Connecticut's First Mini Maker Faire — April 28

Note:   Registration for the Faire will close on Friday, April 27 at noon.   You may register at the event if you missed the online registration.

Calling all Makers! The first official Maker Faire event in Connecticut is coming to Westport on Saturday, April 28! Detailed program.

Do you love to make things or see how things are made? Have you made or seen something—anything—different, amazing or innovative? Know someone who has? Have an idea for something wild that needs to be made? If so, the inaugural Westport Mini Maker Faire is for you. It’s a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness — a celebration of the Maker movement—to take place inside the Westport Library and on Jesup Green from 10 am to 4 pm. 

Maker Faires are places where people show what they are making and share what they are learning. Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, musicians, engineers, artists, science clubs, students, authors and commercial exhibitors. They are of all ages and backgrounds. Maker Faire's mission is to entertain, inform, connect and inspire these thousands of Makers and aspiring Makers.

The inaugural Maker Faire was held in San Mateo, CA, and in 2011 celebrated its sixth annual Bay Area event with some 100,000 people in attendance. As Maker Faire has grown in popularity and relevance, community-driven, independently produced Mini Maker Faire events are now being held around the United States and the world.

Here's what Bedford Middle School teacher and Organizing Committee member Kerstin Warner said about Maker Faires: "The cool thing about them is how accessible they are, how open-ended and truly creative. There's everything from inventions to workshops on how to make or program things, to circus performers, artists, great food and visitors wandering around in a wide range of costumes — it’s anything goes, really,” said Warner. “We hope hobbyists, enthusiasts, and students who tinker outside of the everyday spotlight will join us.”

Prospective Makers should submit applications at westportmakerfaire.org/makers. Makers are encouraged create from across a wide range of categories, from science and art, to performance, crafts and engineering. Deadline for Maker applications is Sunday, April 1, 2012.

"We are extremely proud to offer the stage to our community Makers and hope you will join us!" said Mark Mathias, co-chair of the event.

The Westport Mini Maker Faire is presented by CLASP Homes in partnership with the Westport Library. CLASP Homes is an organization based in Westport serving people with autism and related developmental disabilities in group home and apartment settings and is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2012.

The Library is providing the space and managerial expertise and assistance. “The Library is thrilled to be part of this event. It’s the kind of thing we support and encourage—helping the community come together on something new and innovative, something that allows people to connect and create,” said Library Assistant Director and event co-chair Bill Derry.

For more information, contact Roy Fuchs at royfuchs [at] snet [dot] net,(203) 856-4321 or visit westportmakerfaire.org. The Library contact is Joan Hume, jhume [at] westportlibrary [dot] org. Westport Mini Maker Faire is independently organized and operated under license from O’Reilly Media, Inc.