Neutrino Day, SURF’s free science festival, returns to Lead on July 13
SURF hosts the free citywide science festival in Lead, SD each year in July.
On July 13, the Sanford Underground Research Facility, (SURF) will host the 16th annual Neutrino Day in Lead, SD. This free, citywide science festival features hoistroom tours, science activities and exhibits for all ages, engaging talks and performances, and live video chats with engineers underground.
Neutrino Day takes place at locations across Lead, including the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, the Sanford Underground Research Facility Yates Hoistroom, Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ, Handley Recreation Center, the Hampton Inn, and the Historic Homestake Opera House. Attendees are encouraged to start the day at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, then take a shuttle or stroll along Main Street to other festival locations throughout Lead. The full Neutrino Day schedule of events can be found here, and a map of the events and activities is located here.
New additions this year include tours of SURF’s ethnobotanical garden, Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ; Mr. Freeze's Cryogenic Show, which explores interesting and fun properties of liquid nitrogen; a talk by Ian Her Many Horses, on the Power of Computer Science for Kids; plus, airplane and rocket building, cookie decorating, and hand tinting photographs; alongside a wide range of events and activities taking place all around the town of Lead.
Interactive STEM activities include the University of Colorado’s Little Shop of Physics, with experiences that make science accessible to everyone. South Dakota Mines will also be present with their ever-popular homemade liquid nitrogen ice cream alongside hands-on learning activities for all ages. This short video captures the fun and activities at Neutrino Day.
Last year Neutrino Day saw a record attendance of 2,000 people. This year the event received an additional boost from Travel South Dakota’s Tourism Advertising Promotion (TAP) Grant.
Generous support from a long list of sponsors and community partners make Neutrino Day possible, these include Black Hills Energy, Fermilab, Monument Health, Hampton Inn, RCS Construction, Coeur Wharf, Neiman, South Dakota Mines, Black Hills State University, Dakota Gold, Simpsons Printing, and community partners in Lead including Aspire Boutique, the City of Lead, Handley Center, Homestake Opera House, Lynn’s Dakotamart, Outlaw Tacos & Pizza, Pine Girl Arts, Rustic Nook Bakery, and Dakota Shivers Brewery.