Maker Faire Bay Area Returns This Fall!
Get ready for the greatest show (and tell) on earth as Maker Faire, after a three-year hiatus, returns to the Bay Area this fall! Maker Faire describes itself as “part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new!”, and it’s a family-friendly expo of invention and creativity featuring everything from technology, science, and engineering to food, art, and education. It’s a celebration of all things “Maker” that will inspire you and your family to become Makers yourselves. This new version of Maker Faire Bay Area takes place at Mare Island in Vallejo Friday through Sunday, October 13–15 and 20–22.
We've attended the many of the previous Maker Faires as a family and always have a fantastic time. This year's Faire will feature different themes each weekend. From October 13–15, it will highlight eFashion, with an LED wearable fashion show, and cosplay. You can also learn electronics with Raspberry Pi and Mythbusters' Adam Savage will be on hand for his keynote "Sunday Sermon." The following weekend, October 20–22, will focus on robotics with robot combat matches, local robotics teams, and the chance to even build your own robot. You can also explore light exhibits in the famous dark room. Of course it would be Maker Faire without traditional favorite attractions like steam-powered machinery, fire-spewing giant artworks, live music, a crafts bazaar, a Coke and Mentos show, and much more.
If you and your kids are into coding, crafting, STEM/STEAM projects, robotics, gaming, sci fi, tinkering, and learning, then the Maker Faire is a great outing for your family! It's perfect for all ages; the youngest person I saw at Maker Faire was a baby in a cool Star Wars land speeder stroller. (Why didn’t my dad make me one of those when I was a baby?)
Find out all about Maker Faire Bay Area at makerfaire.com.
If you go
Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 takes place at Mare Island, 560 Nimitz Avenue, Vallejo, CA 94592. Tickets start at $22.99 for youth ages 4–17 and $39.99 for adults and are available in advance online (highly recommended!) and at the gate.
Paid parking and an ADA-accessible shuttle will be available on Mare Island. You'll be able to take the ferry from San Francisco, too. To get to Mare Island from Marin, take Highway 101 to CA-37 east in Novato and follow 37 towards Vallejo. Take the Railroad Avenue/Mare Island exit (exit 17).
Bring good walking shoes, since you’ll be doing a lot of it, as well as a stroller for smaller kids. Plenty of drinking water is a must, too. Food and drink from vendors will be available for purchase. Bring sunscreen, hats, and water, since you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors. See you at the Faire!
