This weekend, the Palmer Events Center will host Maker Faire Austin, a two-day celebration of creativity and DIY culture. Hundreds of folks from the Central Texas community and beyond will come together to show off their works, share tips and advice, and just generally enjoy the Maker life.
"People say it's the biggest show-and-tell in Central Texas or even beyond," says Maker Faire producer Kami Wilt. There will be zones for art, crafts, technology, robotics, science, and fashion. "[There are] just so many different facets of making that people get to explore and find their little niche that they're most interested in," says Wilt.
Joey Ficklin is a Maker himself and the director of Maker Faire Austin. "If you have something and you don't think it's yours unless you can fix it yourself, you're probably a maker," Ficklin says. "If you do something other in life than just...buy and consume things, you're probably a maker."
There will be much to see and do at the faire, including giant robots, drone races, fashion swaps and shows, and lots more. Ficklin's also very excited about an area of the faire known as the Darkened Room. "We turn the lights down and in that room is where we have our fashion shows, but [also] lots of really large light and interactive-based pieces of sculpture and artwork," he says. "Everything at the faire is very interactive."
Wilt's happy about all the big-ticket items, but also those smaller moments when people make a connection with something new. "What I feel like the real meat of Maker Faire really is... is people find their little niche," she says. "Because there's so many different, really super-engaging, fun things."
Maker Faire Austin is May 13-14 at the Palmer Events Center.
