Countdown to Maker Faire
Sherry Huss
Hello Friends of Maker Faire - we are just two weeks away from Maker Faire Austin and lots of great things have been happening that we would like to share with you.
Please feel free to forward this overview to your friends and anyone interested in what will be happening at the event this year.
MAKER FAIRE PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS – You won’t want to miss this event!
Our Maker database for Austin has over 290 confirmed Makers – and some of these entries are for multiple Makers and Maker groups, which brings our total Maker count to well over 300 Makers (and we were planning for 200!). Check out the Maker Faire website for a complete overview of Makers and scheduled programming. Updates will be taking place over the next few days.
There are several featured attractions planned at Maker Faire throughout the weekend, here are some of the highlights (see attached map for more details):
- Daily Maker Faire Parade in the Maker Midway led by Austin Cycle Circus at noon each day
- The EepyBird.com Diet Coke & Mentos Fountain Show (4:00 pm daily on the outdoor EepyBird Stage)
- Life-Sized Mouse Trap with hourly performances each day
- Cyclecide Pedal Powered Amusement rides – scheduled all day, everyday
- 999 Eyes Freak Show and THAT Damned Band (daily side shows at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 and 1:30 with a main stage show at 3:30pm on the 999 Eyes Stage)
- Swap-O-Rama-Rama Fashion Show (5:00pm on Saturday, followed by a special Robot Fashion Show with designs by Brooks Coleman)
- Ongoing Musical performances featuring: Operator, Manager’s Choice, THAT Damned Band, Lori 16mm Varga, Attic Ted, Terp 2 It, Belaharr, Rattletree, Haircuts by Robots, Aux Armes, Tree Music, Screamin’ Babyheads, Seven Sexton/The Planck, Painful Leg Injuries, AtariMatt, Washtub Jerry & Bruce Newman, The Spaceinvader Orchestra, The Furby Youth Choir, Larz, Rabbitfish, Foot Patrol, Side Show Tramps, Spelunker and more
- Featured Makers and Demonstrations/Presentations on the MAKE Stage in Building A (The Arena) including: Mark Frauenfelder, Editor-in-Chief, MAKE Magazine; Marla Camp from EdibleAustin; Ted Hall of ShopBot; Wendy Tremayne from Swap-O-Rama-Rama; Caleb Chung, Ugobe; Professor Andy Holtin, University of North Texas; Bill Gurstelle, Back Yard Ballistics author; Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching; Philo Northrup, Making of ArtGolf; Mitch Altman, TVBeGone; Mister Jalopy and more
- An interactive Art Car Build with Harrod Blank that is a HEYA project made possible by TOYOTA
- Rocket making and launches (thanks to the folks at Estes- Cox) and The King of Fling Catapult Contest in the outdoor Make LaunchPad area
- And, lot’s of great Maker activities in Building B (The Show Barn); including Fire Arts, Make Pumpkin Play Day, Swap-O-Rama-Rama, Craft Corral, The ShopBot Fabrication area, Austin Children’s Museum, Alternative Energy Car Conversions, Electric Vehicles, The Geek Group, Biketown and more
And, you will be able to meet the editors of MAKE and CRAFT Magazines, as well as several featured contributors. Plus you can check out the latest Maker items including kits, books, magazines and Maker wear. Book signings, demonstrations and activities will take place every day in Building C (MAKE and CRAFT Labs and the Maker Store). A list of author signings and activities will be available on the Maker Faire website, in the Maker Faire Program Guide and onsite
The support from Austin Groups has been great and they have put together programming that will take place throughout the weekend. We encourage you to come out and support the following organizations:
- Austin Children’s Museum
- Austin Cycle Circus
- Austin Green Art
- Edible Austin
- Ecology-Action.org
- Austin Weavers and Spinners Association
- Dorkbot
- The Robot Group
- University of Texas Austin
- IEEE Central Texas
- AustinEV
- And many other groups and associations
MAKER FAIRE - Look for us in and around Austin
For a sneak peak of Maker Faire, please check out KQED’s Quest episode which was filmed at Maker Faire this spring (May 2007). It just aired last week and can be viewed at:
http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/610
We have many different promotions going on for Maker Faire, and encourage you to get involved and spread the word in your various communities. Posters can be downloaded at: http://makerfaire.com/austin/2007/posters/
Also, a proclamation has come from Mayor Will Wynn that October 20th and 21st is “Maker’s Weekend in Austin”. We are excited to be bringing Maker Faire to this region.
OTHER THINGS TO NOTE
- VOLUNTEERS are needed. If you would like to get involved (either pre-event or on-site), please go to our Volunteer site and complete the Questionnaire and check out our Volunteer Manual.
- TICKETS - Avoid the lines onsite and save by buying your tickets:
o ONLINE - at https://store.makezine.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=39 (please note special pricing on advance purchase tickets is good through October 10th – tickets purchased after October 10th will not be offered at the discounted price and will not be mailed out, but will be available onsite at will call)
o IN AUSTIN - advanced price tickets are available at the Austin Children’s Museum Ticket Office and will be available through October 19th.
- CAMPING is available onsite for weekend Maker Faire ticket holders only. The price is $25 per person, over the age of 18. Camping passes for those under 18 are free, but a parent or legal guardian must accompany them. Camping tickets are available online through the Maker Store. The price is $25 per person, over the age of 18. Camping passes for those under 18 are free, but a parent or legal guardian must accompany them. Camping tickets are available online through the Maker Store.
- A special thanks to all of our Sponsors, Media and Community Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Friends of the Faire – check out the complete list at www.makerfaire.com
We are looking forward to an amazing event and are looking forward to seeing you there.
Best,
Sherry Huss
Director
Maker Faire
