The countdown officially has begun and so has registration. The Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) invites artists, entrepreneurs, hobbyists, innovators, inventors, students and other creative types from across the Mountain State – and beyond – to showcase what they make during the Oct. 2 West Virginia Makes Festival.
There is no cost to participate.
Now in its 13th year, the annual celebration of creativity and ingenuity in all forms will feature hands-on making activities, demonstrations and a Design Challenge in which makers of all ages exhibit their creations for a chance to win cash and other prizes in adult and youth categories.
As always, the challenge is open‑ended. There are no strict rules about what qualifies as an entry. Past challengers have showcased everything from electronic devices, custom motorcycles and mechatronic dinosaurs to paintings, sculptures, computer apps, games, tools, medical devices, rockets – even pet desserts.
If you imagine it, design it, make it, build it, code it, weld it, carve it, print it or dream it – we want to see it!
This year’s Friday, Oct. 2, festival will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Huntington campus of Marshall University, bringing together makers of all ages for a full day of demonstrations, exhibits, activities and music.
Whether you’re an artisan crafter, a student experimenting with robotics, a manufacturer introducing a new product or a hobbyist who simply loves to tinker, the Makes Festival is your place to shine. Register at www.mfg.marshall.edu/26wvmakes.
June 29, 2026
