March 1, 2019
For more information contact: Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum 1808 4th St – Downtown – Meridian, MS Greg Hatcher
601-693-9905
makerfairemeridian@comcast.net • meridian.makerfaire.com
Calling All Makers to the 2019 Meridian Mini Maker Faire
MERIDIAN, MS ––– Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum at historic Soulé Steam Works has partnered with MAKER Media to present the 5th Annual Meridian Mini Maker Faire April 6-7, 2019. Meridian Mini Maker Faire continues growing each year and features makers from around the region. Makers range from Virtual Sculpting to 3-D printing to metal casting to drones to robots to game making. “This year we expect more than 40 makers to participate,” said Greg Hatcher, Maker Faire producer when he shared what they would be doing with an enthusiastic crowd of visitors aged 6 to 90 with a wide range of interests. Hatcher further explains, “The term ‘Mini’ refers to attendance numbers, not children. Having 10,000 visitors attend the event will result in becoming a ‘Maker Faire’ without the ‘Mini’ in the name.”
Makers of all ages are invited to exhibit and demonstrate at no charge. What is “Maker Faire”? Do you qualify to be a Maker? Maker Faire creates opportunities for conversations with Makers — tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and entrepreneurs. There are more than 140 diverse types of Makers that participate in the world. If you are doing something interesting or creative, chances are great that you are a Maker. All Makers come
together to show their projects and to talk about what they have learned at this event. It is a community-based learning experience that inspires everyone to become a maker and connects people and projects within their local community. Yet, Maker Faire is a “fair” — fun, engaging, and exciting.
The Meridian Mini Maker Faire has partnered with the Mississippi Children’s Museum again this year for several outstanding children’s activities including their new Rigamajig interactive play system. Mississippi State University will have hands-on activities from the newly created MSU IdeaShop in Starkville. Father to Five Productions will present games they have made for all ages and skill levels that both educate and entertain. They are designed to bring families and friends together face-to-face, no computer required. Meridian Community College Industrial Technology instructors from the MCC Electronics School students will teach soldering classes for those interested in learning basic soldering. At Central Creativity’s Icky Sticky Gooey and Gross Station you can make Super Slime, crazy bath bombs, scratch and sniff paint, and more! Rose Hill Company of Storytellers will be performing
both days. Other Makers already signed up include; Print Making by Abbey, Anime artist Kyohei Kinoshita, Mechanical Music and Bagpipes, Friends of Bonita Lakes and Okatibbee Creek Audubon Society. The Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum’s will again host a the Maker Steam Up so visitors can see how steam once powered our nation’s economy.
By participating in the Meridian Mini Maker Faire local artists, community art centers and art collectives can inspire creativity and create public awareness to their programs. From origami to watercolors to theatrical makeup Makers share their art with visitors at Maker Faires hosted around the world.
Admission to the event is also FREE, but a ticket is suggested and can be obtained at Eventbrite.com. Tickets will be available at the door with the visitor’s name, email address and zip code.
Makers are invited to exhibit and demonstrate at no charge. You can register on line at meridian.makerfaire.com and help is available if needed. For assistance or more information call 601-693-9905 or email makerfairemeridian@comcast.net. To receive updates on the event follow facebook.com/makerfairemeridian.