2025 Greater Columbus STEM & Arts Expo Presented by Meijer & Horizon Science Academy
Sunday November 2nd, 2025 Noon - 6:00PM
1500 Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43240
Register Now!
We are excited to invite your family and friends to the 11th Annual KidsLinked Greater Columbus STEM & Arts Expo presented by Meijer & Horizon Science Academy on 11/2/25. This is your family's resource fair to find neat things to help grow your children's education and find STEM & Arts resources. This FREE family event can help your child connect and explore hands-on activities, competitions, resources, and exhibitors focused on boosting your child’s learning in STEM & the Arts—from robotics and math to art, chess, spelling, and more!
Admission is FREE. Many activities require pre-registration — spots fill fast!
-- First 200 receive: a special treat from Tim Hortons!
-- First 150 receive: a special VIP Bag with goodies! (1 per family) –
-- First 500 receive special character visits: Meet & Greet with SpongeBob & Stitch!
Register Now!
FEATURED ACTIVITIES:
- Maker Space Area: LEGO Creation Challenge | Nurkl Bridge Challenge Marble Maze | Recycled Art Contest | Origami Challenge
- Coder Corner: Code Ninjas Gamer Showdown
- Skills Fun Zone: Paper Airplane Distance & Accuracy | Nerf Gun Target Tourney | Mini Basketball Tournament | Chicken Flipper Challenge
- Stage Events: Spelling Bee | Math Challenge | STEM Trivia Challenge
- Card & board game tournaments: Chess | Checkers | Candyland | Uno Speed game
- FIRST 150 families: VIP Bag packed with goodies (1 per family)
- FIRST 200 attendees: special treat from Tim Hortons
- FIRST 500 Meet & Greet with Sponge Bob & Stitch Character Visits!
- Balloon Artist | Face Painting | Prize Wheel | Plinko Game | More Games
- STEM & Arts resources, find schools, family financial & college planning, tons of hands on activities, holiday shopping & find classes & programs for kids!
Special Thanks to NiSource – your Gas & Energy Provider in Central Ohio!
REGISTRATION FOR ADMISSION & ACTIVITIES:
Event Admission is FREE. Pre-register for activities below. Click “Get Tickets” to add entries. Most activities are limited capacity.
Register Now!
REGISTER – EVENT ADMISSION
(1) GOLD Entry - Event Admission: FREE (LIMIT 1,000)
- Admits entire family: Noon-6PM
- Check-in is in front of JCPennys (lower level of the mall)
- FUN PASS: Play Prize Wheel | Duck Matching Game | Lollipop Game & More!
- Includes Standard Event Bag – Scavenger Hunt (not the VIP Bag)
- or $2/person at the door
(2) GOLD PLUS Entry – EVENT ADMISSION: $8 (Limit 75)
- Includes all items above
- 1 Voucher to Disney on Ice Show (Feb 19th -22nd 2026 – Nationwide Arena)
- Holiday Light Up Knitted Hat or Holiday Gloves: Hat or Winter Gloves: Pick 1 of 21 Styles! (Subject to Availability) CLICK HERE
REGISTER - COMPETITIONS & FUN ACTIVITIES
>> MAKER SPACE ACTIVITIES <<
(1) LEGO Creation Challenge: $12 Per Entry | 1:00-1:45PM | Big Air/Play Court Area (LIMIT 50)
- Ages: 11 & Under or 12-18 years old | You have 15 minutes to pick 70 LEGO blocks (provided by us). You then have 15 minutes to build something creative using ALL 70 of your blocks.
- Awards are determined based on creativity.
- 1st-3rd overall prizes for each age group. LEGO prizes for 1st place in each age group. Try to have the "most creative" LEGO build. You keep what you build!
(2) Marble Run Maze Tournament: $12 Per Entry | 2:00-2:30PM | Big Air/Play Court Area (LIMIT 50)
- Ages: 11 & Under or 12-18 years old | You have 20 minutes to build the maze from the maze kit provided by us. Once your maze is built, you must then race your marble and the fastest successful build wins! You must use ALL pieces.
- 1st-5th overall prizes for each age group. You keep what you build!
- See Marble Maze Kite Examples Click Here
(3) Recycled Art Competition: FREE | 2:45–3:15 PM | Big Air/Play Court (Limit 60)
- Ages: 11 & Under or 12-18 years old | You have 10 minutes to pick 10-25 art items that we provide and then 15 minutes to build an art piece with all items selected.
