Lehigh Valley Space Fest touches down on Lafayette’s campus · Information · Lafayette College

By: Livia Barclay ’26

Lehigh Valley Space Fest will “bring space back down to Earth” with a weekend of free, family-friendly reveals and out-of-this-world experiences at Lafayette College.

The competition invitations guests of all ages to discover the mysteries of area by means of interactive actions, hands-on demonstrations, and knowledgeable displays. 

Visitors can discover Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center, Hugel Science Center, and Anderson Courtyard, the place actions will embrace photo voltaic telescope viewings with members of the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society, stomp rockets with Da Vinci Science Center, and rocket shows towering as much as 10 toes tall. Guests can even browse meteorite collections, be taught from Apollo 11 reveals, watch rover demonstrations, and revel in children’ science exhibits, making Space Fest an thrilling and academic expertise for all ages.

Chelsea Morrese, govt director of neighborhood engagement and director of Landis Center, says she labored final 12 months with Lehigh Valley Space Fest organizers Todd Sullivan and Marty McGuire to carry the occasion to Lafayette, providing members of the neighborhood shared studying experiences. 

“The event brought thousands of people to campus, some from as far away as Reading, so we decided to do it again this year, led by our amazing events and hospitality team,” Morrese says. “Space Fest brings the community together in intellectual, creative, and recreational exploration, which are values that are also critical to the mission of Lafayette. We are grateful to be able to share our space, talent, and values with our community.”

The weekend lineup options displays from NASA scientists and ambassadors. On Sat., Oct. 11, Caleb Gallemore, affiliate professor and chair, International Affairs Program, will current “Watching the Earth From Space: A Half Century of Remote Sensing” on Saturday and Sunday. Gallemore is a geographer whose foremost space of curiosity is in land-use change, notably deforestation.

“We are very fortunate to have an array of advanced satellites operated by several countries that help us to understand changes on the Earth’s surface, and my presentation for Space Fest is a sort of love letter to all the satellite programs that make it possible for folks like me to do the work we do,” Gallemore says.

Also on Saturday, Joshua Pepper, a program scientist in NASA’s astrophysics division, will current “The Search for Life on Other Planets.” 

Lehigh Valley Space Fest will embrace a Star Trek-themed magic present, geared towards followers of science fiction, and a rover demonstration (climate allowing). Visitors are inspired to put on space-themed costumes or NASA gear to point out their pleasure, and to share pictures with #lvspacefest on social media.

Before You Go

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11-12

Where: Lafayette College’s Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center, Hugel Science Center, and Anderson Courtyard

Schedule and Details

Parking: 

• Sat., Oct. 11: Leopard (Sullivan) Parking Deck, 1492 Sullivan Road
• Sun., Oct. 12: Markle Parking Deck, 2 N. Campus Lane