Riveropolis, a 45-foot stream which people can float objects in, is one of the most popular attractions at the Benicia Mini Maker Faire, which has changed its name to the Solano County Mini Maker Faire and will become one of the largest exhibits at the Solano County Fair. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

The Benicia Mini Maker Faire is no more. However, those who love seeing innovative technologies on display in a carnival-like setting need not worry. The annual event by Benicia Makerspace has morphed into the larger Solano County Mini Maker Faire, and it can be viewed at the Solano County Fair on June 30 and July 1.

The Benicia Mini Maker Faire was an annual event hosted by Benicia Makerspace— a nonprofit that brings creators together in a space to build and share innovative new ideas— held every spring from 2015 to 2017 at Benicia Middle School to showcase the unique ideas of Bay Area makers and provide fun, interactive exhibits for all ages. Makerspace board member Doug Snyder said they had been meaning to move the event for a few years due to growing attendance. One day they received a call from Mike Ioakimedes, the business development manager for the Solano County Fair, who invited the Maker Faire to be the featured exhibit at Expo Hall.

Snyder hoped the offer would be “a golden opportunity, and we hope to make the best of it and return every year.”

The biggest benefit, Snyder said, is the potential to draw in even larger crowds.

“When we had it here in town, we got maybe 1,500 people to attend, which was a huge event for Benicia,” he said. “At the county fair, we’re going to be exposed to probably 25,000 people.”

Snyder does not expect all of the fair’s attendees to visit the Maker Faire, but he anticipates that between 10,000 and 15,000 people will stop by.

Anyone who has been to a Benicia Mini Maker Faire should know what to expect: innovative, interactive and often mind-bending exhibits made by creators throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Several popular attractions will be returning this year including Benicia Makerspace’s ever-popular laser maze, giant bubble machines, paper rocket stations, steampunk inspired vehicles by Obtainium Works in Vallejo, an electric vehicle exhibition by the Benicia Community Sustainability Commission; and Riveropolis, a 45-foot stream where people can create boats out of various materials to float and test their durability.

There will also be a variety of new attractions this year. Benicia High School’s Drone Club will be showcasing precision drone flying.

“Visitors can come and quickly program the drones to fly through an obstacle course,” Snyder said. “It should be very impressive.”

Other exhibits include microscoping viewing stations and virtual reality demonstrations courtesy of Immersion Learning Center in Vallejo, catapult challenges, a hands-on soldering demonstration, a tiny house, an electric bike exhibit and a whole lot more. Also, while the popular models of the “Star Wars” Droids will not be at the Faire this year, attendees can expect to see Imperial Stormtroopers courtesy of the Golden Gate Garrison unit of the 501st Legion wandering around.

Snyder says the Maker Faire continues to be a stellar showcase for what people can create.

“It kind of exposes the unlimited capabilities we all have in having an interest and creativity,” he said. “In various areas, we don’t all have the same interests and we don’t all have the same talents, but the fact is we can build, we can design and we can dream.”

The Solano County Mini Maker Faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1 at the Solano County Fairgrounds, located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo. Admission is $6 per person, and parking is $5 per vehicle. Attendees can get $1 off their purchase at http://solanocounty.makerfaire.com/coupon/. For more information, go to solanocountymakerfaire.com. For more information on the Solano County Fair, go to scfair.com/scfair2.html.

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