Gilroy Mini Maker Faire arriving at library

Creative minds can put their design skills to the test, as the Gilroy Mini Maker Faire is coming to the Gilroy Library.

“We want to show making to the community,” said teen services librarian Kelly McKean. “We want to start forming a community of makers in Gilroy that we can build on and grow.”

McKean sees the event as a vehicle to inspire the creative spark in everyone. That’s why she and adult services librarian Lisa Duff secured a license for the library from Maker Media, the company behind the science and art festival, Maker Faire. Although Maker Media recently announced a company-wide layoff, McKean confirmed the event will carry on in Gilroy as planned.

“Gilroy needs this,” she said.

The faire is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, 11am-3pm.

“We’re going to be outside in the paseo as well as in the library,” McKean said. “There’s going to be tents outside, we’ve got food vendors coming in. We think it’s going to be a big thing, we hope so, and we’ve got different activities scheduled.”

Some of those activities include Squishy Circuits, 11am-1pm, and Kid’s Craft, 1-3pm, which includes hands-on time with slime and bubbles. Mad Science Bay Area, a provider of science-based enrichment activities for children ages 4-12, will provide a fire and ice performance at 11:30am.

There’s certainly something for everyone at every age, with more than 30 workshops which run the gamut from making soap to building robots. The Walt Disney Family Museum will offer an animation drop-in class, and for the science lovers, demos of Maker tools such as 3D printers, and Dremel lasers are all included in the four-hour event.

Local Makers, including the Gilroy Library knitting and crochet group, will show off their handiwork. The San Ysidro Nueva Vida Neighborhood Group will demonstrate corn husk flower making. Showing kids that they can be creators will be Isaac Jarson, 12, creator of a Lego candy dispenser, and Morgan Hill artist Matthew Fitch, 12, designer of his own coloring book, who will be accompanied by his mother, Karen Fitch.

“My mom explained that a Maker Faire is an event that celebrates art, crafting, engineering (and) science,” Matthew said, “projects that people make and share. I knew it was the thing that I wanted to be a part of.”

Karen, a strong proponent of arts and crafts for children, said she is excited to have her son involved in the event.

“Creative children become creative adults, and creative adults come up with creative solutions,” Karen said.

Online registration is not mandatory, but it is encouraged, as are volunteers, “so we can have an idea of interest,” Duff said, adding that all who register will be entered to win a Maker prize.

To register, visit gilroy.makerfaire.com.