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Posted on Sun, May 30, 2010 : 2:53 p.m.

Ann Arbor 2010 Mini Maker Faire to be twice as big as last year

By Erica Hobbs

Robots, planes and lasers are just some of the things to be found this week during the second annual Ann Arbor 2010 Mini Maker Faire.

Based off MAKE Magazine’s Maker Faire outside San Francisco, the smaller Ann Arbor version is a daylong festival of do-it-yourself activities for adults and kids alike.

“Kids see how things are made and then take it home with them,” organizer Bob Stack said. “The adults get interested in the technological part of it, and the kids get into the dazzle of it.”

The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 5 at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road in Ann Arbor. Admission is free.

Organizers said this year’s faire will be at least twice as big as last year’s fair, with more than 40 exhibitors filling up three Farm Council buildings.


Exhibitors this year include representatives from the Ann Arbor District Library and FIRST Robotics teams from area high schools, among others. Booths will include demonstrations on making foam model planes, a DIY laser light show and a ferrofluid microscope. 

Other booths will include a demonstration on how to solder and an exhibit where participants can learn to make their own juggling balls, then learn to juggle.

“It’s a do-it-yourself festival,” said Dale Grover, another organizer. “People come to be inspired by this stuff to do it on their own.”

While the festival is twice as big as last year, organizers said there’s still room for more.

Booths are free and open to anyone with a project, machine, technique or creation to share. Click here for exhibit applications. Organizers say they are also looking for more sponsors and volunteers.

Detroit will host its own Maker Faire July 31 through Aug. 1 at The Henry Ford.

Comments

jns131

Mon, May 31, 2010 : 4:40 p.m.

Greenfield Village is having one of its own in July. I would love to go to this one. These things sound wonderful.

michiganpoorboy

Mon, May 31, 2010 : 4 a.m.

Cool