Maker Faire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maker Faire |
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ORBIT 2 Kinetic Sculpture by Carl Pisaturo shown at 2008 Maker Faire
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| Location(s) | San Mateo, California Dearborn, Michigan Queens, New York |
| Years active | Since 2006 |
Maker Faire is a cool event where people who love to make things come together! It's like a big show for inventors, artists, and anyone who enjoys do it yourself (DIY) projects. You'll see amazing creations from areas like robotics, 3D printing, computers, and arts and crafts. It was started in 2006 by Make magazine.
Contents
History of Maker Faire
In 2005, a person named Dale Dougherty started Make: magazine. Just one year later, in 2006, the very first Maker Faire was held in San Mateo, California. About 20,000 people came to see all the cool inventions!
Over the next 13 years, Maker Faire grew a lot. It expanded to more than 200 events in over 40 countries around the world. In 2019, the company behind Maker Faire changed its name to Make Community, led by Dale Dougherty.
Maker Faires in the United States
Main Maker Faires
The biggest Maker Faires, sometimes called "Flagship" events, are usually held in San Mateo, California and New York City.
The last Bay Area Maker Faire in San Mateo was in 2019. It faced some challenges and wasn't held in 2020. However, a new Bay Area Maker Faire happened in October 2023 in Vallejo, California.
The New York Maker Faire is also known as the "World Maker Faire." The New York City event was cancelled in 2019 due to difficulties. The most recent New York City Faire took place in Coney Island in 2023.
White House Maker Faire
On June 18, 2014, President Obama hosted a special Maker Faire at the White House. It was the first and only time this happened!
Past US Events and Highlights
2008 Maker Faire Fun
The 2008 Maker Faire in San Mateo was held on May 3–4. It was packed with awesome projects! Imagine a human-sized Mouse Trap game, a giant kinetic squid sculpture, and a huge steel butterfly with a 55-foot wingspan. There was even a music stage powered by bicycles! About 65,000 people attended this event.
Another Maker Faire in 2008 took place in Austin, Texas, on October 18–19.
2020 Online Event
In 2020, Maker Faire XV was held online, allowing people to participate from home.
Maker Faires Around the World
Maker Faires aren't just in the US; they happen all over the world! You can find them in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.
The first Maker Faire in Africa happened in Ghana in 2009. In the United Kingdom, the first Maker Faire was held in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2009.
Canada had its first Mini Maker Faire in Ottawa, Ontario, in 2010. The first Maker Faire in Hong Kong was held in 2014. It grew a lot the next year, organized by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
In 2015, the US Embassy in Cairo and Fab Lab Egypt started organizing Maker Faire Cairo. Thousands of visitors came to see the inventions there.
Mini Maker Faires
Make magazine helps people in local communities organize smaller versions of the event called Mini Maker Faires. These events bring the spirit of making to more places.
In 2011, Mini Maker Faires were held in many cities across Canada, the United Kingdom, and the USA.
School Maker Faires
Schools can also host their own School Maker Faires. This gives students a chance to show off their creative projects and learn from each other.
See also
- Makezine
- Maker culture
- Power Racing Series
