Experience Maker Faire Bay Area, the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth!
Get ready for the greatest show (and tell) on earth as Maker Faire Bay Area returns to Mare Island in Vallejo. 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.
Maker Faire Bay Area takes place Friday through Sunday, September 26, 27, and 28. Friday is Field Trip Day from 10 am to 3 pm, and Saturday and hours are 10 am to 5 pm. Get 30% off your single-day Maker Faire Bay Area tickets with code MARINMOMMIES!
We've been attending Maker Faire for years and always have a great time. After a brief hiatus during COVID, the Faire moved from San Mateo Event Center to the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, a historic site in Vallejo full of fascinating old industrial buildings and equipment. It's the perfect venue for this event and it's always fun to be able to explore the area and take in the ambience while attending the faire.
Some of our favorite attractions at previous Maker Faires were Russel the Electric Giraffe, a life-size robotic giraffe who talks when you pet his head; giant Tesla coils; a dark room with lighted and glowing exhibits; incredible kinetic sculptures and art cars; and the drone arena. There are also demonstrations, talks, and vendor booths where you can check out technology, toys, crafts, fashion, and more. Featured performers include Mario the Maker Magician, Science Bob of CrunchLabs (Saturday only), the legendary Adam Savage of MythBusters and Tested (Sunday only), and the ever-popular EppyBird's Coke and Mentos demonstration.
This year, Maker Faire Bay Area also presents the Luminarium Luminimax Experience, an incredible, immersive, inclusive art and theater experience featuring astounding light, color, and architecture. Luminarium will require an extra ticket ($7) in addition to you Maker Faire ticket.
You'll also get a chance to see the historic vessels of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park — the Balclutha, Eppleton Hall, C.A. Thayer, and other historic vessels are moored at Mare Island while their regular home, Hyde Street Pier, is undergoing renovations.
If you and your kids are into coding, crafting, STEM/STEAM projects, robotics, gaming, LEGO, sci fi, cosplay, moviemaking, 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 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 at bayarea.makerfaire.com.
If you go
Maker Faire Bay Area 2025 takes place at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 560 Nimitz Avenue, Vallejo CA 94592. Tickets start at $30 per person and are available in advance online (highly recommended!) and at the gate. (Admission fee will be higher at the door.) Get 30% off tickets to with code MARINMOMMIES.
To get there from Marin, take Highway 101 to Highway 37 and head east toward Vallejo. Take the Walnut Ave/Mare Island exit right before the Napa River bridge, then follow the signs to the Maker Faire parking area.
Parking costs $15 ($20 at the gate), and includes a shuttle bus to the faire. If you live in San Francisco, you could take an easy trip across the Bay on the San Francisco Bay Ferry, which will run a special Maker Faire schedule, with a free shuttle bus to the Faire. Ferry schedule and details TBA.
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. A wide variety of local food trucks and food vendors will be on hand. Bring sunscreen, hats, and water, since you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors. Maker Faire is also crowded, so make sure you keep an eye on little ones at all times. See you at the Faire!
