest STEAM Festival Returning to Greenwood
One of SC’s Largest STEAM Festival Returning to Greenwood
The Lakelands iMAGINE STEAM Festival had over 2500 attendees in its inaugural year
Greenwood, SC – The iMAGINE Lakelands STEAM Festival is returning to Greenwood for a second year! The festival will feature even more interactive exhibits and shows emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) to Greenwood Uptown and Uptown Market on Saturday, October 16, 2021. The purpose of the iMAGINE Lakelands STEAM Festival, fueled by the Greenwood Arts Center, is to ignite the interest of Pre-K through 12th-grade students (and their families) in STEAM subjects by providing up-close engagement with the latest technologies and giving them exposure to high-skill industries.
“This festival will spark the interest of children of all ages making STEAM activities exciting and accessible to everyone,” said Alice Gilchrist, Coordinator of the Western S2TEM Centers SC and iMAGINE Co-Chair. “If we can reach them early, kids will grow up more interested in STEAM and are more likely to pursue careers in these fields where the demand continues to grow!” said Sylvia Martin, Executive Director for the Arts Center of Greenwood and iMAGINE Co-Chair.
The following sponsors have already signed up to make the iMAGINE Lakelands STEAM Festival possible; Lonza, WCFIBER, Davis & Floyd, Diana Pet Food, Piedmont Technical College, Carolina Health Centers, Lander University, Laurens County Development Corporation, SAGE Automotive Interiors and McCartha Orthodontics.
“This event would not be possible without the support of our corporate partners,” said Matt Wiggins, SC department Commerce Upper Savannah Regional Workforce Advisor and iMAGINE Co-Chair. “Not only do they provide financial support so we are able to offer this event free to families, but they also offer exciting exhibits that showcase the world-class STEAM careers available in the Lakelands region.
iMAGINE partners with corporations, schools, nonprofits, and wonderful volunteers to make STEAM come to life through hands-on exhibits and interactive stage shows. The Festival is still accepting applications for Partners, Exhibitors, and Volunteers to help make the event a success.
iMAGINE STEAM Festival will be held Saturday, October 16, from 11 AM – 3 PM in Uptown Greenwood. “We’re excited to grow the reach and size of the event this year by collaborating with such great industry partners to bring such an important and worthwhile event to Uptown Greenwood. We feel that the iMAGINE STEAM Festival is a perfect way to show kids how much fun STEAM careers can be“ said Paul Cuenin, Fujifilm Software Engineer and iMAGINE Co-Chair. Make sure to join us along Oregon Street beside the Arts Center of Greenwood to the Uptown Market. The festival will also feature Food Trucks, Live Performances, at the Uptown Market, along with activities in the Greenwood Museum as well as the Arts Center of Greenwood. This event is free to the public. For more information, visit: https://www.imaginesteamsc.org/lakelands or contact Alice Gilchrist at agilchrist@s2temsc.org or Sylvia Martin at sylvialovesthearts@gmail.com
FIVE FAST FACTS
- iMAGINE STEAM Festival will be held Saturday, October 16, 2021, from 11 AM – 3 PM in Uptown Greenwood
- The festival will feature interactive exhibits and shows emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM)
- Fueled by The Arts Center of Greenwood
- Over 60 Exhibitors registered
- Over 4000 attendees expected
About iMAGINE Lakelands STEAM Festival
iMAGINE Lakelands STEAM Festival, fueled by the Arts Center of Greenwood, is a program of the Upstate SC STEM Collaborative and part of South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics & Science (SCCMS) at Clemson University. Its mission is to create meaningful experiences that promote a culture of lifelong learning and professional growth with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), innovation, and entrepreneurial activity in South Carolina. The iMAGINE Lakelands STEAM Festival is an annual street festival coordinated in partnership with the City of Greenwood. iMAGINE strives to be a leader in student preparedness by facilitating collaboration among industry partners, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and the community. For more information visit https://www.imaginesteamsc.org/lakelands and follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/imaginegwd/