- Awards are determined based on creativity.
- 1st-3rd overall prizes for each age group. You keep what you build!
(4) Origami Art Challenge: FREE | 3:30–4:00 PM | Big Air/PlayCourt (Limit 60)
- Any Age: Beginner or Advanced categories | We will have paper provided (or you can use your own if preferred)!
- Beginner Category: You have 10 minutes to create ONE Origami (includes fold lines)
- Advanced Category: You have to create TWO or more Origami items.
- You will be judge on creativity & total items.
- 1st–3rd prizes per age group will receive art prizes. You keep what you build!
(5) Nurkl Bridge Building Challenge: $7 per Entry | 3:30PM | Big Air/Play Court (Limit 40 per age group)
- Ages: 6 & Under, 7-11 years old or 12-17 years old | You will have 10 minuets of instruction followed by 20 minuets to build provided your bridge. A 170-piece building kit will be provided for you to use and keep! You DO NOT have to use all pieces in your build.
- You will be judged on creativity & precision.
- 1st-3rd prizes per age group.
Register Now!
>> CODER CORNER ACTIVITIES <<
(6) Code Ninja’s Gamer Showdown: FREE | Noon–5:00 PM | Coder Corner-Near Macy's (Limit 250)
- ALL AGES | Stop by anytime to participate. Play a game made by Code Ninja to earn a high score. The game will be connected to a TV or projector.
- 1st-10th place will receive prizes.
>> SKILLS FUN ZONE ACTIVITIES <<
(7) Paper Airplane Tournament: FREE |1:00–3:00 PM | Skill Fun Zone (Limit 400)
- Ages: 6 & Under, 7-11 years old or 12-17 years old, Adult | Make up to 3 planes (bring your own design or use ours). Score points by landing planes through hoops at various distances
- 1st -3rd prizes by age group.
(8) Carnival Games Tournament— Physics & Fun: $5 per game | Skills Fun Zone (Limit 80)
- Ages 17 & Under | Pick ONE game below, Single Elimination - Tournament style (if you win, you advance to the next round).
- 1st -3rd prizes by age group. ALL PARTICIPANTS WIN = Advance Rounds for Even Bigger Prizes!
- Nerf Gun Target Tourney: 2:00–2:30 PM
- Mini Basketball Tournament: 2:30–3:00 PM
- Chicken Flipper Tournament: 3:00–3:30 PM
Register Now!
>> MAIN STAGE ACTIVITIES <<
(9) STEM & Arts Trivia Game Show: FREE | Main Stage (LIMIT 200)
- Ages 17 & Under
- 8 play per round - fastest buzzer answers first!
- Special Challenge Rounds
- Win Prizes Game Show Style!
(10) Math Challenge Tournament: FREE | 1:30-2:45PM | Main Stage (LIMIT 200)
- Grades: 1st-2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade, 5th-6th grade, 7th-8th grade
- Top 5 each round advance.
- Solve various math problems on math fact sheets. Each student will compete in rounds to solve math problems in a certain time limit. Single elimination, time limit, time penalties for incorrect answers.
- 1st-3rd prizes by age group.
(11) Spelling Bee: FREE | 3:00-5:00 PM | Main Stage (LIMIT 200)
- Grades: 1st-2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade, 5th-6th grade, 7th-8th grade
- Spelling Bee's are back! This is a single elimination spelling bee. Each round, participant's will be given a word to spell. If participant's spell it correctly, they move on to the next round!
- Organized by grade (1st & 2nd grade / 3rd - 4th grade / 5th-6th grade / 7th-8th grade).
- 1st-3rd prizes by age group.
>> CARD & BOARD GAME ACTIVITIES <<
(12) Checkers Tournament: FREE | 12:30 - 1:30PM | Board Game near Sax's Fifth Ave (LIMIT 100)
- Ages 11 & Under , 12-17 years old or Adult |Single elimination, tournament style(win and advance to the next round).
- 1st-3rd prizes by age group.
- Standard checkers tournament! Organized by age 11 and under, 12-17, and adult.
(13) Candyland Tournament: FREE | 1:45–2:15PM - Board Game near Sax's Fifth Ave (LIMIT 200)
- Ages 11 & Under , 12-17 years old or Adult |Simply the most fun board game. Single elimination, tournament style(win and advance to the next round).
- 1st-4th prizes by age group. Chance to win bags of candy!
- Organized by 11 & Under / 12-17 years old / Adult.
