On Saturday, May 19th, The University of Akron Wayne College will host the second annual Mini Maker Faire for Wayne County and the surrounding area. Maker Faire is part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new!
As a celebration of the Maker Movement, it’s a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. The Faire gathers together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, food artisans, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. Makers come to show their creations and share their learnings. Attendees flock to Maker Faires to glimpse the future and find the inspiration to become Makers themselves.
There are 200 faires occurring all over the world. In 2014, a record 215,000 people attended the two flagship Maker Faires in the Bay Area and New York. In Ohio, there are annual “Mini” Maker Faires in Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Akron, and Canton, drawing more than 1,500 to each event.
Call for Makers
Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. It’s a venue for makers to show examples of their work and interact with others about it. Many makers say they have no other place to share what they do. DIY (Do-It-Yourself) is often invisible in our communities, taking place in shops, garages and on kitchen tables. It’s typically out of the spotlight of traditional art or science or craft events. Maker Faire makes visible these projects and ideas that we don’t encounter every day.
Want to be a part of this exciting community event? Anyone can participate in a Maker Faire. Bring your own creations, inventions, hobbies to the Faire and invite friends & family who are inventive, resourceful, and creative. Community organizations (such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Girl/Boy Scouts, youth clubs, etc.) and schools (arts, science, STEM/STEAM) are perfect for bringing projects to a Maker Faire as well as businesses that produce innovative and unusual products. Participation in the Wayne County Mini Maker Faire is free. Please fill-out an application at waynecounty.makerfaire.com by April 1st.
Be a Volunteer or Sponsor
Wayne County Mini Maker Faire is a community-based learning event that inspires everyone to become a maker and connect with people & projects in their local community. Yet, Maker Faire is a “fair” — fun, engaging, and exciting. There are many areas to volunteer such as production, setup, check-in, booth assistance, crowd control, and more. If you wish to volunteer, we welcome your help!
Have your business be a Maker at the event with an interactive booth and educate attendees about your company or what you make every day. Sponsoring the Wayne County Mini Maker Faire with financial support, goods, and services at various levels provides “perks” such as your company logo on Maker Faire communications, volunteer shirts, printed materials, website presence, and banners at the Faire. Having a booth at the Faire is great advertising and a wonderful way to connect with the community.
To become a sponsor or volunteer, please contact Tom Hammond at makerfaire@uakron.edu or by calling 330-684-8722.
The Wayne County Mini Maker Faire brought to you by The University of Akron Wayne College and is made possible through the support of our platinum-level sponsors: the Romich Foundation and Make: Makezine.com. Come join the fun! Apply to be a maker at waynecounty.makerfaire.com today.