DIY’ers, Gadget Freaks, and Pyro Lovers: The Austin Maker Faire

This year’s Maker Faire brings out more than 400 makers with everything from home-made gadgets and robotic devices to whimsical crafts and mesmerizing art. The faire takes your grandma’s arts & crafts extravaganza and flips it into a modern era where technology meets old-fashioned workmanship to showcase imagination and inovation. In addition to a plethora of gizmos and gadgets, the two-day event will feature a life-sized mouse trap, fighting robots, the Austin Bike Zoo, a “King of Fling” catapult contest, and finale performances by the Sangre del Sol Fire Troupe on Saturday night. Be sure to make you way around the booths to find Laura Scarborough showcasing her magik hoops.  If you see Pollyanna at the fair, be warned. She may have replaced her quilts and prisms with a flame-throwing robot and and an open-source LED light show. How could you miss it?

The Austin Maker Faire will be held on October 18th and 19th at the Travis County Expo Center.

Here is the ticket information:

• Online tickets – discount pricing available through 10/3/2008. Online ticket purchases from 10/4/2008 – 10/16/2008 will be full price and tickets will be picked up onsite at will call
• Local tickets – discount pricing available through close of business day on 10/17/2008 at:
  • Austin Children’s Museum – 201 Colorado Street, Austin 512.472.2499
    Open: Tuesday – Saturday: 10am-5pm
    Community Night Wednesdays: 5-8pm
    Sunday: Noon-5pm
  • Whole Foods – 525 N. Lamar, Austin, 512.476.1206
    Open: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week
• Onsite Ticket Pricing
  • Adult – $25.00
  • Student (13-21, or with student photo ID) – $15.00
  • Youth (4-12) – $10.00
  • Children 3 and under are free