Octavia E. Butler Science Fiction Festival Returns Today

The annual Octavia E. Butler Library Science Fiction Festival returns today, March 21, bringing together science fiction enthusiasts, students, and community members at Octavia E. Butler Magnet School in Pasadena. This free event, running from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., offers attendees an opportunity to explore the intersection of science, art, and literature while honoring the legacy of renowned Pasadena science fiction author Octavia E. Butler.

“We are trying to expose our kids to the ways that fiction and art and creativity go hand in hand with science. Speculative science spurs on real science, real science inspires writers to create stories that we all enjoy,” explained school librarian Natalie Daily, who organized the first science fiction writing contest in 2020.

The festival features a wide range of activities spread throughout the first floor of the school’s main buildings. Major attractions include a free book fair hosted in collaboration with Octavia’s Bookshelf, where attendees can complete “missions” to earn access to free books and swag bags while supplies last.

Visitors can view entries and winners from the 2023-2024 Octavia E. Butler Library Science Fiction Contest, which includes categories for art, short narrative, poetry, and graphic fiction. This annual competition celebrates student creativity across multiple forms of expression.

Star Wars enthusiasts will enjoy meeting characters from the franchise through a special appearance by members of the 501st Legion, a renowned Star Wars costuming organization. Attendees are also encouraged to wear their best science fiction costumes or create one at the festival’s costume workshop run by “Remainders” to participate in the cosplay contest.

Additional activities include a free photo booth for creating festival mementos and refreshments available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the school and its programs.

The Octavia E. Butler Library Science Fiction Festival takes place at Octavia E. Butler Magnet School, located at 1505 N. Marengo Avenue in Pasadena. Attendees should enter through the pedestrian gate off Marengo Avenue, following the sidewalk to the ramp on the west side of the campus for check-in.

While registration is not required, completing the online registration form available at gopusd.com/oebfest2025 will facilitate quicker entry. The event website has been updated with comprehensive information about available activities, allowing guests to plan their visit effectively.

Since its inception, the festival has grown from humble beginnings to become an anticipated annual event in the Pasadena educational community. In 2022, the school expanded the original science fiction writing contest into a full Science Fiction Festival.

Daily emphasized that the festival aims to show students “that their ideas matter,” noting that “Butler is a testament to that… she was writing stuff and thinking about really, really deep ideas when she was a student here.” Daily further emphasized that the festival provides “ways for kids to be engaged in both science and art, and creation… To see themselves as part of all of it.”

Past festivals have featured diverse activities including telescopes, astrophysicists, time machines, fantasy fiction activities, flower pounding, robotics demonstrations, and various art workshops. A fungal expert proved particularly popular with students at last year’s event, showcasing unusual mushrooms that captivated young attendees.

The festival celebrates Butler’s legacy, who began writing science fiction while attending what was then Washington Junior High School. She later became the first science fiction writer to receive a prestigious MacArthur “genius” award and the first African American woman to win widespread recognition for writing in the genre.

The school underwent a name change to honor Butler’s legacy, with the library being renamed in 2020 and the entire school renamed as Octavia E. Butler Magnet two years later. Now, the school offers STEAM-integrated instruction and focuses on dual language Spanish immersion and English language development programs.

The festival has received enthusiastic responses from students. Brooklyn Roffman, a 7th grader quoted after a previous festival, expressed: “I think this science fiction festival is amazing! I love science fiction. I love Octavia Butler. I love her work. I just love this whole idea and how it’s executed.”

The event is made possible through collaboration with numerous community partners and sponsors, including Young & Healthy, Access Books, Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena Educational Foundation, Day One, and Octavia’s Bookshelf.

The festival has also established a book donation program, where community members can donate books to be given away to middle school students in Pasadena at the annual event.

For those interested in attending today’s event, registration remains open at gopusd.com/oebfest2025, though walk-ins are also welcome. The festival promises an afternoon of imagination, learning, and community celebration at the intersection of science and fiction.