On Sunday, we went as a family to our very first Maker Faire! Dan’s hobby drone group was participating and attending, and he took us along to join in all the geeky fun! Maker Faires are part science fair, part craft fair, and showcases creations by designers and engineers of all ages, and the purpose is to inspire more creations within the community. I remember when we were living back in the Bay Area, we had considered going to the Bay Area Maker Faire in San Mateo (which is of course much larger, as it is where the Maker Faire started in 2006 and is one of the flagship faires) a couple times but always somehow couldn’t make it due to scheduling conflicts. This year was Northern Virginia’s first official Mini Maker Faire, and was held at South Lakes High School and Langston Hughes School in Reston.  Despite being a “Mini” Maker Faire, it attracted 5,000 attendees that preregistered, and they estimated about 3,000 more registered at the door — it was really crowded! We’re really glad we went to check it out this year –  it’s so valuable to expose children to creativity and science from a young age, and show them all the ways people are harnessing technology and their creative minds in exciting and fun new projects.

NoVa Mini Maker Faire
Mirei slept most of the time we were at the Faire, making it easy for us to walk around and check out all the exhibits. We’re sure she’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future to take part in the fun!

 

Mio checking out the entropy gym
Mio checking out the entropy gym

 

Operating remote control vehicles.
Operating remote control vehicles.

 

This boy very patiently explained to Mio how to build things with these "Strawbees."
This boy very patiently explained to Mio how to build things with these “Strawbees.”

 

A very interested Mio.
A very interested Mio.

 

Building with the Strawbees.
Building with the Strawbees.

 

There were also a lot of booths with craft activities available for younger children. Mio and I spent a lot of time at them while Dan walked around with Mirei checking out the booths with more serious exhibits.

Spider craft booth
Mio and I at a craft booth, beading spiders.

 

Stringing beads onto the pipecleaner legs of the spiders.
Stringing beads onto the pipecleaner legs of the spiders.

 

Mio also got to decorate and make a mask...
Mio also got to decorate and make a mask…

 

...and a kite!
…and a kite!

 

Showing off her completed spider.
Showing off her completed spider.

 

Checking out more booths with Daddy
Checking out more booths with Daddy

 

"How does this work exactly...?"
“How does this work exactly…?”

 

NoVa Mini Maker Faire

 

NoVa Mini Maker Faire

 

Mio coloring
Coloring with Mama

 

making silly putty
Making homemade silly putty.

 

Mio enjoying a lollipop she got at one of the booths.
Mio enjoying a lollipop she got at one of the booths.

 

There were some food trucks at the event, so that people could grab food to eat while at the Faire.

Hugs at the NoVa Mini Maker Faire
Mio hugging Mirei during our lunch break.

 

Waiting for the shuttle home
Waiting for the shuttle back to our car. Mio fell asleep after experiencing all the excitement!

 

The Maker Faire was interesting and educational fun for everyone! (Well, maybe with the exception of Mirei, who was sleeping the whole time.) We might make it an annual tradition to go, since it’s enjoyable for the whole family and the girls will probably enjoy it more and more as they grow older.