Octavia E. Butler Library Science Fiction Contest & Festival 2021-2022
The contest has now ended. Click on the image below to read the literary journal showcasing our contest entries!
Octavia E. Butler Science Fiction Festival
Come celebrate all things science fiction with us on April 22nd at 3 pm. We will be updating this page with more event details as they become available. Be sure to register your attendance with the Google Form below for faster entry into the event. / Ven a celebrar todo lo relacionado con la ciencia ficción con nosotros el 22 de abril a las 3 p. m. Actualizaremos esta página con más detalles del evento a medida que estén disponibles. Asegúrese de registrar su asistencia con el formulario de Google a continuación para ingresar más rápido al evento.
All campus visitors need to wear a face mask indoors. If you don't have a face mask, we will provide you with one. Please do not attend if you have a positive COVID test or if you are feeling ill. Thank you. / Todos los visitantes del campus deben usar una máscara facial en el interior. Si no tiene una máscara facial, le proporcionaremos una. No asista si tiene una prueba de COVID positiva o si se siente enfermo. Gracias.
Sodexo Magic has donated snack boxes and bags to give away at the event while supplies last. They have also donated $50 American Express Gift Cards to our Contest Winners and will also be volunteering at the event.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Ibi Zoboi for donating copies of Starchild: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler to our Science Fiction Contest winners!
Thank you to the WSMA PTSA for providing volunteers, water, and a gallery display for this event!
Thank you to Pacific Oaks College for providing volunteers and equipment for the festival!
Thank you to PEF for supporting our event with bags and volunteers!
Thank you to the Light Bringer Project for supporting our event with volunteers and experiences!
Thank you to Pasadena Community Schools for providing support for this event and also a collection of science fiction books and graphic novels* that will be given away at the event to inspire our students.
*Books are available while supplies last.
Ibi Zoboi will be speaking to WSMA students during the school day before the festival begins.
The author will be available for a meet and greet during the festival.
Become part of the story!
Local creator Josh Evans has written two exclusive dramas for this festival. Sign up during the festival with 5 other students to record a dramatic sci-fi story with voice acting tips from Josh Evans. Mr. Evans will edit your podcasts with sound effects, and you will be able to access them by the next day. Be sure to sign up for this experience when you enter the event. Space is very limited!
Click on the pictures above to learn more about Josh Evans and check out an example of what you could create!
3 sessions: 3:30 ; 4:00 ; 4:30
Local artist Anthony Vukojevich will be leading workshops to teach students how to create their own comic strips. You will have 3 opportunities to attend this workshop with space limited to 20 students per session.
3 sessions: 3:30 ; 4:00 ; 4:30
Watch a performance of a drama written by a Caltech astronomer in either Spanish or English!
“Las aventuras de la tía Cósmica”
La extravagante y divertida tía Cósmica, astrónoma y viajera intergaláctica, nos introduce a los miles de mundos recientemente descubiertos por la humanidad y su conexión con nuestro propio planeta.
“The adventures of aunt Cosmica”
The quirky and funny Aunt Cosmica, an astronomer and intergalactic traveler, introduces us to the thousands of worlds recently discovered by mankind and their connection to our own planet.
3 English sessions: 3:30 ; 4:00 ; 4:30
3 Spanish sessions: 3:45 ; 4:15 ; 4:45
Join two astronomers from Carnegie Science Observatories as they present "Astronomy as Time Travel."
Imagine you're an alien visiting Earth for one day. You can't let anyone know you're there, and you have to report back to your home planet about how humans grow and change over the course of their lives. How would you figure it out?
This is something scientists grapple with when they try to answer questions about the history of the Universe. Through an interactive demonstration and presentation, astronomers from the Carnegie Observatories will share the techniques we use to measure and understand a Universe with stars and planets that last millions and billions of years, without even having to leave Earth.
3 sessions: 3:30 ; 4:00 ; 4:30
Dominque Butler will be delivering a presentation about JPL and NASA's work on Mars! Ms. Butler will be offering her presentation 3 different times during the event, and space is limited.
3 sessions: 3:30 ; 4:00 ; 4:30
The 501st Legion is an official Star Wars character troops endorsed by Lucas Film.
They will be at the festival for photo ops!
Visit the Curiosity Connection, the mobile Altadena Library branch to dive deeper into the world of science and fiction. Chat with the Teen Librarian and learn about Dungeon and Dragons character sheets and upcoming D&D programs or test your manga and anime knowledge by answering trivia questions with the Children’s Librarian. Don’t forget to bring your Altadena Library Card for your chance to enter a prize drawing!
Light Bringer artist Bianca Ornelas will be creating a live chalk art portrait of Octavia E Butler during the event! Be sure to stop by often to check on her progress and enjoy her work.
Be sure to check out the creation of a special sci-fi character right before your eyes by local make-up artist, Sandy Roffman. Ms. Roffman will be working on creating a character throughout the festival, and you'll have the chance to see her techniques up close.
Visit the Light Bringer Project's table to create art with Sascha Stannard.
Flintridge Bookstore will be on campus to sell a selection of books by Ibi Zoboi and Octavia E. Butler! You can purchase a book and ask Ms. Zoboi to sign it at the Author Meet & Greet*!
Click here for an order form you can print to preorder a book from Ibi Zoboi. Here is an Octavia E. Butler book order form. You can pick up and drop off your order form in the library.
*Ms. Zoboi will be available for the Meet & Greet for a limited time at the event.
Be sure to bring cash to cool off with the Kona Ice Truck!
Klassic: $4
Kollectable: $6 with $4 refill
Color Changing: $6 with $4 refill
Pasadena Public Library will be joining the event! Be sure to visit them to learn about their library programs, score some giveaways, and sign up for a library card!
ArtCenter Extension will be joining our event to showcase their classes for artists, designers, and inventors. Come check out their visuals that demonstrate Entertainment Design (film, animation, video games) and Product Design (vehicles, electronics, sports, clothing), as well as materials about our Zoom-based and in-person classes in art and design for kids in grades 4-12.
Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program - This organization will have a table at our event to share information about their afterschool youth program. Be sure to stop by to find out what they can offer.
Visit the Pasadena/Altadena Coalition of Transformative Leaders (PACTL) table to learn about how the organization works to empower parents and strengthen communities.
Stop by the Youth of Promise table to learn how they support local youth academically, socially, and emotionally.
Foothill Family will be hosting an information table! Be sure to pay them a visit and find out how they fulfill their mission of improving the social-emotional well-being of infants, children, youth, and families in the Greater Los Angeles region. We have earned a reputation for providing high-quality care which promotes long-term change that starts now and ripples outward into the community and forward through generations.