YOUNGSTOWN — UFPOs — Unidentified Flying Paper Objects — will be seen over Wean Foundation Park for Silly Science Sunday.

The annual family event presented by OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology is moving this year from West Federal Street and Central Square to the park, which allows for some offerings that weren’t possible before.

The decision to move wasn’t announced until late August, but it had been under consideration since spring, according to Colleen Ruby, OH WOW’s director of operations.

“With everything going on downtown with the road construction and the Realty Tower situation, we just didn’t know what was going to be happening come September, so we started making alternate plans,” Ruby said. “When we brought on our new executive director, Katie DeToro, she made the final decision to go ahead and move it … They’d be able to park right at the Covelli Centre, walk to the park and enjoy the festival. With everything going on downtown, it will just make it a better experience for our visitors.”

The move provided some logistical challenges. Many of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities require electricity and / or water, and there are only two sources of each in the park, Ruby said.

It also required additional planning as OH WOW’s staff had to adapt the layout and rethink various elements, things that had been in place for years with an event in its 14th year. Ruby praised JAC Management Group, which handles operations at the park, for its assistance with the move.

On the plus side, the new site allowed for new opportunities.

“Because we have all that space, we’re going to have a foam party starting at noon, where the kids can run through the foam,” Ruby said. “Since we have all this area, we figured, why not use it? And then, since we have the Market Street Bridge, we’re doing our paper airplane challenge, where we’re challenging the kids to design and model a giant paper airplane using like 36-by-48 (inch) giant sheets of paper, and we’re going to be launching them from the Market Street Bridge.

“We’re going to be doing one launch time for accuracy, throwing them towards targets in Wean Park. Then, at another time, we’re going to be launching them for distance to see whose plane goes farthest. We have new opportunities that we didn’t have when we were right outside OH WOW’s doors.”

Children also will be able to ride on robotic recliners, witness chemical reactions and partake in other activities provided by the exhibitors.

Many of OH WOW’s partners continue to be involved in the event, including Youngstown State University College of STEM, area robotics teams, The Butler Institute of American Art, SMARTS and The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

Additional exhibitors include YWCA Mahoning Valley, First Robotics, MCCTC, Valley STEM Academy, BRITE Energy Innovators, Home Depot-Austintown, Sharon Robotics, City Machine Technologies, Akron Children’s Hospital, America Makes and Roth ID Tag.

Food will be available during Silly Science Sunday from Sweet Sips, One Hot Cookie, Armida’s Cucina and R&J Smokers.

Pre-COVID-19, Silly Science Sunday had grown to attract nearly 5,000 people, Ruby said. Post-pandemic attendance has been between 2,000 and 2,500.

“We’re not back up to those numbers yet, but we’re hoping to get back up there someday soon,” Ruby said.