2023 KidsLinked Greater Columbus STEM & Arts Expo Presented by Mater Academy Preparatory
Sunday, November 5th Noon-6pm
Polaris Fashion Place, 1500 Polaris Pkwy.
EVENT REGISTRATION & DETAILS:
We are excited to invite your family and friends to our KidsLinked 9th annual Greater Columbus STEM & Arts Expo presented by Mater Academy Preparatory on Sunday, 11/5/23. This is your family's resource fair to find neat things to help grow your children's education. It includes LEGO competitions, match challenge, spelling bee, robotics, carnival game competitions, art challenges, and more. Plus, education resources, products, technology, computers, science, financial planning and more items! Sign up soon! This will fill up fast!
** First 200 receive special treat from Tim Hortons! **
Register – Competition & Fun Activities!
Event Admission Free. Pre-register to participate in the following items. Hurry! This will fill up fast. Click on “Ticket” to register.
1. LEGO Building Challenge: ($12 Per Entry - 1-2PM – Play Area / FieldhouseUSA Competition Zone – Categories: 11 & under and 12-18 years old – LIMIT 50): You have 15 minutes to pick 70 LEGO blocks. You then have 15 minutes to build something creative from your 70 blocks. All blocks must be used. 1st-3rd overall prizes for each age group. Awards determine on most creative LEGO build. You keep what you build!
2. LEGO type Remote Controlled Car Race! ($20 Per Entry 2:30-3:30PM – Play Area / FieldhouseUSA Competition Zone - Categories: 11 & under and 12-18 years old – LIMIT 50): Will be provided a Race Car kit to build (instructions are provided). 45 minutes to build the race car & then race it through a mini racetrack! 1st – 3rd place will be the fastest person to build the car and successfully complete the racetrack. Super fun! You keep the car!
3. Robot Race, presented by the Coder School (FREE - 1-3PM Center Court outside of JCPenney's – LIMIT 100): This fun robot race has contestants race a robot through a course to see who can complete it the fastest! Open to age groups of 7-11 & 12-17. Robot and all items provided (no need to bring anything). Medals & awards for 1st-3rd + 1st place winner of each age group receives 1 month of Code School!
4. Checkers Tournament (FREE - 12:30 - 1:30PM - Macy’s Escalator Landing Competition Zone – LIMIT 100): Standard checkers tournament! Beat your competitor and move to the next round. Single Elimination. Organized by age 11 and under, 12-17, and adult.
5. Paper Airplane Tournament (FREE - 1 - 3PM - Play Area / Saks Competition Zone – LIMIT 400): Create your favorite paper airplane or we'll have paper/designs for you to do at the event. Each competitor can create 3 paper airplanes. From there you'll be targeting hoops of different distances. Points will be awarded for landing an airplane in the hoop! Organized by 6 and under / 7-11 years old / 12-17 years old / Adult.
6. Comic Book Art Competition (FREE - 1:45-2:45PM - Macy’s Escalator Landing Competition Zone – LIMIT 60): Fun competition that starts with a drawing session on comic book art. From there a challenge will be presented to draw a superhero. It will be SUPER fun! Organized by 11 & under / 12-18 years old.
7. Carnival Games Tournament – Physics & Fun!: ($5 Per Game – Play Area / Saks Competition Zone – LIMIT 80): Pick from 3 different fun carnival games to play tournament style! You will be placed into a bracket for the game you pick to play in this single elimination tournament. Each round you advance the bigger the prize you win! All age groups welcome and will compete against each other. See further down for fun physics side of each game!
- Nerf Gun Target Tourney (2:00-2:30PM)
- Rubber Chicken Launcher (2:30 -3PM)
- Duck Hunt Game (3:00-3:30PM)
8. Candyland Tournament (FREE - 3 – 3:30PM - Macy’s Escalator Landing Competition Zone – LIMIT 200): Simply the most fun board game. Tournament style. Winner of each game will move to the next round. Final prizes or bags of candy! Organized by 6 and under / 7-11 years old / 12-17 years old / Adult.
9. Math Challenge (FREE - 1:30 – 2:45PM Main Stage – LIMIT 40): A fun math competition. How it works - Contestants are provide a math sheet and will be asked to solve 10-20 math problems as fast as possible in 1-2 minutes (in groups of 10 participants.) Top 2 that finish the fastest / accurate (time penalty for wrong answers), move to the next round. Organized by grade (1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, 7th-8th, High School). Prizes each round!
10. Spelling Bee (FREE - 3 - 5PM Main Stage – LIMIT 140): Spelling Bees are back! Single elimination spelling bee. Organized by grade (1st & 2nd grade / 3rd - 4th grade / 5th-6th grade / 7th-8th grade). Each round participants will be given a word to spell. Spell it correctly and move to the next round!
