Henry Ford Museum Hosts Maker Faire
DEARBORN (WWJ) - On July 30 and 31, The Henry Ford in Dearborn will be the place to visit when Maker Faire Detroit returns to Henry Ford Museum for two days of unconventional imagination and stunning ingenuity.
Over 18,000 people are expected to attended the two-day festival filled with inventors and makers displaying their creations and goods. More than 300 makers will bring their wares, ideas, inventions and solutions to Maker Faire Detroit, offering everything from robots, flame shooters and animatronics to solar-powered mechanical sculptures and fashionable finds. And don't forget the wheelchair-powered cupcake.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Sweeting spoke with Faire spokeswoman Bridgette Vanderlaan, who said the event features dozens of unique of science projects -- including some using old toys.
"They'll take those toys like a Big Wheel car that, you know, toddlers would use, and they making ... they're hacking those and making them into more serious cars and racing them this weekend," said Vanderlaan.
Vanderlaan said vistors to Maker Faire will be happy to hear that most of the exhibitors are inside the museum; the large exhibits are outdoors.
This year, 80 percent of the makers are new to Maker Faire Detroit.
First-time Michigan makers include Phillip McRoberts from Macomb and his Robbie the Robot, a roving 5-foot-tall webcam robot that streams video and audio; the Green Girl Scouts from Birmingham who turn trash into treasure like neckties into sunglasses, old magazines into gift bows and old belts into bracelets; Detroit artists Kristine Diven and Micho Detronik of District VII and their Mannequin Forest, an artificial forest of mannequins, circuitry and interaction; i3Detroit's John Sugg and his Atari 2600 turned synthesizer keyboard; and Rick Erickson of Niles and his Michiana Shanty 2, a folding portable shelter for extreme cold conditions and more.
It wouldn't be Maker Faire without some Faire favorites: The LifeSize Mousetrap, the Coke and Mentos guys, the i3Detroit Hackerspace booth, Handmade Detroit and the make-and-take Marshmallow Shooters. And don't forget about the food – along with the selection from The Henry Ford's award-winning culinary team, ticket-holders can visit the booths of Sweet Sass Foods from Livonia, Doodle's Sugarbush from Blanchard, Genesis Tea from Detroit, Naturally Nutty Foods from Traverse City, Treat Dreams from Ferndale and more.
Tickets cost $28 for adults (13-61), $19 for youth (5-12), and $26 for seniors (62+). Children 4 and under are free. Prices for a two-day pass are $48 for adults, $33 for youth, and $45 for seniors. For more information, visit thehenryford.org or makerfaire.com.
