Do I need to pay to get into the event?

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, it is a FREE event! Donations are welcome, as Mars New Year is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

 

Where is parking available?

Free street parking is available throughout the borough. There will also be free parking at Mars High School. A shuttle will be available from the Mars High School to downtown Mars about every 15 minutes. The shuttle stops will be marked by Mars New Year flags. 

 

Where do I enter the festival?

The festival can be accessed on foot by Grand Ave, Duncan Alley, Pittsburgh St, or Marshall Way. The shuttle from the Mars High School parking lot will drop off on Marshall Way. The address for the festival for GPS is 100 Pittsburgh Street, Mars, PA 16046. 

 

Where can I find more information on-site?

The information tent will be located across from the Flying Saucer, near Mars Bank. 

 

What is the schedule for the day?

There will be exhibitors throughout the festival area. A drone show will end the festival on both nights. See the complete schedule on the Festival page. 

 

What roads will be closed off for the festival?

Pittsburgh Street from Crowe Avenue to Grand Avenue

Grand Avenue from Marshall Way to Clark Street

All of Duncan Avenue

 

What children’s activities will be available on site?

Yes, we will have a children’s zone with a variety of activities. Please do not leave your children unsupervised. 

 

Where do I sign up for the LEGO contest?

Sign up using this link here on our website. The number of teams will be limited to the time slots available. Preference will be given to youth teams (youngest to oldest age groups). Teams will be able to select from open time slots that will be sent to registered teams prior to the event. 

 

Where can I buy Mars New Year merch?

We have an online store that will ship to your home, linked here. Water from Mars will be available for purchase on site.

 

What is there to eat and drink?

A variety of food and drink choices will be available. For attendees 21 and older, Stick City Brewing will sell beer and Mazzotta Winery will sell wine and wine slushies. (P.S. Save the date for Brew Fest which benefits Mars New Year on June 17th.)

 

Where will the drone show best be viewed from? 

The drone show will begin at 10PM on both Friday and Saturday nights, and can be best viewed from Pittsburgh Street. The drones are launched behind St. John’s Specialty Care Center.

 

What is NASA’s involvement?

There will be scheduled speakers on the stage and in the NASA tents throughout the day that will be discussing a variety of science focused topics. They’re also bringing artifacts, graphic novels, NASA swag, and more.

 

Why are we celebrating Mars New Year in June?

It takes the planet Mars 687 Earth days to orbit the sun. Therefore Mars New Year does not land on the same Earth day each orbit. 

 

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, it must be on a leash at all times. Feel free to enter your dog in the costume contest, as we have a pet category!

 

Is there a rain date?

No, the event is rain or shine. In the event of lightning or strong winds, we may have to cancel some programs. In the event of inclement weather, we will do our set to move programs inside. 

 

What kind of exhibitors will be there?

All of the exhibitors are STEAM and education related. See a complete list on the festival page of our website.

 

Is the festival wheelchair accessible?

All of the exhibitors and activities will be on the streets and there will be ADA portable bathrooms.