Last year’s Exploration Expo. Image via the Atlanta Science Festival.

The Atlanta Science Festival’s grand finale will kick off on Saturday, March, 23, in Piedmont Park. Billed as “the city’s biggest science party, the “Exploration Expo” is expected to draw more than 25,000 people.

“The Exploration Expo is the biggest science party Atlanta has ever seen,” says co-founder and co-executive director, Jordan Rose, said in a statement. “I love watching the kids’ eyes light up when they touch a human brain, or a newt, or a newt’s brain! Honoring the science that’s happening in Atlanta is truly a cause for celebration, and we are proud to showcase local innovators, innovations and the pathways to STEM careers at our Expo.”

The free event will include more than100 hands-on interactive science booths, live science demos and shows from local organizations, universities and companies, according to festival materials. The seven “Zones” where the action will be taking place include:

• Encounter Zone, sponsored by Emory University: festival-goers can learn about herbs and microbes, measure Atlanta’s pollen count, and create Minecraft code.
• Discover Zone, sponsored by Mercer University & Mercer Health Sciences Center: Explore the microscopic world, battle bots and chemical reactions.
• Invent Zone, sponsored by Georgia Tech: Compose music through coding, touch a brain, touch a heart, learn about at physics and pilot an underwater robot.
• Thrive Zone, sponsored by Georgia State University: See how native plants and pollinators live, discover origami, and become a ham radio operator.
• Curious Kids Zone, sponsored by the Atlanta Section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: Create future scientists and engineers with STEM and STEAM activities specifically designed for ages 3 and older.
• STEAM Zone: Describe your love of science with a haiku, paint a piece of the live mural, and see evolution in action.
• Power-Up Zone, sponsored by Georgia Power: Take a break, grab a bite to eat and have a seat. Then, put your energy to good use at a human-powered generator, form a human circuit and learn about robots and drones.

The event starts at noon, with the Pink Ping Pong Big Bang. Thousands of pink ping-pong balls will be launched into the sky over the park, indicating the day’s festivities are commencing, according to festival materials.

The Atlanta Science Festival, now in its sixth year, is a two-week celebration of science and technology with more than 100 events held across Metro Atlanta. To learn more, visit AtlantaScienceFestival.org and ScienceATL.org