Maker Faire:NC

Meet the Makers: McMichael High School Electric Vehicle Team

2012-05-25T00:59:46Z

Suppose you're a high school student.

Now suppose you get your hands on an abandoned Mustang.

What would you *do* with it?

Well, if you were one of the students at McMichael High School you'd strip that sucker down and rebuild it as the award-winning ELECTRIC FOX!!! Pure electric sports car!

Seriously... if kids like this don't give you hope for the future of the world, I honestly don't know what would.

Check out this amazing video of what a group of high-schoolers with dreams of a better world are actually ACHIEVING. This isn't a pipe dream -- this is what real kids with real ambitions are doing RIGHT NOW.

http://lab306.com/

Maker Faire: NC 2012 is VERY PROUD to announce that the Electric Fox will be on display at this year's event! Come talk to the team that made this a reality!

2012 T-Shirts Now Available

2012-05-22T20:30:54Z

I'm so excited to show you our 2012 Maker Faire North Carolina T-Shirt! Seth Patrick's totally awesome robot is featured front and back on this gorgeous, vivid 100% cotton natural shirt.

Shirts will be available to pick up at the Maker Faire North Carolina on Saturday, June 16th. Sizes and quantity are limited so pre-order one to make sure you get your size!

You can buy your shirt with (or without) your tickets on our ticket ordering page.

Meet the Makers: Carolina Combat Robots & East Coast Bot Hockey

2012-05-22T01:11:36Z

It's time to start letting everyone know about some of amazing people coming to Maker Faire: NC this year. First off, we're thrilled that Carolina Combat Robots are returning!

Here's your chance to play with some really cool robots! Attendees will have the opportunity to control a seriously quick robot in a game of 3 on 3 robot hockey. This is fast-paced, high-energy and draws a big crowd. Between sets the folks from Carolina Combat Robots and East Coast Bot Hockey will be available to talk about bot hockey, building robots and the next level of robot mayhem: robots fighting robots! They'll be bringing some actual combat robots for you to see up-close. If you've every dreamed about building your own combat robot or just want to play a bit of lightning-fast bot hockey, Carolina Combat Robots is just the group you're looking for!

Last Chance for Early Bird Tickets

2012-05-16T12:25:45Z

We're now in the home stretch, folks. As of writing there are 30 days remaining until Maker Faire North Carolina 2012! The Makers are picked, the floorplan is getting finalized, and all the other finishing touches are coming together.

Tickets

Early Bird (30% discount!) ticket pricings ends on May 16th. Get your tickets fast. We also offer discounts to clubs, classes, and groups so if you or your child's class is interested in a bulk discount let me know via our contact form.

Poster

Our 2012 poster featuring the artwork of Seth Patrick is available for download from our website's "Goodies" section. If you prefer, you can pick up a print at the front desk of TechShop in Raleigh. It would mean a whole bunch to us if you could hang one up at your office, community bulletin board, house of worship, etc.

As always, poke around the site for travel, hotel, program, Makers, Musicicans, volunteer opportunities, and other information.

2012 Exhibitor Applications are CLOSED!

2012-05-13T03:48:03Z

We've closed up applications for Makers that wish to exhibit at Maker Faire: NC 2012. The final round of acceptance notices should arrive for everyone -- accepted or not -- by the end of the day on Tuesday.

If you have not heard anything from us by Tuesday evening, something got lost somewhere! In that case, please write our Maker Coordinator (kevin@makerfairenc.com), and he'll straighten things our right away.

We are THRILLED with the quality of the applications we've received this year! That's made the decision process that much harder -- you hate to have to turn away great applications due to lack of space. Even so, we're still happier to have more GREAT STUFF than we have space to put it!

Speaking of GREAT STUFF -- everyone can look for us to be posting lots of information over the next two weeks to give you a glimpse of some of the wonderful things that are going to be at Maker Faire: NC this year. It's going to be amazing.

Makers: we'll also be contacting all accepted exhibitors for some more information from you this week, and we're moving on to preparing exhibitor packets for you. More details on that will be coming shortly as well. Things are going to start happening very quickly now, and it's an exciting time for all of us here at Maker Faire: NC. We'll have lots to share very soon now that we're really excited to show you!

The 2012 Poster is Out!

2012-05-02T13:00:24Z

Seth Patrick has done it again! Meet Hugo, the 2012 Maker Faire North Carolina robot!

Our 2012 poster is available in 8.5x11" and 11x17" to download. If you're so inclined you can pick up a few to distribute from TechShop RDU in Raleigh.

You can download the poster to share with your friends and coworkers here.

Thanks, Seth, and well done!

LAST CALL for 2012 Maker Exhibitors

2012-04-25T17:38:54Z

We've received a tremendous response to our call for Makers that want to exhibit this year. We're really excited about everything that's come in for Maker Faire: NC -- and can't wait to start sharing it with you!

First, though, we want to make sure that we give ONE FINAL CALL for Makers that want to exhibit. Final decisions on ALL applications will occur by May 5th with all outstanding notices to applicants going out by the end of that weekend. We *have* to close it out so that we have six weeks to work with our accepted applicants to help them create a great experience for our attendees, plan final space layout, schedule teaching sessions, etc., etc., etc...

So here it is: LAST CALL! If you are bursting at the seams with AWESOME, get your application in NOW! If you already have, but haven't heard from us, you will. *Every* application will get an reply whether accepted or not. Just remember that we'll be favoring applicants that can engage interactively with attendees, and exhibitions that sit at the intersection of creativity and innovation are the most likely to win acceptance. If you already have an application pending, but have an idea of how you can add a bit more to really engage attendees, please write me (Kevin, your Maker Coordinator) at kevin@makerfairenc.com. We'll revise your application accordingly.

That's it for now! Let's get those final applications! Apply here: http://makerfairenc.com/2012-exhibitor-application/

Burlington Mini Maker Faire This Saturday!

2012-04-24T22:05:29Z

That's right, folks, Burlington, NC's first Maker Faire is THIS Saturday from 10AM to 9PM at the Holly Hill Mall and Business Center in Burlington.

Find out more at their website.

Organizers from Maker Faire North Carolina (June 16) will be there teaching soldering skills and showing some of their own projects.

Bring the family to this fun, free event; you won't regret it!

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Community Reminder: TechShop RDU PARTY this weekend!

2012-04-20T19:00:40Z

Here's just a quick reminder that the TechShop RDU Third anniversary party is happening this Saturday!

We'll be celebrating this Saturday, 4/21, rain or shine, from 12-5 PM! Food, Pinewood Derby, class specials, and live music; plus, $3.00 pints of any draft beer from Roth Brewing! Bring the family; don't miss it!

TechShop parties are always a ton of fun. The "Few Rules" Pinewood Derby is always a big hit and the food is plentiful and delicious.

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Learn to Solder at Maker Faire:NC!

2012-03-28T19:00:25Z

Do you know how to solder? Want to learn?

Makers of all ages can learn how to solder at Maker Faire NC! We will have these awesome badges for sale with soldering stations and instructors set up for you.

The MAKE Blinky Robot badge has a custom multi-color flashing LED and is powered by a common coin-cell battery. This is an excellent project for learning the basics of electronics soldering.