What is Maker Faire?
Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these "makers" to show hobbies, experiments, projects.
We call it the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth - a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Glimpse the future and get inspired!
Featured Makers
BattleBot Armageddon and Creature Combat in 2026
Armageddon is back! After our first trip to the big bot arena in Las Vegas last September, the infamous 250-lb BattleBot Armageddon returns—battle-tested, upgraded, and hungry for more. We laughed, we cried, and we learned some hard lessons live, in front of an audience (no pressure!). Those lessons helped push Armageddon from raw prototype to a seriously dangerous, dual-armed combat machine. Stop by this year to see the 250-lb BattleBot helping usher in the future of BattleBots and Creature Combat in 2026—and talk with the team building it from the ground up.
Natural Dye with plants
I plan on having two tents as I have in previous years. One tent will hold my artwork for sale. The other tent will have a vat of Indigo where participants can pay a small fee of two dollars to choose something to dye with different folding techniques. I am also going to have a table with a display of plants that give a variety of colors with factual information.
Baba Yaga's House
Cardboard Installation by Vector Space Makers Robyn Troyer, Randy Sass, Allison Swede, Reese Preston, Paul Van De Graaf, Nicholas Grummon & Mollie Walsh This towering work is inspired by the infamous home of Baba Yaga, a legendary figure from Slavic folklore. She is an ambiguous character — sometimes fearsome and cruel, other times a keeper of wisdom and justice. Her house, is as strange and unpredictable as the witch herself. This installation is about bringing folklore to life. and the challenge of making, the learning gained, the struggles overcome, and the camaraderie built when makers come together. We love that cardboard is humble — yet capable of inspiring awe. With imagination and teamwork, even the simplest material can transform into something extraordinary.
Nufar Studio Designs
Nufar Studio Designs is a jewelry business that I started 5 years ago that displays handmade jewelry inspired by the earth. These eclectic pieces feature natural resources, some even being local (like "sea" glass from the James River). My "Trash to Treasure Project" focuses on repurposing glass found on the shores of the James River. The glass is then cleaned, polished, and wire-wrapped into pendants used for varies styles of necklaces and keychains. Not only is each piece unique, it's also a statement: one that emphasizes the importance of keeping our local rivers clean. Apart from that project, I also offer handmade rings made out of buttons, and eclectic earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Magic Forest Arch- by Vector Space
This interactive exhibit will showcase a forest themed Archway into a tent full of creativity! There will be various stations (approx 3 tables) of different crafts for individuals to do to add their own artistic flare to the archway and faux garden beds. This will include various wooden figures to paint, different materials to create with (such as 3D printed items, paper, yarn, etc). This is really an opportunity for people to add a part of their own creativity to bring to life a whimsical arch and faux garden.
Hill City AquaZoo
AquaZoo is home to the most unique and interactive experiences among all aquariums! You’ll get the chance to meet a wide variety of animals from numerous different species. Here, you’ll see more than just fish and sea creatures. Discover mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and amphibians from around the planet! This is a hands-on adventure, as visitors get to touch, feel, and feed animals from various habitats around the world. You’ll journey through the Amazon Rainforest, Caribbean, Mayan Jungle, and Pirate Island as you interact with sharks, snakes, turtles, and lizards during your AquaZoo Adventures
Sweet Briar College Summer Programs
Sweet Briar offers summer programs for children, high-school aged young adults, and adults for many different interests and topics. Organizations of all kinds make our 2,847-acre campus their own when they hold camps and conferences at Sweet Briar. Each summer, our 22 miles of trails, forests, streams, meadows, and lakes inspire the work of high school engineers, writers, athletes, musicians, leaders, and more. Stop by our booth for a build-your-own nightlight kit as a preview of Explore Engineering camp.
Totally recycled glass
My current project is totally recycled glass which is using and repurposing through a technique. I call pyro recycling. I take everything from marbles to bottles to make everything from drinking glasses to complex three-dimensional sculptures. Everything I make is offhand, no molds, totally unique pieces. I have jewelry, sculptures, and functional art
