Mark Your Calendars!!! - Hosted at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation, Waltham MA 02453
Curiosity and Creativity Awaits! - May 30th, 2026
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GET READY

For a Unique STEM Event!

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About NextGen STEMFest

Hosted at the Historic Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation, the NextGen STEMFest runs from 10:00AM to 4:00PM and will have robots, biotechnology, learn about DNA, make your laser engraved keychains, learn about 3D printing, conduct your own experiment, learn about AI... and more!!!

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NextGen STEMFest: Innovate and Create

What makes Nextgen STEMfest special is a close partnership between STEM companies, non-profits, University Research and Development Labs, University Maker Spaces, STEM focused industries, and the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation. Be sure to visit them all the day!!

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Visit, Explore, and Learn!

Expert Waltham High School and youth will be sharing what they do in the Collaboratory. You will learn about different type of lasers for engraving and cutting metals and wood, UV printing, vacuum forming, and automatic farming robots!

Be sure to check out the 2026 Collaboratory impact report!

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Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation

Free Admission to the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation is a hidden gem located in Waltham, Massachusetts, housed within the historic 1814 Boston Manufacturing Company mill.

Free Admission to the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation is a hidden gem located in Waltham, Massachusetts, housed within the historic 1814 Boston Manufacturing Company mill. Often cited as the site of America's first "modern factory," the museum occupies the former boiler and engine rooms where the American Industrial Revolution truly gained its footing.

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A new kind of STEM event:

Rather than look and reading about science, at NextGen STEMFest you experience it! Come do some science with us!

What is happening at NextGen STEMfest?

Walk with a robot, make a DNA bracelet, learn to 3D print, and more!

Innovate and Create

Visit the Charles River Collaboratory to learn about new and emerging technologies!

Visit the Collaboratory

The Charles River Collaboratory is Massachusetts’s only free, and youth led Innovation/Maker Space. Throughout the day the youth will be sharing their work with 3D printing, lasers, UV printing, Vacuum Forming, and more….

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Visit the historic Charles RiverMuseum

Located in the historic Boston Manufacturing Company mill in Waltham, the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation chronicles the American Industrial Revolution through its extensive collection of steam engines, watches, and machinery. It serves as a vibrant educational hub that connects the legacy of 19th-century ingenuity to modern-day breakthroughs in technology and design. Admission is free on the day of the festival!

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2026 Exhibitors

There will be 50+ exhibitors that represent all fields of science and technology. Go hang out with robots, or learn what biotech is all about, or see what happens in university makerspaces. There is something for everyone!

Be sure to check our exhibitors page for more information about our fantastic group of individuals this year!

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A different kind of STEM festival

The inaugural NextGen STEMFest was a day-long, community-focused STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) event held on May 10th, 2025, at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham, MA. The NextGen STEMFest is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), celebrating the 75th year that the NSF has played in incubating and supporting innovation and discovery that has improved the lives of so many in the United States. In 2026, we will build on the momentum established in 2025 and plan for an even more exciting day! See you on May 30th, 2026!!