West Virginia’s largest maker festival set for Oct. 4

Makers of all ages will compete for cash prizes and bragging rights Oct. 4 during West Virginia’s largest maker festival on the Huntington campus of Marshall University.

The sixth annual “West Virginia Makes Festival,” hosted by the Robert C. Byrd Institute, is a celebration of creativity and ingenuity in all their forms, according to organizers.

Artisans, inventors, hobbyists, and students from West Virginia and beyond will demonstrate their creations during the event at the university’s Memorial Student Center Plaza.

The festival will feature a Design Challenge for students and adults that awards a series of cash prizes, including a “Best of Show” grand prize.

In addition, the festival will include demonstrations of robots, 3D printers, lasers, and other innovative technologies, special exhibits, hands-on activities, and live musical performances.

Running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event is free and open to everyone.

“We invite makers from across the region to showcase their creativity during the Makes Festival,” said Charlotte Weber, director and CEO of the Robert C. Byrd Institute.

“This is also a wonderful opportunity for school groups and members of the general public to get to know the diverse and talented makers in our communities.”

The West Virginia Makes Festival is made possible through the support of ZEISS, Chase Bank, Stites & Harbison, Sterling Supply Co., Suddenlink by Altice, the Charleston Area Alliance, Edward Tucker Architects, the Center for Applied Research and Technology, the Huntington Area Development Council, the Cabell-Huntington Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Marshall University Research Corporation, Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association.

Registration for the challenge is free at WVMakes.com.