Maker Faire Milwaukee, which takes place this weekend at State Fair Park, is exactly what it sounds like: a place where Milwaukeeans of all ages and backgrounds gather together to show what they are making and share what they are learning.
The three-day event – co-hosted by The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum and Milwaukee Makerspace – features more than 250 exhibitors displaying projects and interactions with Faire-goers.
Maker Faire Milwaukee is FREE and open to the public on Friday, Sept. 28 from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking at Wisconsin State Fair Park is $6 per vehicle. Pre-registration is encouraged; ticket information can be found here.
In 2017, Maker Faire hosted 221 faires in 38 countries, reaching 1.45 million people around the world. This is Milwaukee’s fifth Maker Faire.
"We don't call it the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth for nothing. Visitors will find something different around every corner including exhibits, performances, workshops, talks and demonstrations," says Amanda Sobczak, communications manager for the Betty Brinn Museum. "We even lined up a fire-breathing dragon this year!"
To view Maker Faire Milwaukee’s full schedule visit this page. Here are a few Maker Faire Milwaukee event highlights:
• The Industry, Career & College Exchange. Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Exchange will serve as a no-cost opportunity for Faire attendees to explore career paths, education and work opportunities related to making and the critical STEM fields.
• Midwest Tech Connect. Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Midwest Tech Connect is a series of presentations by local corporations and start-ups showcasing the technological progress of our region.
• Heavy Meta. Heavy Meta is a 30-foot long, 19-foot tall fire-breathing dragon art car with interactive sound, kinetic and light components. Performances will be held all three days of the event.
• Handmade Marketplace. The Faire’s Handmade Marketplace will feature 30 commercial makers exhibiting and selling their work in the Exposition Center and on Main Street.
• Music Showcase. On Sept. 28 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. four local experimental music acts – Lucky Bone, Bachelorette Party, Dan of Earth and The Smudge – will provide unique performances on the Wisconsin State Fair Park grounds. Guest DJ Tarik Moody of 88.9 will provide music from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
• The Wearable Art and Cosplay Fashion Show. Takes place Sept. 29 at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. and Sept. 30 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. More than 30 costumes will be featured in a new wearable art and Cosplay fashion show.
• The Power Racing Series. On Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.; and Sept. 30 from 1 to 2 p.m. guests can enjoy multiple races by local teams competing with their modified electric kids’ ride-on vehicles.
Special presentations:
• Product Development 101 with the UW-Milwaukee Prototyping Center. Kyle Jansson, from the UWM Prototyping Center, will share information about contract product development – from ideas to production, including regulatory compliance, design, fabrication, patent applications, funding and sales. Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. and Sept. 30 at 11:30 a.m.
• United Brotherhood and Sisterhood of Carpenters and Joiners. A panel discussion about women in the trades highlighting training, education and skilled-construction professions. Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.
• Making Makers : A Guide to Making Cool Stuff (and Great Memories!) with Your Kids. Sept. 30 at 12:30 p.m.
Workshops and events:
• Design & Build Derby. A hands-on building activity presented by Kohl’s that invites guests to assemble (and decorate) a small wooden car and race them down one of Maker Faire Milwaukee’s mini racing tracks. A $2 workshop fee applies.
• Solve the Rubik’s Cube. A 30-minute workshop presented by 14-year-old Levi Edler on Sept. 29 at 2:30 p.m. that teaches the beginning steps to solving the Rubik’s Cube. A cube to keep, how-to manual and follow-up instruction (if desired) are included for $15. Cubing demos from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
• Rotorway Helicopter. Howard Schlei, a local pilot, author, and businessman, will showcase his kit-built, two-person, fully-functional helicopter.
• The Milwaukee Tesla Coil Builders Group: Milwaukee Makerspace educators will provide educational demonstrations of smaller electric devices and performances with the large coils.
• Build-a-Blinkie. A traveling soldering workshop. Soldering materials and tools will be provided, along with instructions from booth educators.
• Laser Comedy Show. A unique performance art by Chicago comedian Chris Fair. Chris uses laser reactive technology in combination with his skills in drawing, acting and improv to tell a superhero story based on suggestions from the audience. Ninety-minute workshops will be available, a $10 fee applies.
• Re-Creation Station. A do-it-yourself workshop area with art supplies and materials for creative reuse.
• Be A Maker Craft Lab. The Craft Lab is an open-making space for makers of all ages with make-and-take activities as well as collaborative projects. A $5 workshop fee applies.
• Be A Maker: Rocketeer. Make a prototype foam rocket and test it on a DIY pump launch pad. A $2 materials fee applies.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
