The second annual Lehigh Valley Space Fest touched down at Lafayette from Oct. 12-13.
“That was a pretty successful weekend,” co-founder and NASA Solar System ambassador Marty McGuire said. “So many kids, so many excited parents and families, youngsters who knew more facts than I think I did on several topics. It’s just amazing and inspiring.”
He estimated that over 3,000 people had attended over the course of the event.
“Our vision is quite simple,” McGuire said. “How do you bring that excitement and passion that we’ve got for sharing that education and knowledge about space with more people?”
To McGuire and the other founders of Space Fest, the answer was to make space education as interactive and hands-on as possible.
“A big part of this is making it relatable, turning complex ideas into things that the average person who doesn’t have a science background could get,” he said.
Anderson Courtyard saw all-day outdoor activities, including solar telescopes, stomp rockets and robot demonstrations.
“We’re presenting to the community, showing off what we’re doing, letting kids drive it around,” said James Shanely, the electrical team lead for Lehigh University Space Initiative, who gestured to the never-ending line of kids waiting to pilot a space rover across the lawn from a computer station.
“They can get a good idea of what it’s like to work on something like a rover, and maybe get inspiration,” he continued.
Hugel Science Center hosted a dozen lectures over the two-day event, introducing attendees to topics including dark matter and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center was transformed into the main convention hall, featuring exhibitors, a mini vendor hall and kid’s crafts and shows.
Zachary Seiler, an engineer at United Launch Alliance, was one of multiple exhibitors discussing their work in the space industry.
Seiler said he was at Space Fest to “check out everything and get the community more involved in space.”
Despite the surplus of children’s activities, Seiler was there to provide information to those interested in joining the space industry.
Dr. Willie Yee performed multiple Space Trek-themed magic shows as S’kai, the self-proclaimed “Vulcan’s Greatest Magician.”
Yee first learned magic as a way to connect people when working as a Red Cross volunteer. Now, his shows like the one he presented at Space Fest combine classic tricks with Trekkie references and science facts.
“I just wanted to help out in any way I can,” Yee said of his decision to perform at the event.
“This is beyond our dreams about what Lehigh Valley Space Fest could become,” McGuire said of the completed weekend. He said that the event is planned to be hosted at Lafayette again next year.
Carden Osborne ‘27 contributed reporting.
