SF’s Giant Free Science Festival Is Back & Now in a Lush Mini Forest
After a three-year break, the Bay Area Science Festival returns to San Francisco. This year, the free, hands-on science extravaganza takes over UCSF’s Mission Bay campus, now surrounded by leafy lawns, pine groves, and a vibe that is part city, part mini science forest.
The festival was previously held at Oracle Park, where it drew roughly 20,000 attendees each year.
From live leopard sharks and a 30-foot whale skeleton to brainwave demos, 3D-printing demos, and a “robot zoo,” there is something to tinker, touch, and explore for all ages. You can even roast marshmallows with a parabolic mirror or peek behind the scenes at labs normally closed to the public.
Hundreds of local organizations, from UC Berkeley to the California Academy of Sciences, will be on hand for experiments, games, talks, and live tapings, all free.
When: Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 11 am to 4 pm
Where: UCSF Mission Bay campus
Cost: Free
It is a rare chance to see science up close in a new, lush setting and connect with the people behind the experiments.
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