Austin Mini Maker Faire Returns to Blow Your Mind This Weekend
Palmer Events Center sets the stage for techies and makers.
By Anne Harris, 5:01PM, Fri. May 15, 2015
Mini Maker Faire returns this weekend with interactive exhibits like the Geek Bus, mobile maker space, and the Boneshaker Big Wheel.
Mini Maker Faire celebrates making and materials with two days of everything from rockets to lace making, from robotics to custom poetry – it’s show and tell time for makers. Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely different, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students and commercial exhibitors. Interact with the makers and learn new skills through both hands-on projects or attend one of the many interactive workshops or talks scheduled all weekend. The festival has become a tradition for creative minds that want to learn, build, play, and celebrate the do-it-yourself spirit that aligns scientists, artists, techies, artisans and other creatives working across a broad cross-section of disciplines. Says organizer Kami Wilt, director and founder of Austin Tinkering School, "The Maker Faire is a launching pad for creativity, an amazing field for cross-pollination and exploration, and a place where people of all ages can get inspired and learn new skills." All of this will be set to the musical stylings of Minor Mishap Marching Band, Total Unicorn, and Mazeltov Kocktail Hour. Sound festive? Here are some of the high points we're looking forward to this weekend:
• The Boneshaker Big Wheel, a wooden "penny farthing" style bicycle
• Arduino workshops by Radio Shack
• The Drone Fly Zone and quadcopter obstacle course
• The Austin Bike Zoo's bicycle-powered carousel
• The Geek Bus mobile makerspace
• A 17' stunt jump, provided by Stunt Ranch
• A 50-foot Nerdy Derby racecar competition, sponsored by Foundry
• A speaker stage and full schedule of workshops
And here is a map to ponder before you set out:
Mini Maker Faire
Saturday & Sunday, May 16-17, 10am-6pm
Palmer Events Center
900 Barton Springs Rd.
www.austinmakerfaire.com
What is the Austin Mini-Maker Faire? from Stephen Henderson on Vimeo.
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Aug. 7, 2015
