The Computer History Museum is extending its celebration of Apple’s 50th anniversary with a special public event called TechFest. Following a recent panel featuring Apple veterans and former executives, the museum is inviting families and tech enthusiasts to an interactive, all-day celebration on March 28 that promises hands-on experiences with vintage Apple computers and activities for all ages.

Key Takeaways

• The Computer History Museum is hosting TechFest: Happy Birthday, Apple on March 28, 2026
• The event features Daniel Kottke, Apple employee number 12, who helped assemble the first Apple I in 1976
• Activities include hands-on experiences with vintage Apple computers, Apple-themed crafts, music, and interactive games
• Admission ranges from free for young children to $21.50 for adults
• The event follows a recent panel discussion with former Apple executives including John Sculley

Building on Recent Apple History Panel Success

The Computer History Museum recently hosted a panel discussion that brought together key figures from Apple’s history. Moderated by technology journalist David Pogue, the panel included former Apple CEO John Sculley, long-time employee Chris Espinosa, former Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering Jon Rubinstein, and former Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Avie Tevanian. The discussion offered valuable insights into the company’s evolution and included surprise appearances from other figures who played important roles in Apple’s development over the decades.

The success of that panel has apparently inspired the museum to create a more interactive public celebration that welcomes families and casual fans, not just industry professionals and historians.

What to Expect at TechFest

TechFest: Happy Birthday, Apple promises a full day of activities designed to appeal to multiple generations of Apple enthusiasts. The event centers around several key experiences that blend nostalgia with hands-on learning opportunities.

Vintage Computer Demonstrations

Retro Roadshow will provide vintage Apple computers for attendees to interact with directly. This gives younger visitors a chance to experience the devices that launched the personal computer revolution, while older attendees can revisit the machines they may have used decades ago.

Meet Daniel Kottke

A highlight of the event will be the opportunity to meet Daniel Kottke, who holds employee number 12 at Apple. Kottke worked alongside Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak during Apple’s earliest days, helping to assemble the first Apple I computers in 1976. At TechFest, Kottke will demonstrate a replica Apple I computer that can reportedly run modern software, offering a fascinating contrast between computing’s past and present.

Interactive Activities for All Ages

The museum is organizing several family-friendly activities throughout the day. Attendees can create Apple-themed party hats, dance to five decades of music hits that span Apple’s entire history, and play games like “Pin the iPod,” which puts a tech-nostalgia spin on a classic party game.

Ticket Information and Planning Your Visit

The event structure makes it accessible for families with varying budgets. Children aged 0 to 7 can attend free of charge, while tickets for others range from $6.50 to $21.50. The all-day format means families can drop in at convenient times rather than committing to a specific schedule.

For those in the Bay Area or planning a visit to California, TechFest represents a unique opportunity to experience Apple history in an interactive setting. The Computer History Museum is located in Mountain View, California, making it easily accessible for residents throughout the region.

Why This Celebration Matters

Apple’s 50th anniversary represents more than just a corporate milestone. The company’s influence on personal computing, mobile technology, and digital culture has shaped how millions of people work, communicate, and create. Events like TechFest serve an important role in preserving and sharing that history, especially with younger generations who have never known a world without iPhones or apps.

The hands-on nature of the event also addresses something that’s increasingly rare in our digital age: the ability to physically interact with the technology that changed the world. Modern devices are sealed units that discourage exploration, but the vintage computers at TechFest come from an era when understanding your computer meant opening it up and tinkering. That spirit of exploration and experimentation was fundamental to Apple’s founding, and experiencing it firsthand provides context that no video or article can fully capture.

First and Geek Verdict

TechFest: Happy Birthday, Apple offers a rare combination of education, nostalgia, and hands-on experience that should appeal to tech enthusiasts across generations. The opportunity to meet someone who was literally there at Apple’s beginning, combined with the chance to interact with the machines that started it all, makes this more than just another museum exhibit. For families in the area, the accessible pricing and all-ages activities make it a worthwhile way to spend a day learning about technology history in an engaging way. Whether you remember using these early Apple computers yourself or you’re introducing your kids to where it all began, the Computer History Museum has created an event that honors Apple’s legacy while making it tangible and accessible to everyone.