What is a Maker Faire?
A Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, projects. We call it the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth – a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. There are many Maker Faires across the world, and it’s so cool that Roanoke will have it’s very own AND that our students will be able to attend and participate in this global movement!
What will you see and do at the Roanoke Mini Maker Faire?
Students from all over the New River and Roanoke Valleys will be showing off their Maker skills – from lip balm to an interactive ocean exhibit to a dancing troupe of robots and much more. Other Makers will be there too, including the Roanoke Robotics & Makers Club with their retro arcade games and robots. There will be a chance to make Milkweed Missiles with kids from Green Valley Elementary and talk to the Wind Turbinators from Valley Elementary, and all sorts of other opportunities for kids (and kids at hear) to build and make. All ages are welcome to attend, and it’s FREE!
Karen Richardson from The Virginia Society of Technology in Education and Hannah Weiss from the Science Museum of Western Virginia have been instrumental in getting this event to happen in our own backyard, and I am so grateful for their expertise and hard work. Checkout the website for the event, reserve your free tickets, and check out the list of Makers that will be there.
We hope you will bring the whole family and stop by to glimpse the future and get inspired at the Greatest Show and Tell (on Earth)!