BROOKINGS – A popular, uniquely Brookings event is back for the third year, offering a family-friendly showcase of creativity and innovation.
The Brookings Maker Festival will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, on Kidoodle Way, in front of the Children’s Museum. The festival features local DIY’ers and makers exhibiting everything from low-tech to high-tech, foods, arts and crafts, electronics, 3D printing, wood working and more.
Nationally, the Maker Movement is a growth mindset that establishes platforms where access to technology, expertise, collaboration and learning-by-doing foster creative problem solving, innovative product development and an improved quality of life for everyone.
The Brookings Maker Festival was developed by the Brookings Economic Development Corporation to highlight local makers and promote making as a way of life.
“Interest in this event increases each year as the public becomes more acquainted with the maker move-ment,” said Jennifer Quail, director of entrepreneur support for BEDC and organizer of the event. “With hands-on activities and maker demonstrations, Brookings residents young and old can find something to inspire and empower them to embrace the maker culture.”
Last year’s festival featured make-and-take kids’ activities, wood turning, artists, repurposing and recycling, jewelry, musical instruments, sculpting, video creation, crafts, alpaca products, fiber works, game design, clothing, baking and more. Quail encourages area residents who are interested in sharing their talents to sign up for this year’s event.
“Brookings is a vibrant, creative community,” she said. “Whether you consider yourself a do-it-yourselfer, inventor, builder, maker or problem solver, we invite you to participate to support and inspire the grass-roots innovation that continues to shape our community.”
Through funding provided by Vision Brookings, there is no charge to participate in the festival and admission is free. Exhibitors are not allowed to sell as the intent is to celebrate making, according to Quail.
Interested individuals can register at startupbrookings.com or call 697-8103 for more information.
BEDC has partnered with Midwest Fresh Catering food truck for those wishing to purchase supper at the event.
The Maker Festival is part of BEDC’s Division of Entrepreneur Support, which supports the entrepreneurs and innovators of the Brookings region by connecting them with resources and services they need to ad-vance their business ideas. One such resource is the Brookings Area Makerspace, a 2,475-square-foot shared workshop and creative space for product development, prototyping, researching, testing and experiment-ing created and managed by BEDC.
Courtesy photo
