Maker Faire Meridian is Mississippi and Alabama’s great “Show and Tell” event will be held on April 6, 2024 at The Industrial Museum @ Soule’ Steam Feed Works, America’s last steam engine factory. This event attracts a great number of Makers and visitors from around the region. The Museum, in partnership with MAKE: Community, will host Maker Faire Meridian — a one of a kind event in Meridian, Mississippi. For the last nine years, the Maker Faire has been a great success and has featured makers from around the region. Makers ranged from Virtual 3-D sculpting and printing to sewing to letterpress printing. Last year more than 30 makers shared what they were doing with an enthusiastic crowd of visitors aged 4 to 90.

Who are Makers? Tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and entrepreneurs are all considered Makers. Maker Faires give Makers the opportunity to come together to show their projects and to talk about what they have learned. This community-based learning event inspires everyone to become a Maker, and connect with people and projects in their local community. Yet, Maker Faire is a “fair” — fun, engaging, and exciting.

We invite local youth organizations to join in the fun at Maker Faire Meridian. Some of the nationally organized groups that participate at Maker Faires around the world include 4-H, Future Farmers of America, FIRST Robotics, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA and YWCA.

Schools, especially those with educational programs in Engineering, Art, Science and Crafts from pre-K to college, should consider signing up as makers at this event. This an excellent opportunity to show the community what students are learning and creating in school.

By participating in Maker Faire Meridian local artists, community art centers and art collectives can inspire creativity and create public awareness to their programs. From Origami to watercolors, Makers share their art with visitors at Maker Faires hosted around the world.

Other groups such as master gardening programs, bee clubs, and urban greening groups enjoy sharing what they are doing and learning. Drone racing leagues, LEGO user groups, amateur aviation groups, amateur radio clubs, Audubon and bird-watching groups are just a few of the many interests that find their way to a Maker Faire.

For more information about the Maker Faire Meridian, please visit our website at makerfairemeridian.com or www.facebook.com/makerfairemeridian.

Maker Faire originated in 2006 in the San Francisco Bay Area as a project of the editors of Make: magazine.  It has since grown into a significant worldwide network of both flagship and independently-produced events.  Read more on Maker Faire history, the Maker Movement, as well as how to start a Maker Faire or a School Maker Faire where you live.