The 33rd annual Graand Kinetic Challenge returns to Corvallis July 18-19, where these quirky contraptions are a sight to behold and enjoy. Coinciding with the race on Saturday is Oregon State University’s STEM Research Center’s Corvallis Kaleidoscope’s free festival featuring interactive S.T.E.A.M. activities and demos, robotics competition, art projects, plus music and cultural performances. Together they create a full weekend of free, family-friendly S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) experiences.
At the heart of the weekend is the Graand Kinetic Challenge, featuring human-powered, pedal-pushed, all-terrain, kinetic art sculptures that race over land, sand, mud, and float the Willamette River. Equal parts engineering challenge, art form, and spectacle, this “see it to believe it” event is known for its wildly imaginative machines, costumed participants, and delightfully unconventional approach to racing. As is often heard, come for “The Fun of It!”