11. Chess Tournament (FREE - 3:45-5:15PM - Macy’s Escalator Landing Competition Zone – LIMIT 48) Standard chess tournament! Beat your competitor and move to the next round. Single Elimination. Organized by age 11 and under, 12-17, and adult.
12. Fun Pass! (FREE - Limit 500 – NOON – 4PM): includes the following items:
- Duck Matching game: Play to win either Fidget toys, squishy toy, video game stickers, or candy bin!
- 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 lollipops (Giant Blow Pop, regular Blow Pop, and other fun lollipops) fun game!
Awards & prizes: 1st-3rd place for each age group category. Some competitions may have multiple winners in the same age group depending on the # of rounds and time allotted for the competition.
Locations: (1) Main Stage is near the JCPenney on the lower level. (2) CoHatch Tables are near the Apple store on the lower level. (3) Saks / Play area is near Big Air Trampoline Park.
- VIP Entry Bag - FREE (First 150- 1 per family - FREE) Amazing VIP Bag includes FREE Timbits coupon to Tim Hortons, free kid's meal to Chuy’s, appetizer from Texas Roadhouse, $10 Power Card or $25 for $25 coupon to Dave & Busters, mini stuffed animal keychain from Josh and Kyle Haskins from Geico and more!
Event Details:
- What: 9th Annual Greater Columbus STEM & Arts Expo presented by Mater Academy Preparatory
- Where: Polaris Fashion Place (1500 Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43240)
- Where to go: Lower level (start at court in front of JCPenney)
- When: Sunday, November 5th from Noon -6PM
- Fun items: Tons of hands-on activities, Lego building challenge, LEGO Race Car contest, robotics, games, competitions, stage entertainment, balloon artists, face painter, lollipop game, carnival games tournament, mystery prize wheel, free cookies/cotton candy and popcorn, and so much more!
- What to do at the event: This is the education expo to help your family find educational resources, products, classes, programs, science & arts activities, tutoring, advancement of your children and more. Also, family financial planning and tons of shopping opportunities!
- How it works: Start at the KidsLinked booth (Center Court – Lower Level near JCPenney). From there you can receive whatever item you signed up to do or directions on where to go for each competition.
- Admission: Free!
Event Schedule:
- Noon: Event Opens
- 12:00 - 12:30: School of Rock (Main Stage)
- 12:30 - 1PM: Princess Singing - Paulette's Princess Parties (Main Stage)
- 12:30-1:30PM: Checkers Tournament (Macy's Area)
- 1- 1:30PM: Leap of Faith Dance Performance (Main Stage)
- 1-3PM: Robot Race (East end of Center Court)
- 1-2PM: LEGO Building Competition (FieldhouseUSA / Play Area)
- 1- 3PM: Airplane Competition (Saks / Kids Play Area)
- 1:30 – 2:45PM: Math Quiz Bowl Challenge (Main Stage)
- 1:45 - 2:45: Comic Art Competition (Macy's Area)
- 2- 2:30PM: Nerf Gun Tournament (Saks / Kids Play Area)
- 2:30-3:30PM: LEGO Remote Control Car Race! (FieldhouseUSA / Play Area)
- 2:30-3PM: Rubber Chicken Launcher Tournament (Saks / Kids Play Area)
- 3-5PM Spelling Bee (Main Stage)
- 3-3:30PM: Duck Hunt Tournament (Saks / Kids Play Area)
- 3 – 3:30PM Candyland Tournament (Macy's Area)
- 3:45-5:15PM Chess Tournament (Macy's Area)
- 4:45 - 6PM School of Rock Dublin Performance (Main Stage)
- 6PM: Event Ends
Make sure you pre-register to participate for all the fun activities!
Mater Academy Preparatory, a high-performing charter school network that began operations in 1998, has a rich history dedicated to providing a top-tier education for its students. It was among the first charter schools to open in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Throughout the years, Mater Academy Preparatory's commitment to academic excellence has resulted in it consistently being ranked as a top-performing school system. Over the last 25 years, Mater Academy Preparatory has successfully replicated its program in Florida and Nevada, operating some of the highest performing schools in those states. Proud to introduce the school to Columbus, Ohio: LEARN MORE!
Interested in being a Vendor?
Click here!
How it works:
Step 1: Click on "Register"
Step 2: Register for any of the fun items.
Step 3: Your registration will be added to the respective list of what you are registering.
Step 4: Arrive to the event during your assigned time (depending on your entry time) the day of the event / your name will be checked off the list for entry.
Step 5: Have fun!
Please share the event with family and friends, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
