What is a Maker Faire®?
The festival for inspiration, creativity and innovation
Americans speak of “The Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth” and mean that a Maker Fair is a science fair on the one hand, and a kind of fairground and something completely new at the same time.
It is a family-friendly festival for inspiration, creativity and innovation. From knowledge exchange to start-up.
This is where makers come together to present their projects to a broad public. It is also a place for personal networking and the exchange of knowledge. For some exhibitors, presence at a Maker Faire® is also the beginning of a successful start-up.
“Touch and try” is capitalized. At every Maker Fair there are many interesting stations for participation, supplemented by exciting lectures and workshops, with a special focus on the topic of education. Children and pupils are inspired in a creative and playful way for science, technology and the joyful use of materials and tools.
The first Maker Faire® took place in 2006 in San Mateo, California, organized by the editors of the American Make magazine, and the annual event in the Bay Area has become a platform for 900 exhibitors and more than 130,000 visitors. Worldwide there are 375 events in 44 countries (status end of 2018).