TRIP REPORT – This past weekend brought me to the 8th Annual World Maker Faire New York at the New York Hall Of Science. Maker Faires began in 2006 through the publisher of Make: magazine, with heavy sponsorship from Barnes & Noble, as family-friendly festivals celebrating invention, creativity, resourcefulness, and the Maker movement. For anyone who loves gadgets, the show floor delivers some version of nearly everything worth poking at.
I spent two days wandering the exhibits and still left sure I had missed something excellent, probably while staring at an LED.
The usual pillars of the Maker Movement were easy to find, including microelectronics, 3D printing, drones, and robotics. Larger names such as Dremel, Mimaki, and Otterbox were also there, often showing prototypes and demonstrating new tech they have in development. It is a rare chance to put your hands on the next wave of DIY gear before your wallet starts hiding from you.
Maker Faire has no shortage of 3D printers. An entire area was set aside for vendors selling models that claimed to be the biggest, smallest, fastest, or cheapest options available. Beyond the machines, plenty of booths showed off 3D printing accessories, finished pieces, and artwork of nearly every kind.
A large portion of the exhibits clearly had kids in mind, and the DIY energy was everywhere. Little Makers could build anything from a cardboard pinball set to handmade soap to PVC marshmallow guns. Kits and workshops of all sorts were offered throughout the weekend, and they were getting plenty of use.
STEM learning ran through the event in a big way. Even the toys and hands-on sessions were built to teach critical thinking plus the basics of science and mathematical theory, which is sneaky in the best way.
Art and music also get plenty of attention at Maker Faire. Roaming street bands and tech-inspired performers kept the sound going almost constantly.
The artwork tends to be large, loud, and hard to ignore. Where else are you going to find a fire-breathing dragon/bus near a robotic dinosaur steered with a hacked Nintendo Power Glove?
Maker Faire competitions make a welcome break after a day spent deciding which of the hundreds of vendors will be receiving your money. My budget looked nervous.
The Power Racing Series, billed as “the only sub-$500 electric vehicle racing series that features grown-ups driving kids cars,” is a blast to watch and brings plenty of thrills and spills.
Drone Racing, with competitors from the Aerial Sports League, was another crowd favorite. Since races ran throughout the weekend, the race area almost always had something worth stopping for.
Drone racing felt even better this year because fans could ride along during the action by wearing FPV goggles connected to the racers’ feeds.
Of course, no Maker Faire feels finished without Coke and Mentos mischief. Crowds gathered each day for the soda fountain spectacle.
If you enjoy technology, carry a nerd badge in your heart, or simply like arts and crafts, a Maker Faire has something waiting for you. To find one nearby, visit Make: magazine or the Maker Faire website here.
