Maker Faire Bay Area Ready for Showtime

The Maker Faire production crew has been preparing all week. Sets and stages have been built. Communications and power have been put in place. Finally, everything is ready to go.

It’s set-up day. This morning, the gates opened for makers and sponsors to check in and set-up their exhibits. The grounds are filled with sounds of tools, forklifts, and the occasionally noise of Arc Attack performing a sound check.

Everyone is getting ready for the gates to open to the public tomorrow morning. It takes a huge amount of work it takes to get here. Last year, there were about 110,000 attendees at Maker Faire Bay Area. This looks to be even bigger.

This evening, makers, crew and sponsors will get a chance to rub elbows and enjoy the traditional paella dinner. For now, everyone is busy and excited. Tomorrow: It’s showtime!

Here’s a look at the day before Maker Faire:

MAKE Editorial Director Ken Denmead gets ready to enjoy a plate of paella Friday night.

Young maker Gabriel Diaz Yanten came all the way from Santiago, Chile with his T-Rex Anancleto.

Ultimaker’s backpack mounted 3D printer wowed the crowd as they waited in line for paella.

Almost ready. This blimp is the work of two 8-year-old boys from (rc) LabRats, a San Francisco-based young makers club.

The makers of Zonotopia celebrate the completion of their three domes on Maker Faire’s Midway.

Maker Bees love paella.

Vallejo, Calif’s Obtanium Works readies their foot-powered hobby horse.

Let it fly!

Christian Ristow and crew assemble the Hand of Man.

Portland’s DOOP (Dog Out Of Place) is a dog sled that turns mushing inside out: Four bicycling humans will pull a sled driven by a robotic dog around the grounds of Maker Faire.

MAKE Senior Editor Goli Mohammadi rides Chester, a fire breathing horse made from used tires.

Metrix: Open Hardware Alliance readies their wares before the crowds come.

Arc Attack prepares to let the sparks fly.

Makey stands ready for the Maker Faire masses.

One of Fun Bike Unicorn Club’s multi-wheeled vehicles.

Maker Media Vice President Sherry Huss leads a tour of the Maker Faire grounds for MakerCorps volunteers.

Gerard Nebesky prepares paellas for hundreds of hungry makers Friday night.

Kinetic Steamworks’ Stephen Radmaker stands before a 1920 Case steam traction engine.