DOWNEY — The Columbia Memorial Space Center will host a virtual version of its annual Rocket Fever festival this Saturday.

Rocket Fever has become a popular attraction at Downey’s space museum over the past several years; its main attraction being the launching of rockets given to and assembled by attendees.

Unfortunately, the onset of COVID-19 has put a stop to large gatherings of any sort, even having physically closed CMSC for several months.

However, the CMSC has maintained its momentum, now carrying it into the weekend.

According to museum Executive Director Ben Dickow, museum staff, “made a commitment pretty early on that we would continue operations as much as we could,” even as the coronavirus forcibly shuttered most others.

This meant pivoting to a virtual platform.

“It’s given us, the staff just an incredible amount of creativity and freedom to try to rethink how to do this stuff for a virtual platform.”

For the anticipated Rocket festival, this means that many of the same programming will now be streamed for science enthusiasts to enjoy safely at home.

And yes, that still includes rocket launches.

“We’ve kept most of the same elements, even with the rocket giveaway,” said Dickow. “Estes Rockets, the premier model rocket company, they’re the ones that in the past, they would always provide 7-800 rockets that we would give away to all the kids that showed up to the space center for free. The kids would be able to build their rockets, and then a certain percentage we would be able to launch on Rocket Fever day.”

“This year, we did the same thing, but obviously not kids showing up to the space center…Estes sent every kid who registered a free rocket kit to their home, so that kids all over Southern California – at least 700 of them – could have a free rocket kit that they’ve been building for a few weeks.”

Dickow says that of the 700 kits sent home, about 100 included an opportunity to send the rocket back to the CMSC for launch.

“Some kids out there who got these free rockets will be able to watch their rocket be launched on the 15th,” said Dickow.

Rocket Fever will take place this Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm at columbiaspacescience.org, with rocket launches taking place