(14) UNO Tournament: FREE | 2:30 – 3:00 PM | Board Game near Sax’s Fifth Ave (LIMIT 100)
- Ages 11 & Under , 12-17 years old or Adult | The most fun card game ever. Tournament style, win and advance to the next round! Each game has a time limit of 7 minutes. Winner is determined by the person with the least # of points (or 1st to having no cards). Winner of each game will move to the next round. Lowest points or first out advance.
- 1st-4th prizes by age group.
- Organized by 11 and under / 12-18 years old / Adult.
(15) Chess Tournament: FREE | 3:15-5:00 PM - Board Game near Sax’s Fifth Ave (Limit 48)
- Ages: 11 & Under, 12-17 years old or Adult | Standard chess tournament! Beat your competitor and move to the next round. Tournament style, win and advance to next round!
- May put time limit on each game.
- 1st -3rd prizes by age group.
Locations: (ALL Lower Level of the Mall): (1) Main Stage is near the JCPenney's on the lower level. (2) Game Area is near the indoor front entrance to Macy’s on the lower level. (3)Skills Fun Zone is right in front of the Saks 5th Ave Entrance & kids indoor play area. (4) Big Air/Play area is right in front of Big Air Trampoline Park.
Register Now!
What’s in the VIP Bag?
- Free 10-pack Timbits from Tim Hortons
- Free Indoor Play Pass from Recreations Outlet
- Free Kids Meal 101 Craft Kitchen
- Special Discounts to various fun activities!
- Plus, more surprises!
Event Schedule Highlights:
**See Locations Below**
- Noon: Event Opens (Stop by Check-in – in front of JCPenney’s)
- 12:30-1:00 PM — STEM & Arts Trivia Game Show (Main Stage)
- 12:30-1:30 PM — Checkers Tournament (Board Game Area)
- 12:30-5:00 PM — Code Ninja Gamer Showdown (Coder Corner)
- 1:00-3:00 PM — Airplane Competition (Skills Fun Zone)
- 1:00-1:45 PM — LEGO Creation Challenge (Main Stage)
- 1:30–2:45 PM — Math Challenge Tournament (Main Stage)
- 1:45-2:15 PM — Candyland Tournament (Board Game Area)
- 2:00-2:30 PM — Marble Maze Challenge! (Maker Space)
- 2:00-2:30 PM — Nerf Gun Tournament (Skill Fun Zone)
- 2:30–3:00 PM — UNO Tournament (Board Game Area)
- 2:30–3:00 PM — Mini Basketball Tournament (Skill Fun Zone)
- 2:45-3:15 PM — Recycled Art Competition (Maker Space)
- 3:00–3:30 PM — Chicken Flipper Tournament (Skill Fun Zone)
- 3:00–5:00 PM — Spelling Bee (Main Stage)
- 3:15–5:00 PM — Chess Tournament (Board Game Area)
- 3:30-4:00 PM — Origami Art Challenge (Maker Space)
- 3:30–4:15 PM — Nurkl Bridge Building Challenge (Maker Space)
- 6:00 PM — Event Ends (Thank you for coming!!)
Make sure you pre-register to participate for all the fun activities!
Register Now!
Vendor Opportunities: Interested in exhibiting or sponsoring?
Email: greg@kidslinked.com
How to Participate (Step-by-Step):
Step 1: Click on "GET TICKETS" — Top right-hand corner of website.
Step 2: Select "Admission" (GOLD or GOLD PLUS Entry) and any of the fun competitions/activities you want to participate in.
Step 3: Your registration will be added to each activity's entry list
Step 4: Arrive to the event during your assigned time (depending on your entry time - see schedule) and check-in at the KidsLinked booth.
Step 5: Have fun!
Please share the event with family and friends, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
NOTE: Items included in the Fun Pass
Fun Pass! - FREE | NOON – 4:00 PM (LIMIT 500) Includes the following items:
- Mystery Prize Wheel: Receive 1 spin on the fun prize wheel to win one of 8 different prizes!
- Lollipop Game: Play this fun lollipop game where you will pick various colors (like Candyland) to determine which lollipop you win! Very fun.
- Duck Matching game: Play to win either fidget toy, fun water growing character, Squishy toy, Slap Bracelet, or candy bin
- Lucky Coin Game: Pick out of our lucky treasure pot and get either our Gold or Silver coin to win a prize!
- Prize Pinball Game: Get 1 try on this fun pinball game to win 1 of several different neat prizes – yeah!