A festival of creativity, the Kansas City Maker Faire inspires yet again

The Kansas City Maker Faire affords an amalgam of ingenuity, nerdom and unbridled creativity 

What do I mean? Let me paint a picture of the first 20 minutes I spent moseying through Union Station.

I waited in line for coffee with Start Wars villain Kylo Ren (ironically he enjoyed a light roast). An affectionate hippogriff nuzzled my arm. Moments later, a five-year-old learned more about soldering than I had in 20 years. A “Steampunk” professor chuckled with a gaggle of 3D printing experts. And finally, a Medieval troubadour explained how to make a lute.

Shortly after this initial jaunt, the foundation upon which this faire’s success is built became apparent to me. Creativity is certainly a large factor, but this celebration’s central tenant is embracing play. Rarely can one see such a cornucopia of playful characters hoping to impart the trades with which they love to tinker.

And as the faire’s hundreds of attendees can attest, clearly this priority of play resonates well with a community that centers around creative expression and having fun while doing it.

Ryan Bell, a six-year veteran and producer of the Maker Faire, spoke with me about the local maker community and what makes this such a special event. Enjoy!