Huge Festival of Creativity Set to Engage and Inspire Audiences of All Ages
KANSAS CITY, MO (June 20, 2016) — Inventors, creators, tinkerers, engineers, enthusiasts, hobbyists, crafters and artists from 12 states will pack Union Station inside and out for the 6th Annual Maker Faire Kansas City on Saturday and Sunday, June 25-26.
Part science fair, part county fair (with your favorite food trucks), and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages festival that inspires, educates, entertains and propels ideas into reality and passing curiosities into amazing creations.
Visitors will join in hands-on activities and learn new skills at the festival. A record 17,000 people attended Maker Faire Kansas City in 2015, many of whom were first timers. Maker Faire features innovation and experimentation across the spectrum of science, engineering, art, performance and craft. And, Maker Faire is flat-out FUN!
“Chances are good that sometime in your life you had a notion for an invention or craft that never moved beyond the idea stage,” George Guastello, president and CEO Union Station Kansas City, said. “Maker Faire is meant to inspire young and old alike to catch that spark of innovation and take it beyond a mere thought . . . to actually mix together mind, body, tools, technology and techniques to bring that inspiration to life.”
“Kansas City has fully embraced the Maker Movement,” Jerry Baber, executive vice president and COO, said. “At Maker Faire, visitors will have the chance to glimpse into the future, get hands-on in the creation process and leave with a renewed excitement for what’s possible. Union Station is thrilled to be such an important element in the wave of national Maker initiatives, including year-round, hands-on opportunities in our Science Center’s Maker Studio.”
Over 1,000 science enthusiasts, tech hackers, robot designer/builders, Lego architects, independent manufacturers, urban farmers, graphic and visual artists, food artisans, textile and clothing designers, filmmakers, woodworkers, and more are signed up to share their passions and projects.
“This rain or shine event is expected to attract record numbers of visitors from the entire region,” Christy Nitsche, Union Station director of advancement and community engagement, said. “Thanks to all of our sponsors – including our Founding Sponsor, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation – visitors will enjoy enthusiastic presentations, demonstrations and roll-up-your-sleeves opportunities from hundreds of Makers. And this year we’ve added even more unexpected surprises, including The Bike Zoo and Louisiana-style opening parade each morning. A full schedule of events and activities is available online at www.makerfairekc.com.”
Also, a number of special activities to encourage young people to get involved in the Maker Movement will take place in Kansas City’s Science Center, Science City . . . and they’re all included as part of Maker Faire admission.
New for 2016:
The Bike Zoo – combining puppetry and movement. Imagine an 80 foot-long rattlesnake powered by 34 wheels
Louisiana-style opening parade each morning in front of Union Station
Maker Couture Fashion Show
Thirty-foot egg drop – come early to register for competition
Human Foosball – the table game comes alive in front of the Station
Other featured attractions will include:
Kid-friendly interactives featuring inflatables, many Maker Studio activities, Nerdy Derby, remote controlled car racing and more
Realistic Iron Man suits, R2D2s and Cosplayers
Power Wheels Racing
FIRST Robotics Exhibition
Low-riders Car Show and demonstrations
A community art project hosted by Belger Arts Center
Script-to-Screen Experience from KC Film + Media
Many of Kansas City’s favorite food trucks on site and SO MUCH MORE
Tickets for Maker Faire Kansas City can be purchased at the Union Station Box Office or online now at www.boxoffice.unionstation.org. Adult admission prices are $14 per day or $22 for a weekend pass. Prices for youth (3-12), members of the military and seniors (55+) are $11 a day or $17 for weekend passes. *Union Station Member tickets are $7 a day. One-day family four-packs are available for $50 and weekend family four-packs are just $70.
During Maker Faire, Science City and all Union Station attractions (excluding the *Body Worlds Exhibition, the Extreme Screen Theatre and Escape Room) are included with your admission. To find out the latest schedule of special attractions and featured Makers, please visit www.makerfairekc.com. This is a rain or shine event.
Founding Sponsor: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Goldsmith Sponsor: City of Kansas City Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund
Silversmith Sponsors: JE Dunn, Yelp and Ultimaker
Coppersmith Sponsors: GM, Time Warner Cable, BlueScope, The Aladdin Hotel and Radioshack
Plus many others make this sixth annual, two-day festival of fun and creativity possible.
*Body Worlds and The Cycle of Life Exhibition, Extreme Screen Theatre and Escape Room require separate ticket purchases. Not a Member but interested in becoming one to save money year-round? Visit unionstation.org/membership for details.
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About Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
Union Station Kansas City — a 501(c)3 non-profit organization — is a 100-year-old historical landmark and celebrated civic asset renovated and reopened to the public in 1999. The organization — dedicated to science education, celebration of community and preservation of history — is home to Kansas City’s internationally-awarded Science Center; the popular Model Railroad Experience; the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium; the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre, H&R Block City Stage featuring live theater, and a selection of unique shops and restaurants. Union Station is also home to prominent area civic organizations and businesses, and regularly hosts world-class traveling exhibitions. Awarded “Top Banquet Facilities in KC” by KC Business Journal, the facility regularly hosts community events and private celebrations of all sizes. Visit www.unionstation.org for details. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Maker Faire
Maker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth – a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker Movement. It’s a place where people show what they are making, and share what they are learning.
Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters to homesteaders to scientists to garage tinkerers. They are of all ages and backgrounds. The aim of Maker Faire is to entertain, inform, connect and grow this community.
The original Make Faire event was held in San Mateo, CA, and in 2014 celebrated its eleventh annual show with some 1100 makers and 130,000 people in attendance. World Maker Faire New York, the other flagship event, has grown in four years to 600+ makers and 80,000 attendees. Kansas City, Detroit, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Orlando, Silver Spring, Paris, Rome, Oslo, Trondheim, Tokyo, Newcastle (UK), and Shenzhen are the home of larger-scale “featured” Maker Faires and over 120-community-driven, independently organized Mini Maker Faires are now being produced around the United States and the world.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2016
CONTACT:
Michael Tritt, Union Station / 816-460-2278 / [email protected]
Nancy Besa, Union Station / 816-674-4775 / [email protected]
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