DEARBORN – Maker Faire Detroit returns to Henry Ford Museum Saturday and Sunday for two days of unconventional imagination and ingenuity.
More than 300 makers will bring their wares, ideas, inventions and solutions, offering everything from robots, flame shooters and animatronics to solar-powered mechanical sculptures and even a wheelchair-powered cupcake.
This year, 80 percent of the makers are new to the event. 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.
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 are $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. Members of The Henry Ford receive free admission to Henry Ford Museum and can purchase Maker Faire tickets at a discounted price.
For more information, call (313) 982-6001 or go to www.thehenryford.org/makerfaire
Created by the publishers of MAKE Magazine and makezine.com, Maker Faire draws tech and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. The event attracts families, school teachers, students, local science, hobby and tech clubs, as well as those who are drawn by a curiosity for the unorthodox and often whimsical MacGyver-like nature of Makers and their projects.
Maker Faire Detroit will feature demonstrations and hands-on workshops over the two days. Visitors can enjoy arts and crafts, science and engineering, robotics, sustainable living, music and fine arts, fun for children and families and more.
Maker Faire Detroit is presented by Pure Michigan, Ford SYNC and the Ford Motor Co.