Join Vanguard Gifted Academy for an exciting day of hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math at Northern Illinois University’s annual STEM Fest!
Welcoming thousands of visitors each year, STEM Fest features hundreds of interactive exhibits, university and industry demonstrations, and real-world career exploration. We strongly encourage all Vanguard students and families to attend, explore the campus, and stop by the Vanguard Gifted Academy booth to test your problem-solving skills with hands-on challenges!
Event Details
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Public Event Hours: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Cost: Free admission and open to all ages
Campus Locations: NIU Holmes Student Center, MLK Commons, and Swen Parson Hall
Campus Map & Directions: NIU Main Campus Maps
Schedule of the Day
10:00 AM: Event opens to the public across all venue locations
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Lunch available / served on campus
3:00 PM: Event closes to the public
Exhibitor Schedule (Vanguard Team & Volunteers)
7:15 AM: Exhibitor check-in opens
9:30 AM: Booth set-up complete
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Booth open and fully operational
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Exhibit pack-up and clean-up
Parking Information
Cost: Free for all attendees on the day of the event.
Visitor Parking Lot (Carroll Ave): Limited free spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis.
NIU Parking Structure (Overflow): Available once the visitor lot reaches capacity (GPS Address: 121 Normal Road, DeKalb, IL).