FIN Columbus District Event
Columbus East High School
Columbus East High School
Saturday – Sunday March 20-22, 2026
Public Information
Cost: Free – Tickets not required
If the public would like to tour the pits, safety glasses and close toed shoes are required. There will be safety glasses for the public to borrow.
Public Hours
Saturday, March 21 Doors open: 8AM Eastern – Pits close 8PM Eastern
Sunday, March 22 Doors open 8AM Eastern – Pits close 6PM Eastern
Coopertition® STEM Lab
Where teamwork goes beyond the field.
We invite you to partner with friends, family, or members of other teams for fast-paced STEM challenges and interactive activities designed for all ages. Think Escape Room with STEM puzzles!
Team Information
Food at the Event
Rookie QuickBuild
Food Truck Festival at the Columbus District Event
We’re excited to welcome a variety of food trucks throughout the weekend for teams, mentors, volunteers, and spectators.
Friday, March 20 — 5:00–9:00 PM (Load‑In)
The following trucks will be onsite as teams arrive and unload:
- Antojitos Rosita — authentic Mexican cuisine
- D&D Lunchbox — BBQ
- Party Chef — comfort‑food favorites
- Lemonade Bros. — craft lemonade drinks
- Miss Rachel’s Neat Treats — frozen treats
Saturday, March 21 & Sunday, March 22 — 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
- All Friday trucks will return, plus additional options:
- The 250 Grill — gourmet grilled cheese and tenderloins
- Big JT’s BBQ & Street Eats — BBQ and street‑style meals
- Patriot Pizza — fresh pizza
- Java Goat Coffee & Dirty Sodas — coffee, sodas, and specialty drinks
- Cookie Paradise — cookies and sweet treats
We are excited to announce a “pre-rookie” FRC team is forming in New Albany, Indiana at the Prosser Career Center. They are bringing two mentors and 12 students to do a Quickbuild day and immerse themselves into FRC on Saturday, March 21 from 9AM – 3PM
Here is how you can help!
We have a SignUp Genius where your team can donate or purchase the remaining parts for this group’s kitbot. Once you select the items you will buy or donate, please bring them to pit admin during team load in.
We are looking for teams to “adopt” 2-3 students for lunch. Please email cosborne@firstindianarobotics.org with how many students you can take for lunch. Then on Saturday, we’ll introduce you to the students you’ll have.
We are looking for a couple of mentors or students who would be willing to check in during the day on the progress the team is making on their chassis. There is a unique volunteer role for this event called “Rookie Quickbuild.” Here is the link to sign up. Please indicate in the notes section what time on Saturday, you’d be available. Also, we are not counting these volunteer signups towards our volunteer numbers for meals. Please still arrange to eat with your team.
About the Event
Each January brings a new challenge for FIRST® Robotics Competition (ages 14-18 / grades 9-12) teams. Starting with a Kit of Parts, they design, program, and build industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed game as part of a three-team alliance.
In 360-degree learning guided by mentors, students learn engineering and problem-solving skills as they compete for awards, hone teamwork skills, raise funds to meet team goals, and advance appreciation for STEM in their community.
In REBUILT™ presented by Haas, a new challenge releasing January 10, 2026, FIRST Robotics Competition teams will use engineering skills and re-imagine the past.