Octavia E. Butler Library Science Fiction Festival 2025
Please join us for the Octavia E. Butler Library Science Fiction Festival on March 21st from 3-6 pm. Register for free using the form on this page. Únase a nosotros en el Festival de ciencia ficción de la biblioteca Octavia E. Butler el 21 de marzo de 3 a 6 p. m. Regístrese de forma gratuita utilizando el formulario en esta página.
ENTERING THE FESTIVAL: On the day of the festival, enter the campus through the pedestrian gate off of Marengo Ave. Follow the sidewalk to the ramp to check-in.
INGRESO AL FESTIVAL: El día del festival, ingrese al campus por la puerta peatonal de Marengo Ave. Siga la acera hasta la rampa para registrarse.
Register to Attend the Festival by Completing the Form
A main feature of the festival is a free book fair in collaboration with Octavia's Bookshelf. Please consider donating books to be given away to middle school students in Pasadena, CA at our annual Octavia E. Butler Library Science Fiction Festival.
Our festival will have activities throughout the first floor of our main buildings. Please enter the campus through our pedestrian gate off of Marengo Avenue and proceed to the ramp on the west side of campus to check in.
Missions - Scroll through to see this year's presenters - be sure to visit them and get stamps to earn a trip to the FREE Book Fair!
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (opening in 2026) will be teaching us about droids in the Star Wars universe and inviting us to create our own!
Costume Workshop: What can you create with leftover craft materials? Make a sustainable sci-fi costume with Remainders Creative Reuse.
Hang out with Aaron Tupac from Exploring the Mycoverse and view some fungi specimens while learning about the hidden secrets of the mycoverse!
Code a Robot: Learn how to code a robot with the OEB Robotics Team!
Grab some friends and star in a trailer for a classic-style Sci Fi film! Josh Evans of Talk Story to Me has prepared some original trailer scripts for you.
Join Carnegie astronomers to learn about the science behind Spectroscopy.
Join Cal Poly Pomona Department of Landscape Architecture for a fun board game event where you can design your own city! You'll use cool ideas from landscape architecture to plan green spaces and make cities more livable. Work with friends to create a sustainable city model and learn about urban planning along the way.
Play with light and shapes to create an out of this world kaleidoscope with Lightbringer Project!
Join USC's Department of Physics and Astronomy to safely view sunspots on a telescope and learn how they are formed!
Science fiction is a subset of speculative fiction--the imagining of possible worlds that aren't our own. Developing speculative worlds allows readers to explore the "what-if"s of reality. This event with author Rie Lee invites you to build your own speculative world, inviting you to answer your own "what-if" questions that resonate with you today!
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a mapping tool that allows you to explore data, illuminate patterns, and uncover relationships in understanding our world. Students from Cal Poly Pomona's Center for Geographic Information Science Research will showcase how GIS is used to identify the root causes of the societal challenges we live in and how everyone’s ideas can be used to create the communities and future they desire.
Spend some time with Mt. Wilson Observatory and view the sun with a spectroscopy filter!
Join Like-U for an interactive mind-mapping experience designed to spark creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration! Using creative prompts, participants will visually map out ideas, explore diverse perspectives, and tackle real-world challenges in a fun and dynamic way.
Get ready for a fun and exciting poetry show! East Los Soul: Stories in Poetry brings powerful words to life with rhythm, heart, and storytelling.
Learn all about the brain with neuroscientists from Caltech!
The Open Source Rover will be roaming about the festival. Follow it and learn how you and your school can build your own rover, like the rovers that are currently on Mars!
Learn how to program an Ozobot and earn a chance to win one with YWCA Techgyrls.
Catch a screening and discussion of Sankofa City, an interactive film about generating a cross-disciplinary methodology for future-facing participatory design by combining the disparate fields of urban planning, community art, education, social science research, and speculative design.
Join the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to explore several ways to measure temperature and how to move heat around effectively.
Harness the power of the sun and make solar bracelets with the Pasadena Department of Water and Power!
Don't miss these festival highlights!
Complete missions for a chance to visit our FREE book fair hosted by Octavia's Bookshelf! There will be swag bags, books, and other surprises while supplies last! You can also donate to the free book fair!
Don't miss a chance to meet some of your favorite Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion!
Visit the FREE photo booth to make a festival memento!
Be sure to visit the Contest Gallery and see all of this year's entries and winners to the Octavia E. Butler Library Science Fiction Contest!
Come in your best sci fi costume or make one in our Costume Workshop with Remainders and compete in our cosplay contest!
Please consider bringing cash to purchase snacks that support our school and programs.
Support our OEB Band and Orchestra by purchasing nachos!
Support our OEB Glee Club by purchasing some treats!
Support our OEB ASB by purchasing pizza!
Kona Ice will be at the fest and donating proceeds to the school!
We will have information and resources from many agencies and community partners at the festival.
A representative from FEMA will be on hand to answer Eaton Fire Recovery questions and help our guests check status on applications.
Constituent Services from State Senator Sasha Renée Perez will be on site to provide guidance about resources for recovering after the Eaton fire.
Learn about PACTL's programs.
Learn more about the programs offered at Octavia E. Butler Magnet!
Learn more about the programs offered by Young and Healthy!
Learn more about the programs offered by Young and Healthy!
Learn more about the programs offered by Foundation for a Drug-Free World!
Learn more about the programs offered by the Boys and Girls Club!
Learn more about the programs offered by WyldLife!
Learn more about the programs offered by the Harmony Project!
Enjoy LAist news coverage of last year's festival!
LAist Feature about the Sci-Fi Festival: A School Renamed For Octavia E. Butler Is Trying To Live Up To Her Legacy
LAist Article: A New Generation of Science Fiction Writers - image of student holding the contest book
LAist article cover image with librarian, Natalie Daily. Science Fiction For Young Adults: An LAist Guide From Middle School Students
Take a look at our previous festivals!
Present, Sponsor, Donate, or Volunteer to help make our festival a success!
Register to Attend the Festival by Completing the Form
