Westport Mini Maker Faire Ignites Imagination

WESTPORT, Conn. — Thousands of children and adults from Fairfield County and beyond marvelled at the sight of robots, 3D printers in action, a student-made jet engine, an electric skateboard, a one-person submarine, and many more inventions at the second annual Westport Mini Maker Faire Saturday.

Kids and their parents build and decorate wooden toolboxes, birdhouses and other creations Saturday at Westport's Mini Maker Faire.
Photo Credit: *Vanessa Inzitari*

by Vanessa Inzitari

04/28/2013 2:00 a.m.

Nearly 100 exhibitors showed off their creations on Jesup Green and throughout the Westport Library for the event, which is estimated to have drawn between 3,000 and 4,000 people, faire founder Mark Mathias said.

“People of all ages come here to see things they never knew could happen,” said Mathias, who is also the event co-chairman. “They get to see these amazing things right in front of their eyes, talk with people about how something works and see how it’s made. It’s fantastic to see all these happy, excited people who, by and large, don’t realize they are learning.”

But seeing was only half the fun of the event. Faire visitors also got to create their own inventions and participate in a variety of hands-on activities. Workshop activities included Lego robot building, backyard farming demonstrations, a Home Depot craft center and Nerdy Derby, where children built mini wooden cars to race down a track.

Check out our photo gallery for scenes from the Westport Mini Maker Faire.

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