Greater KidsLinked Columbus STEM & Arts Expo Registration (11.8.26)

KidsLinked Greater Columbus STEM & Arts Expo

Presented by Meijer & Horizon Science Academy

📅 Sunday November 8th , 2026 Noon - 5PM

📍 1560 Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43240 (Behind Barnes & Noble)

Event Activity Locations - Polaris Map CLICK HERE: (All Behind Barnes & Nobles – Inside & Outside of the Lower Level Former Forever 21 location)

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Event Registration & Details:

We are excited to invite your family and friends to the 12th Annual KidsLinked Greater Columbus STEM & Arts Expo presented by Meijer & Horizon Science Academy on 11.8.26. 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 200 receive: a Free Kidsmeal Certificate to Raising Canes!

-- First 150 receive: a special VIP Bag with goodies! (1 per family)

-- First 500 receive special character visits: Meet & Greet with Teenage Mutant Ninja, SpongeBob, Pokemon!

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FEATURED ACTIVITIES:

• Maker Space: LEGO Creation Challenge | Marble Maze | Recycled Art Contest | Origami Challenge | Nerf Gun Target Tourney
• Coder Corner: Code Ninjas Gamer Showdown
• OSU Activity Area: Wind Turbine Care Competition – Blade Design Challenge
• Aviator Space: Paper Airplane Distance & Accuracy
• 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!

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Interested Being a Vendor or Sponsor? Contact us at greg@kidslinked.com

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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 – EVENT ADMISSION

(1) GOLD Entry - Event Admission: FREE (LIMIT 1,000)

• Admits entire family: Noon-5PM
• Check-in is Behind Barnes & Noble (in front of the former Forever 21 Location Outside)
• FUN PASS: Play Prize Wheel | Duck Matching Game | Lollipop Game & More!
• Scavenger Hunt
• 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, Holiday Socks or Holiday Gloves: Pick 1 of 24 Styles! (Subject to Availability) CLICK HERE

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REGISTER - COMPETITIONS & FUN ACTIVITIES

>> MAKER SPACE ACTIVITIES <<

(1) LEGO Creation Challenge – Cartoon or General: $12 Per Entry | 1:00-1:30PM | Maker Space (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.
• 2 Categories – Pick 1 at the event – CATEGORY 1: Create a Cartoon Character Scene (you will be given cartoon LEGO characters to build a scene). OR CATEGORY 2: Create any LEGO item, be creative
• Awards are determined based on creativity.
• 1st-3rd overall prizes for each age group/category. LEGO prizes for 1st place in each age group. Try to have the "most creative" LEGO build. You keep what you build!

(2) Nerf Gun Target Tourney Tournament— Physics & Fun: $5 | 1:30-2:00PM | Maker Space (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 A PRIZE = Advance Rounds for Even Bigger Prizes!
• Nerf Gun Target Tourney: 1:30–2:00 PM

(3) Marble Run Maze Tournament: $12 Per Entry | 2:00-2:30PM | Maker Space (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 Kit Examples Click Here

(4) Recycled Art Competition: FREE | 2:45–3:15 PM | Maker Space (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!

(5) Origami Art Challenge: FREE | 3:30–4:00 PM | Maker Space (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!

>> OSU ACTIVITITY AREA <<

(6) Wind Turbine Care Competition – Blade Design Challenge | 1-3PM | OSU Science Space (FREE - Limit 40 per Grade Level)

• Students test wind turbine blades and use real data to crown a winner. 30 minutes, about three test runs each.
• Elementary: Test simple designs, spot patterns in the data, and defend your best blade. Which design works best?
• Middle School: Test, analyze, change one thing, retest. How can I use what I learned to make my design better?
• High School: Add real-world energy economics — project output, revenue, costs, and profit, then pitch your design as an investment. Which design is the strongest investment?

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>> CODER CORNER ACTIVITIES <<

(7) Code Ninja’s Gamer Showdown: FREE | Noon–5:00 PM | Coder Corner-Inside (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.

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>> AVIATOR SPACE <<

(7) Paper Airplane Tournament: FREE |1:00–3:00 PM | Aviator Space (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.

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>> MAIN STAGE ACTIVITIES <<

(8) STEM & Arts Trivia Game Show: FREE | Main Stage 1:00PM (LIMIT 200)

• Ages 17 & Under
• 8 play per round - fastest buzzer answers first!
• Special Challenge Rounds
• Win Prizes Game Show Style!

(9) 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.

(10) 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.

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>> CARD & BOARD GAME ACTIVITIES <<

(11) Checkers Tournament: FREE | 12:30 - 1:30PM | (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.

(12) Candyland Tournament: FREE | 1:45–2:15PM (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.

(13) UNO Tournament: FREE | 2:30 – 3:00 PM | (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.

(14) Chess Tournament: FREE | 3:15-5:00 PM (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.

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Fun Add on Items:

(A) Character Mystery Box – Pick 1 Box: ($4 / $6 at event) Many Styles - See options: CLICK HERE

(B) Bubble Wand or Fun Item! ($7 online / $9 at event) SEE OPTIONS: CLICK HERE

(C) Holiday Light Up Knitted Hat ($8) - Great Gifts!

• SEE 24 DIFFERENT DESIGNS

(D) Holiday Snowflake Gloves ($4)

• SEE 4 DIFFERENT STYLES HERE

(E) Holiday Warm Socks ($4)

• SEE 5 DIFFERENT STYLES HERE

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EVENT ACTIVITY LOCATIONS:

(All Behind Barnes & Nobles – Inside & Outside of the Lower Level Former Forever 21 location) – Polaris Mall Map CLICK HERE

• Event Check-in: Outside Behind Barnes & Nobles
• Main Stage: Center Courtyard – Outside Behind Barnes & Noble
• Maker Space: Courtyard – Outside Behind Barnes & Noble
• Board & Card Game Area: Inside Lower Level of Former Forever 21 Location - Behind Barnes & Noble
• Coder Corner: Inside Former Forever 21 Location at Coder School Booth
• OSU Science Space: Inside Former Forever 21 Location at OSU Science Booth
• Aviator Space: Courtyard Area Outside at Civil Air Patrol Ohio Wing Booth

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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!

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Event Schedule Highlights:

**See Locations Below**

• Noon: Event Opens (Stop by Check-in – Behind Barne's & Nobles - Outside Courtyard Area)
• 12:30-1:30 PM — Checkers Tournament (Board Game Area)
• 12:30-5:00 PM — Code Ninja Gamer Showdown (Coder Corner)
• 1:00 PM — STEM & Arts Trivia Game Show (Main Stage)
• 1:00-3:00 PM — Airplane Competition (Aviator Space)
• 1:00-1:30 PM — LEGO Creation Challenge (Main Stage)
• 1:00–3:00 PM — Wind Turbine – Blade Design Challenge (OSU Science Space)
• 1:30-2:00 PM — Nerf Gun Tournament (Maker Space)
• 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)
• 2:30–3:00 PM — UNO Tournament (Board Game Area)
• 2:45-3:15 PM — Recycled Art Competition (Maker Space)
• 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)
• 5:00 PM — Event Ends (Thank you for coming!!)

Make sure you pre-register to participate for all the fun activities!

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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 prizes
• Bubble – Bubble Gum Game: Spin to win bubbles, blow pops, bubble gum/candy or more prizes – yeah!

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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!