To encourage greater participation from the Marshall University community, the 2024 West Virginia Makes Festival has shifted its celebration to Friday, Nov. 8, at the Memorial Student Center Plaza on Marshall’s Huntington campus. Presented for 11 years by Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC), the state and region’s largest maker fair is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The annual festival, which is free and open to everyone, taps into the inventive community of entrepreneurs and innovators so they can interact with like-minded makers, share ideas and foster ingenuity and creativity. The festival will feature special exhibits, awe inspiring demonstrations and must-see attractions as well as live music and more.
Through the festival’s Design Challenge, makers of all ages and abilities will have the opportunity to demonstrate their new ideas and skills, and some will be rewarded for their creative accomplishments. Hobbyists, inventors, enthusiasts, artists and students who register to participate in the Design Challenge are eligible for cash prizes and awards — including a “Best of Show” grand prize.
The annual challenge is a fan favorite event, according to Derek Scarbro, MAMC Director. “Each year we encourage entries in our Design Challenge with the motto: ‘Dream it. Design it. Build it. Bring it!’ We are always surprised and excited to see the wild creativity involved in participants’ ideas and how they’re brought to life during our festival.”
Judges will interact with the entrants to review and assess their submissions. Youth-focused awards again will play a big part in the challenge to encourage younger minds to engage in the full range of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) activities, Scarbro said.
Challengers who earn recognition will be introduced during the afternoon awards presentation.
Registration for design challengers and exhibitors is required, so signing up is free and easy at www.mfg.marshall.edu/2024-wv-makes-festival-registration.
For more details, visit www.mfg.marshall.edu/2024wvmakes or contact organizer Deacon Stone at or 304-781-1659.
July 29, 2024
