MAKER’S CALENDAR Our favorite events from around the world Compiled by William Gurstelle

^January/ February 07

2006 was a banner year for makers who love to join like-minded tinkerers to show off their projects and get ideas for new undertakings. Millions of people attend technology-centric events ranging from kinetic sculpture races to air shows to robotics conventions. The Maker’s Calendar editors maintain a database of hundreds of technology events, ranging from small and intimate specialist gatherings to gigantic affairs that exceed a half million people. And the database grows each month. So how to decide which events to attend? Here MAKE’s staff gives you their picks of unique and entertaining Maker Events for 2007. Some are extremely popular, so plan ahead.

Kinetic Sculpture Race

Cabin Fever Expo Kinetic

>>Jan. 20– 21, York, Penn. Sculpture Race

An expo of men, metal, and >>May 26– 28, machines. Exhibits include Arcata to Ferndale, Calif. home shop machine tools, 25,000 happy people miniature engines, hand- converge on two small made vehicles, and similar Northern California towns creations. A model-maker’s to watch builder-racers dream come true. maneuver their elaborate cabinfeverexpo.com human-powered kinetic sculptures across 33 miles of land, sand, muds, & suds. kineticsculpturerace.org

January 2007 >>Manitou Springs Fruitcake Toss

Jan. 6, Manitou Springs, CO Hurling enthusiasts take note. A fruitcake toss is held at Manitou Springs Memorial Park near Colorado Springs, Colo., each January. Participants use mechanical devices such as catapults and oversized slingshots to rid the town of unwanted fruitcakes. manitousprings.org

Maker Faire

>>May 19– 20,

San Mateo, Calif. Other locales and dates TBA

At Maker Faire, 20,000 makers come together for a weekend of tech-centric projects, eye-opening demonstrations, and DI Y fun. It’s a celebration of the maker ethos encompassing exhibits, seminars, and hands-on opportunities galore. makezine.com

Speed Week

>>Aug. 11– 17, Bonneville Salt

Flats near Wendover, Utah >>Light in Winter

There’s acceleration Jan. 26– 28, Ithaca, N. Y. and horsepower galore Ithaca hosts a midwinter when speed junkies bring festival of science and art. everything from blown fuel This year’s performers streamliners to vintage and presentations include Corvettes to the desert. NPR’s Bruce Adolphe, The scta-bni.org New York Times’ Andrew

Revkin, String Theory, Wine and the Mind, Birds That Roar, and more. lightinwinter.com

The World Championship

DEF-CON Punkin Chunkin’ >>Summer, Las Vegas >>November, Millsboro, Del. DEF-CON runs for several Hundreds of punkin days and includes many chunkers bring forth giant computer- and hacking- hurling and shooting ma-related speakers as well as chines to see who can fire social events and contests. a pumpkin the farthest. defcon.org punkinchunkin.com

Experimental Aircraft Fly-In

>>July 11– 15,

ITP Show Arlington, Wash.

>>May and December, The fly-in is a celebration New York City of aviation technology The Interactive Telecom- featuring commercial munications Program exhibitors, forums, work-Show is a 2-day exhibition shops, aircraft demos, and of interactive and unusual flypasts. nweaa.org sights, sounds, and objects from the student artists of

I TP. itp.nyu.edu/show

Important: All times, dates,
locations, and events are
subject to change. Verify all
information before making
plans to attend.
Know an event that should
be included? Send it to:
events@makezine.com.
Sorry, it is not possible to
list all submitted events in
the magazine, but they will be
listed online.

February 2007 >> Western WinterBlast Feb. 16– 19, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

The Western Pyrotechnic Association’s annual event is the premier pyrotechnic event of the winter. westernpyro.org

If you attend one of these events, please tell us about it at forums.makezine.com.

>>Engineers Week Feb. 18– 24, Nationwide Engineers reach out and touch their communities with numerous events to increase awareness and appreciation of the engineering profession. eweek.org

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